Ever since the loss of Six Flags Astro World, Houston Texas has been missing the pressence of a theme park. However one design firm decided to cease the opportunity and press forward with making a massive educational center and theme park in the Houston Area dubbed Earthquest.
Earthquest was originally designed to be a full educational facility. But with the loss of Six Flags Astro World the designers decided to create a theme park addition as well that was incorporated with the message of learning and knowledge at the educational facility. Earthquest’s theme park will be divided into four different sections, each dedicated the sky, land, sea, or prehistory called Pangea. It is interesting that in an interview with one of the key designers, he refers to “…several ‘E-Ticket’ attractions.” Now E-Tickets are an old Disneyland term that was used back when Disneyland ran on individual tickets that ranged from A-E, E being the biggest and best attractions. Seeing that one would even refer to a ride like that means that we may be seeing Disney qualities here.
What is very interesting is the concept art which is incredible. It portrays a massive project that will be a very sufficient replacement for the now gone Six Flags.
Here we have a concept rendering of one of the themed lands of Earthquest. In the foreground you can see what appears to be a small family or kiddie coaster. It winds around the backwoods, crosses a bridge to a small mountain and goes around there before returning back to the other portion of land. Also, a huge mega coaster can be seen in this concept art that goes in, out of a mountain or volcano of some sort. that is surrounded by water. What I find interesting is the details, for example the solar panels on top of the building, the picnic tables, and the fountain.
This fairly futuristic area of Earthquest features a very modern architecture style with several well dressed rides. In the foreground, some form of a steel family coaster of seems to wind above a heavily landscaped area. A wave swinger can be seen but is hardly recognizable with its great make up. Near the center of the rendering you can see a S&S Space Shot with a unique top to cap it off. In the left you can see yet another giant mega coaster towering over the park. It’s also great to see Sky Way’s returning to a park as they have not been having the best of times lately.
In this zone of Earthquest, you can notice numerous water rides, and yet again, impeccable theming. We have a log flume perhaps? Rapids can be found on winding through the “Water” themed area and a Huss Top Spin serves as the major thrill for this area. I love the architecture for this park because of its modern, yet distinct accents that create a very unique style.
Finally we have a rendering of the stunning Earthquest Institute. Included in this educational facility will be exhibits, reconstructed ecosystems, and much more. At a costs of $100 million this museum type facility will be worth the trip alone, not including the theme park.
Earthquest is a $500 million project that is said to be in the final phases of the design. The Earthquest Institute is set to open in 2011 and the theme park is set to open in 2012. Located just 40 minutes from Downtown Houston, this project has a projected attendance of 3 million people its inaugural year.
While Earthquest looks phenomenal I just don’t see it happening for only around $500 million considering that Disney’s California Adventure cost somewhere around $650 million when it was built and didn’t seem to be nearly this big. But only time will tell and it will be interesting to see more about the future of this project.
What do you think of Earthquest? Leave your comments and park thoughts.
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22 Responses
Alison Sep 7th, 2009, 10:35 am
Wow! This is amazing! I can’t wait to see it… I wish it wasn’t in TX though, maybe they can start a chain and get one on the East Coast!
Austin Sep 7th, 2009, 4:21 pm
I wonder how this will do – last time I can think of a park like this was “Freedomland, USA” in New York, very similar, but it failed. This has more coasters though, so maybe it will do better…? Great place for school field trips.
Justice Sep 7th, 2009, 4:45 pm
Wasn’t Freedomland USA built in 1957?
KT Sep 19th, 2009, 11:11 pm
Let’s see…15-20 minutes BUSH IAH, about 1 1/2 hours to Galveston, 45 minutes to an hour NASA, less than 30 minutes to Downtown Houston…NO COMPETITION except Splashtown in Spring. I’d say better than fair chance of making it. I live in New Caney and I’m in the entertainment industry, happy camper here!
Donald Phlegm Sep 27th, 2009, 6:20 pm
Please feature a Einstein’s quantum theory Imax theather, that will take us into the future.
Alice McGaughey Oct 2nd, 2009, 9:48 pm
This is great, I live in Roman Forest a sub-division on the east side of Hwy 59. It will bring much needed industry into the area and also jobs. This will be a great educational tool for children and even grown ups. Look forward to seeing the construction start.
