December 23, 2003
Schlitterbahn Galveston update

Construction of new Schlitterbahn in Galveston is another step closer to reality as the Galveston City Council approved a lease on the property in question.


The water park will be between Galveston's Lone Star Flight Museum and Moody Gardens, two of the island's busiest tourist attractions.

The Schlitterbahn lease covers about 25 acres at Galveston's Scholes International Airport. Schlitterbahn will pay $7,400 a month, or $88,800 a year, in rent.

Other businesses lease property at the airport, which serves mainly private pilots and several offshore helicopter firms but is not served by commercial airlines. Formerly known as Scholes Field, the airport property was a huge World War II flight training site.

"Even though we have great tourism, the Schlitterbahn will really fill a gap in that it will have things that teenagers in particular will want to do," LeBlanc said.

"It will raise the city to a new level of tourism."

Plans for the park's attractions are not complete, Schlitterbahn spokeswoman Sherrie Brammall said Monday.

"We would hope to unveil plans for the new water park by spring and, if everything falls into place, the construction should be under way this summer," Brammall said.

Opening is expected by May 2005.

Depending on weather, the water park could be open as many as 200 days a year.


Two hundred days a year? Wow. The original park in New Braunfels is basically only open for the summer, with some weekends in May and early September. I guess the labor pool is deeper in Galveston than it is in New Braunfels - the original park pretty much runs on teenagers out of school for the summer.

The water park is expected to pump up to $500,000 a year in sales and other taxes into this cash-strapped city's coffers and have an economic ripple effect in the area of $30 million to $35 million a year, said Jeff Sjostrom, executive director of the Galveston Economic Development Partnership.

[...]

Sjostrom said the planned water park is expected to induce many families who vacation in Galveston to stay longer.

"Instead of coming to the island for one or two days, they'll stay maybe three or four days," he said.

Early estimates put the number of water park jobs at 900, many of which will be part time, LeBlanc said.


I've pretty much decided that all forecasts of economic gain resulting from new businesses in a given location are wildly optimistic, but I nonetheless hope this one is accurate. It's certainly true that Galveston could use another big attraction to keep people in town longer, and a visit to the 'Bahn is an all-day affair.

Posted by Charles Kuffner on December 23, 2003 to The great state of Texas | TrackBack
Comments

Keep me posted

Posted by: gina harper on May 9, 2004 2:10 PM

So, it's definite that there will be a Schlitterbahn waterpark in Galveston, TX. If so, will it have a boogie bahn???

Posted by: a person on May 9, 2004 8:20 PM

I'm so glad Schlitterbahn is coming to Galveston. Let 'ol Tilman Fertitta have his "slip 'n slide" on the Seawall, I'm going to Schlitterbahn!

P.S. Til is just jealous that Moody's hotel is closer to the park than any of his. Gotta love it! ;-)

Posted by: waterpark fan on June 2, 2004 6:46 PM

I have seen the doc. on Schlitterbahn in New Bransfel and its natural water source on Discovery Channel. I am just courious about where the water source will come from at the Schlitterbahn in Galveston, Texas. Will the park be drained every night at the Galveston location too?

I am very delighted to here there is going to be a Schlitterbahn in Galveston. It is a lot closer than New Bransfel. It is a lot of fun for the whole family. We can't wait to check it out.

Thanks, Water Park Hunter

Posted by: Water Park Hunter on September 17, 2004 6:00 PM

Gabriella and I can't wait until the Schlitterbauhn in Galveston is open for business! We are ready now to make our hotel reservation!

Posted by: Deborah Jones on January 4, 2005 3:33 PM

We love Schlitterbauhn! How soon is the park opening? Is it still this May?

Posted by: Rose Hess on January 5, 2005 12:38 PM

Will the new Schlitterbauhn have a waveloch?

Posted by: CJ on January 22, 2005 10:24 PM

any idea when the park will be open? i cant wait!

Posted by: dora on March 16, 2005 10:27 PM

I noticed comments on your website about Sclitterbahn's Galveston waterpark opening in May and wanted to make sure you have an update.

Constuction is now underway on Schlitterbahn's new waterpark on Galveston Island, Texas. While we will not be open for the 2005 summer season as we had originally hoped, we think you will agree that our new park is worth the wait. For the latest updates, keep checking our website: schlitterbahn.com. We will begin posting construction updates and photos this summer.

Sherrie Brammall
Communications Director
Schlitterbahn Waterparks

Posted by: Sherrie Brammall on April 28, 2005 1:12 PM

YEA!!!!! No more down town traffic and a long drive to San Ann. A water park in Galveston is just what our area needed and as a family we will most certainly be going there many times this summer and bring our friends with us. Houston is going to become a wonderful place for vacations. In fact this summer we are going to stay in Houston and see the wonderful places in our own backyard. Nothing better than Texas, why leave it.?

Happy about a Water Park.
The Hillman Family

Posted by: Desiree Hillman on May 16, 2005 5:22 PM

a big open soada can.
like you can go down a swrily slide down the alumn top and a water slide can be in side and in the middel is a pool snd there will be a hole in the center of it and go down it and there will be a stright slidesan at the very bottom is abell they ring and you go up a water esclator. and the next person goes.

Posted by: mysti on July 10, 2005 3:12 PM

Last I heard it was going to be open by the end of this year (2005). I would think it is going to be the indoor part of it. Anyone know for sure???

Posted by: Marilyn on September 29, 2005 10:16 AM

When will the bahn be open?
Kim

Posted by: Kim on January 16, 2006 8:50 AM

Will the park be open for the summer of 2006?

Posted by: Carl on January 25, 2006 10:28 AM

i live in galveston and thinks its a grat idea to have a waterpark here. the attractions here are getting old after 24 years. does anyone know addmission prices?

Posted by: galvestonian on February 16, 2006 4:59 PM

When will ALL of Schlitterbahn in Galveston be open? :)

Posted by: Kim on July 14, 2006 1:26 PM