Galveston's Pleasure Pier to open today

  GALVESTON, TX (KTRK) -- Later this morning, the much-anticipated Pleasure Pier will open its gates for the first time.

Galveston Island's newest attraction is offering an exclusive sneak peek this Memorial Day weekend. Thirteen of the Pier's 16 rides will be operating, as well as games, retail shops and the state's first Bubba Gump Shrimp Company restaurant.

It will officially open at 10am.

EXCLUSIVE SNEAK PEEK HOURS & SPECIAL PRICING: Friday, May 25 - Sunday, May 27
10 a.m. to midnight

Monday, May 28
10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Tuesday, May 29 - Thursday, May 31
Noon to 9 p.m.

Friday, June 1 - Saturday, June 2
10 a.m. to midnight

Sunday, June 3
10 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Monday, June 4 - Thursday, June 7
Noon to 11 p.m.

All Day Ride Pass $21.99** for adults (48" and up)$16.99** for children (under 48")Good for all rides all day and Pier access

Pier Pass (Walk-on) $10* for adults (48" and up) $8* for children (under 48")Pass required for admittance to pier; ride tickets sold separately at booths/kiosks (good for day of purchase only)

Individual Ride Tickets Starting at $4.00* per ticketMust purchase a walk-on pass to gain access to the pier

* Plus tax
** All day come and go unlimited ride access

THRILLS
Thirteen of the 16 rides will open Memorial Day Weekend during the sneak peek, including:

Pirate's Plunge Log Flume promises to thrill and chill you on warm days when your flume splashes 22 feet and 40 feet into cool, fresh water.

Carousel gives a beautiful, cheery greeting to guests as they enter the Pier's Midway. In fact, this classic double-decker temptation to ride has horses, chariots or sea creatures galloping right in the Midway, so why not start here?

Revolution Up, down AND around. How fast? Try less than seven seconds a revolution! And did we mention it revolves you out OVER THE WATER?

Rock N' Roll has a retro glitter style that would make Elvis blush. Climb in your car and ride backwards, forwards and around to the music. Cool.

Cyclone coaster loops 60 feet into the air to rotate passengers forward and backward, while the horizon does flip-flops.

Sea Dragon is a swinger with an ocean view. First it swings its 10 rows of riders up, up, up 50 feet over the Pier, then takes them down and back up, over the water.

Gulf Glider is a colorful classic swing carousel, with single and double seats that swing while you rotate and tilt.

Pier Pileup Bumper Cars let you channel those Interstate 45 aggressions into a million laughs in antique and classic bash-'em vehicles. This is actually two rides: One for kids, with smaller cars, another for adults. Similar to most of the rides at family-focused Pleasure Pier, parents and their children can ride together in the big cars.

Texas Tea Cups is another Midway classic, fun for adults and kids, especially together. The cups twirl. The riders giggle.

Big Wheelin' knows little kids like big trucks. Smaller kids can ride with an adult, bigger kids on their own in this safely circling convoy.

Frog Hopper gets its name from, well, hopping. It takes a load of kids up, and then - wait for it - drops them, not too far, but when they don't expect it. And then, whoa, drops them again. They like it. They laugh.

Sky Shooter at rest looks like a huge blue and orange spider napping. Then it wakes and goes wild, spinning its 10 captive vehicles while taking them up and down, round and round, even out over the ocean. Wanna fly higher? Push a button and you do. Whew!

PREMIUM PARKING Peak Season $10 / 3 hours ($2 every hour for a maximum of $16 for the day) Parking lot opens at 8am until 2am (next morning); cars will be towed at 3am if lot not vacatedLost tickets $16Do NOT leave ticket in vehicle.Only occupy ONE space. Vehicles parked inappropriately are subject to being towed at owner's expense.Pricing subject to change/seasonal.Please leave items secure within your vehicle.$10 validation for diners spending $25 or more at Bubba Gump and Fish Tales restaurants during specific time periods. Ask your server for details.No tailgaiting, grilling or picnics.Bus, tractor trailer & RV parking is not allowed in premium lot.Vehicles may not be left overnight.Unauthorized or abandoned vehicles will be towed at owner's expense.

For additional information and hours of operations for the Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier, visit www.pleasurepier.com or call 855-789-7437.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Galveston's Pleasure Pier to open this weekend

  GALVESTON, TX (KTRK) -- As the Memorial Day holiday weekend brings the start to summer tourism, it's also the opening for the new Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier for waterfront fun on the Gulf Coast.

The much-anticipated destination boasts a theme park of family attractions, with rides, games of chance and skill, entertainment, food venues and retail shops. With an exclusive sneak peek beginning Memorial Day weekend, 13 of the 16 rides will be operating.

The Texas-sized pier is 120 feet-wide and 1,130 feet-long. The Pleasure Pier, developed by Landry's, stands on the location of the former Flagship hotel, over the Gulf of Mexico from 25th Street at the Galveston Seawall. Guests will find dining, rides, games and entertainment throughout the year.

Texas' first Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. opens Thursday, May 24, featuring seafood dining. Its food-to-go option, Gump on the Run, is located alongside.

EXCLUSIVE SNEAK PEEK HOURS & SPECIAL PRICING: Friday, May 25 - Sunday, May 27
10 a.m. to midnight

Monday, May 28
10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Tuesday, May 29 - Thursday, May 31
Noon to 9 p.m.

Friday, June 1 - Saturday, June 2
10 a.m. to midnight

Sunday, June 3
10 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Monday, June 4 - Thursday, June 7
Noon to 11 p.m.