Jeanette Stewart Oct 4th, 2009, 5:07 pm
I just saw the Big Billboard they put up last week. I live in Splendora, TX it is just 10 minutes away from us. We have been waiting for this to come up. Now we now it will, we are so glad for the kids and jobs it will bring for many people. We are looking forward to it. This will be educational for our children and ourselves. Keep it going!
Sabi Oct 5th, 2009, 12:36 pm
Sounds good!! I hope we can use it as a field trip, an educational field trip, that our students can have fun and learn.
Sharon Harris Oct 28th, 2009, 12:59 pm
Will the Eastex be able to handle the traffic? Even with the new lanes I can see the jams, but it’s great news for the area.
Jenni Nov 5th, 2009, 5:20 pm
I live on 242 at I-45 and can’t wait…this will be great – and if there are hotels, we can stay there instead of Disney World or Disney Land….and save the gas!! Hurry up!!!
Kristopher Nov 9th, 2009, 2:48 am
At the end of this article the writer quotes “Earthquest is a $500 million project…” That was the case in 2007 when talk of this theme park first came about. It’s good that the writer was in disbelief that this project would be that cheap cause he/she was correct.
I have a friend that lives in a neighborhood near where this theme park is to be built (North Crest). Some people in the neighborhood attended a meeting in late September with the East Montgomery County Improvement District (EMCID). It was confirmed during the meeting that this project is going to cost at least $1.6 BILLION. Also there will be approximately 15 hotels built along Hwy 59 between New Caney & Kingwood. It’s also projected that construction of stores (strip malls), hotels ect. (anything separate from the theme park) won’t be complete till at least 2020, maybe longer. Basically, development immediately following some completion of the theme park will explode in the area & will last for a long time. This is going to be a long tedious process over the next 15 years.
I live in Porter (10 minutes away) & I am excited something of this magnitude is coming to the area. I just hope & pray everything goes smoothly.
If anyone has any further updates on this theme park please feel free to inform me as I am very interested. You can e-mail me at ksalbrecht88@gmail.com
clarissa curry Nov 12th, 2009, 4:24 pm
wow i think this is going to be amazing. i live in porter off of 1314 but i work right there by the park and since we own our own companies then i can get off work at any time to come to the park. it close enough i could walk to it.
Randy Nov 16th, 2009, 11:36 am
I am excited about this. It will bring more visitors to Houston and be fun to have so close. I live in Humble Atascocita area. I heard this will raise the value of our house times 2 or 3, is this true?
Travis from Lake Jackson Nov 17th, 2009, 11:06 am
I hope they sell Season Passes!!! Maybe they’ll feature discounts for state residents like Disney.
Sir Erick Whitley Nov 19th, 2009, 1:17 pm
i think this will be great for kids of all ages &
for adults of all ages. im a fourth grade & i mentior 7 boys, we,ve been to several theme parks(fiesta texas in san antonio,six flags over texas in dallas texas, ect.) this would be great for us & my family we just live 45 min. from houston texas, i just can’t wait for this theme park to come to houston texas.
Wesley Dec 11th, 2009, 8:36 pm
I thank the new theme park will be ex let than Astroworld better than Splash town
brooklyn Dec 12th, 2009, 7:22 pm
omg this will by so cool i will go to it every day but it might be too expencive and i also love that there are alot of rolercosters that will be ssooooooooo cool
Lolo Feb 8th, 2010, 10:24 pm
THIS IS AWESOME!!!! And its going to be where I LIVE!!!!!!!!!
Lolo Feb 8th, 2010, 10:25 pm
THIS IS AWESOME!!!! And its going to be where I LIVE!!!!!!!!! CANT WAIT!!!
Alice McGaughey Apr 10th, 2010, 3:17 pm
I would like to know if this is still in the works I live in Roman Forest and the only construction I have seen is the sign. It will be great for the area. Hope you can get the funding, as people in the area are very excited. Last we heard some of the things would open in 2012 is it still on target?
Angelic May 10th, 2010, 4:49 pm
I think Houston needs a good theme park and if this one is as nice as planned, I think it could give vacationers a reason to visit this region. It will help an already strong economy and do good for the home values in the area that have been pretty stagnant with their relatively little appreciation climb.
I’m excited about this new theme park and will be the first to buy tickets or annual passes for my family and I’d gladly help support this venture for our local economy.
Gayle Edward Eckleberry Jun 30th, 2010, 2:16 pm
very nice…the archetect..and engineers…should make a proposal to Arizona…this really is nice!
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