One more item from the Things That Happened While I Was Out Of Town file: The Chron had a story about the new Schlitterbahn water park in Galveston, which was slated to open yesterday.
Jeff Henry speaks of the $34 million Schlitterbahn Galveston Island Waterpark as if it is his toy — which in one sense it is.''I started out in this business when I was 11," said Henry, Schlitterbahn's director of water park development. ''I'm 51 now. This is like a piece of art to me. I've never had so much fun in my whole life."
Soon, Henry will find out if water-loving visitors from Texas and beyond share his enthusiasm when the state's third Schlitterbahn location opens.
After delays caused by a fire and Hurricane Rita, Henry said he now has a ''target date" of March 11. The landscaping is finished, and the amusements are being tested. But he and others with Schlitterbahn Waterparks say they have yet to set an opening date.
"March 11 is my target — that's all I'm going to say," Henry said Wednesday. "I sure hope to make it. It's progressing very, very well."
The summer-season opening date, April 22, is much more concrete, Henry said. Potential visitors should check the theme park's Web site — www.schlitterbahn.com — for updates.
''There's still work to do," Henry said last week. ''We've been riding the rides the last few days. This is going to be a great park."