All Day Ride Pass $21.99** for adults (48" and up)$16.99** for children (under 48")Good for all rides all day and Pier access

Pier Pass (Walk-on) $10* for adults (48" and up) $8* for children (under 48")Pass required for admittance to pier; ride tickets sold separately at booths/kiosks (good for day of purchase only)

Individual Ride Tickets Starting at $4.00* per ticketMust purchase a walk-on pass to gain access to the pier

* Plus tax
** All day come and go unlimited ride access

THRILLS
Thirteen of the 16 rides will open Memorial Day Weekend during the sneak peek, including:

Pirate's Plunge Log Flume promises to thrill and chill you on warm days when your flume splashes 22 feet and 40 feet into cool, fresh water.

Carousel gives a beautiful, cheery greeting to guests as they enter the Pier's Midway. In fact, this classic double-decker temptation to ride has horses, chariots or sea creatures galloping right in the Midway, so why not start here?

Revolution Up, down AND around. How fast? Try less than seven seconds a revolution! And did we mention it revolves you out OVER THE WATER?

Rock N' Roll has a retro glitter style that would make Elvis blush. Climb in your car and ride backwards, forwards and around to the music. Cool.

Cyclone coaster loops 60 feet into the air to rotate passengers forward and backward, while the horizon does flip-flops.

Sea Dragon is a swinger with an ocean view. First it swings its 10 rows of riders up, up, up 50 feet over the Pier, then takes them down and back up, over the water.

Gulf Glider is a colorful classic swing carousel, with single and double seats that swing while you rotate and tilt.

Pier Pileup Bumper Cars let you channel those Interstate 45 aggressions into a million laughs in antique and classic bash-'em vehicles. This is actually two rides: One for kids, with smaller cars, another for adults. Similar to most of the rides at family-focused Pleasure Pier, parents and their children can ride together in the big cars.

Texas Tea Cups is another Midway classic, fun for adults and kids, especially together. The cups twirl. The riders giggle.

Big Wheelin' knows little kids like big trucks. Smaller kids can ride with an adult, bigger kids on their own in this safely circling convoy.

Frog Hopper gets its name from, well, hopping. It takes a load of kids up, and then - wait for it - drops them, not too far, but when they don't expect it. And then, whoa, drops them again. They like it. They laugh.

Sky Shooter at rest looks like a huge blue and orange spider napping. Then it wakes and goes wild, spinning its 10 captive vehicles while taking them up and down, round and round, even out over the ocean. Wanna fly higher? Push a button and you do. Whew!

PREMIUM PARKING Peak Season $10 / 3 hours ($2 every hour for a maximum of $16 for the day) Parking lot opens at 8am until 2am (next morning); cars will be towed at 3am if lot not vacatedLost tickets $16Do NOT leave ticket in vehicle.Only occupy ONE space. Vehicles parked inappropriately are subject to being towed at owner's expense.Pricing subject to change/seasonal.Please leave items secure within your vehicle.$10 validation for diners spending $25 or more at Bubba Gump and Fish Tales restaurants during specific time periods. Ask your server for details.No tailgaiting, grilling or picnics.Bus, tractor trailer & RV parking is not allowed in premium lot.Vehicles may not be left overnight.Unauthorized or abandoned vehicles will be towed at owner's expense.

For additional information and hours of operations for the Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier, visit www.pleasurepier.com or call 855-789-7437.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Opening day of Galveston's Pleasure Pier to be revealed

  GALVESTON, TX (KTRK) -- The rides have been tested at Pleasure Pier and this week, the company will reveal when the park will open its doors.

The opening of Pleasure Pier has been one of the most anticipated events on Galveston Island. Landry's employees and their families tested out the rides yesterday.

The 1,100-foot pier has 16 rides for adrenaline junkies, but there is also a kids zone.

Here's a breakdown of what it will cost to visit the pleasure pier once it's opened. If you don't want to ride the rides, entry to the pier will be $10 for adults and $8 for children. For all-day access to rides, you can buy a wristband at $26.99 for adults, and $21.99 for kids under 48 inches tall.

There are also family packages available, including a Family of 4 package for $89.99 which includes all rides for two adults and two children.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Galveston's Grand Opera celebrates 117th birthday

  GALVESTON, TX (KTRK) -- The Grand 1894 Opera House" in Galveston celebrated its 117th birthday Tuesday in grand style, with cake and, of course, singing.

Visitors to the Grand received a tour of the theatre, which was the largest theater in Texas when it was built in 1894.

And if you're doing the math and wondering why this is the theatre's birthday, opening night was on January 3, 1895.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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Live oaks returning to Galveston's Broadway

  GALVESTON, TX -- New live oak trees are being planted along Galveston's Broadway, replacing the iconic trees destroyed in 2008 by Hurricane Ike.

Thirty-six of the towering trees are being planted in the median of the east end of the island city's main east-west traffic artery within the next few weeks.

The new trees shading Galveston's main boulevard stand 15 to 25 feet tall on trunks as thick as 10 inches in diameter. Planting of the Broadway oaks and another 19 palms will continue through the week, said Priscilla Files, tree planting coordinator for the Galveston Island Tree Conservancy.

Ike's briny storm surge killed most of the island's trees. Since the storm, the Tree Conservancy has worked with volunteers to restore the city's greenery. So far, the conservancy has planted 7,900 trees en route to a goal of 25,000 tree plantings in five years.

The Tree Conservancy hoped to have about 9,000 new trees planted by the end of the year, Files said.

"We're going to end up with some shade and all the benefits that trees give us in the city and continue replanting what was lost to Ike," she told the Galveston County Daily News.

The $185,000 Broadway planting was funded by private donations. In March, volunteers and the Texas Forest Service planted more than 400 trees throughout the island. Trees also will be planted at Lasker, Sheppard and Gus Allen parks.

(Copyright ©2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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