Landry’s hopes to make a bigger splash
The company that put a 90-foot Ferris wheel, a cage of white tigers and a 200,000-gallon shark tank in downtown Houston is planning to expand its urban entertainment complex with what could be a $15 million investment in new rides, games and other carnival-like amusements.
Houston-based Landry’s has been in talks with city officials about the expansion of its Downtown Aquarium, a waterthemed entertainment and dining concept along the 400 block of Bagby.
Under the plan, the facility would grow by roughly half an acre to the north across Preston Street. The Preston property, which once housed a building for Fire Department dispatchers, is now a parking lot. The city leased it to Landry’s a few years ago with an option for the company to make a development proposal at a later time. The Aquarium sits on city-owned land, as well.
Landry’s has also been in talks with the Metropolitan Transit Authority about potentially closing the portion of Preston that separates the Aquar-
ium from the parking lot. It would be open in the mornings to accommodate city buses flowing into downtown, but then become a pedestrian space so patrons can safely walk around the expanded development.
“Our concern all along has been getting pedestrians from one side of the project to another,” said Jeff Cantwell, senior vice president of development for Landry’s.
New rides are also being planned on the existing Aquarium property now being used for short-term parking.
Customer parking will not be affected, he said.
Cantwell said the expansion will give the project a critical mass of amusements it is lacking today.
The company’s Kemah Boardwalk development opened in 1998 with a Ferris wheel, carousel and train.
Since then, larger rides have been added, including a wooden roller-coaster called the Boardwalk Bullet.
With each expansion, the company has seen higher visitor counts, Cantwell said.
While business at the Downtown Aquarium has continued to grow each year, the company believes an expanded facility would encourage visitors to come back more often and stay longer. A roller coaster for the downtown project has essentially been ruled out for lack of space.
Neither Landry’s nor the city has yet to make any firm commitments on the project, but Landry’s hopes to order its new rides by next summer and have the expansion completed by the end of 2017. A team
from Landry’s is planning to attend an industry trade show this month to look at the newest amusement park offerings.
Andy Icken, the city’s chief development officer, said traffic studies and other issues would have to be worked out if a deal is to be made.
The Aquarium opened in 2003 as a redevelopment of the city’s Fire Station No. 1 and the Central Waterworks Building.
In addition to aquatic and geographic exhibits, it has a full-service restaurant and bar, a ballroom and shops.
Icken said the project been a significant draw for families.
“I’m all for more entertainment venues and all for attractions,” he said, “but we’ve got to manage the conflicts, too.”