Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier

Location	Galveston, Texas, U.S.
Coordinates	29°17′12″N 94°47′24″W / 29.286614°N 94.789910°W / 29.286614; -94.789910
Opened	May 25, 2012 (2012-05-25)
Owner	Landrys, Inc.
Attractions
Total	16
Roller coasters	1
Website	http://www.pleasurepier.com/

Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier is a pleasure pier in Galveston, Texas, United States. Opened in Summer 2012, it has 1 roller coaster, 15 rides, carnival games and souvenir shops.

History

Pleasure Pier in Galveston, Texas

The new Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier was built 1,130 feet (340 m) out over the Gulf of Mexico waters. It had its "soft" opening on May 25, 2012.

The new pier complex is located where the original Pleasure Pier stood from 1943 until 1961, when it was destroyed by Hurricane Carla. The original Pleasure Pier featured rides, an arcade, an aquarium, concessions, a large ball room, named the Marine Ballroom, and fishing at the end of the pier. It was also the site of the USS Flagship Hotel, an over-the-water hotel built in 1965 that was demolished after Hurricane Ike in 2008.

Before the renovation there had been almost no maintenance in over 70 years, resulting in the pier having exposed reinforcing steel with accelerated corrosion and concrete spalling at piles, beams, joists, and reflective overhead flat plates. Because of this, extensive structural concrete restoration was needed. Repairs were eventually completed using shotcrete struck and finished in alignment with pre-existing materials making up the pier.

Attractions

Concept art of the park.

Pleasure Pier entrance in Galveston, Texas

The new Pleasure Pier in 2012.

Features at the Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier include:

• Iron Shark — a steel roller coaster constructed by Gerstlauer, a 100 feet (30 m) tall coaster offering four inversions with a back section cantilevering over the water.
• Sky Shooter — airborne shot ride.
• Texas Star Flyer — swinging riders over the water 230 feet above the Gulf.
• Galaxy Wheel — a 100-foot-tall Ferris wheel, featuring programmable LED lights.
• Bubba Gump Shrimp Company restaurant.

Current Attractions