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The details of Tilman Fertitta’s Galveston Pleasure Pier are revealed
By Whitney Radley
In May of 1948, the Galveston Pleasure Pier opened on Seawall Boulevard, as the largest amusement park of its kind in the country. It met its fate in 1961 at the hands of Hurricane Carla.
This May will mark a new page in the history books, when the 1,130-foot Pleasure Pier opens again — this time under the Landry’s name — in the original location, just in time for Memorial Day weekend.
Preliminary planning has been in the works for years, and construction commenced months ago to fix the damaged pilings (the iconic Flagship Hotel stood in the spot from 1965 until 2008, when it was severely damaged by Hurricane Ike). Tilman Fertitta, Landry’s sole owner, already runs multiple hotels and restaurants on Galveston Island, so he wanted to do something different.
“This will be a project that will totally change Seawall Boulevard,” said Fertitta during an elaborate press conference — complete with cotton candy and a popcorn machine — at the company’s Houston headquarters. In a room filled with news crews and the scent of fried food, Fertitta revealed mockups for the $60 million project.
Fertitta’s biggest concern is where he’s going to put all of the people.
Think Coney Island meets the Magic Kingdom: With carnival rides and roller coasters (there will be 16 to choose from), restaurants (including requisite turkey legs and sausage on a stick booths, plus the first Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. in Texas) and souvenir shops, Landry’s is marketing the Pleasure Pier as a fun, family-friendly destination for tourists and locals alike.
Mayor Joe Jaworski of Galveston believes that the Pleasure Pier will bring “color, shape and sizzle to the Seawall.” “This will bring a shine and a glow that has been missing for a long time,” Jaworski said.
The pier will be open year round (daily throughout the summer months, and Friday through Sunday during the off-season) and will create more than 600 jobs. Galveston-born Fertitta expects other economic activity to follow in Pleasure Pier’s wake — and though Landry’s already owns a large chunk of real estate along Galveston’s seawall, he says he wishes the company had more.
Pleasure Pier admittance tickets will cost $8 for children and $11 for adults, or attendees can upgrade to a “Ride wristband” for full access to the pier’s amenities. A family of four can gain entrance and access to rides for $90.
The goal is to create a safe, “controlled environment,” one where admittance is monitored (real estate on the 6,500-person capacity pier is extremely valuable, says Fertitta) and parents can feel comfortable letting their children roam. And one that appeals to all. “A family can be a young family or a couple that’s 40 years old,” Fertitta told CultureMap. He says that Pleasure Pier will offer options for everyone, from kids’ games to live music on the bandstand stage.
One might immediately worry that the revamped Pleasure Pier, in its prime but precarious location over the Gulf of Mexico, might suffer the same fate as the ventures that came before it — but Fertitta’s biggest concern is where he’s going to put all of the people.
The Pointer Sisters, a champion pole dancer & Pink Flamingos rock Mardi Gras’ San Luis Salute
By: Shelby Hodge for Culture Map
No one had any doubts when King Frivolous of the Knights of Momus commanded that this year’s San Luis Salute be the best party ever. After all, Tilman Fertitta was crowned King Frivolous last weekend and we all know that what Tilman wants, Tilman gets.
So it was that Saturday’s “Midnight in Marrakech” San Luis Salute, chaired by Tilman and Paige Fertitta, came off as a blockbuster bash that will reign in Galveston Mardi Gras lore as one of the greatest.
When the sellout, black-tie crowd of 1,100 pulsed into the ballroom of the San Luis convention center, you could all but hear the gasps as revelers took in the magical tableau. Towering faux palm trees; tabletop palms wrapped in lilies, roses and orchids; colorful Moroccan-themed murals around the room and desert-hued draping overhead fit for a sheik’s harem transformed the vast space. Applause, applause to Richard Flowers, Kirksey Gregg and The Events Co. part of Tilman’s empire, team that raised the bar for gala decor.
Beyond schmoozing with a healthy handful of elected officials, dining on remarkably good food and socializing in general, the focus of this night was on the entertainment which began, when the curtains opened to the ballroom with the Pink Flamingos rocking on one of two stages. The popular Philadelphia Mummers in all of their feathery, glittering finery made their annual appearance, sandwiched in between sessions of the non-stop Flamingos.
But Tilman had promised surprise and surprises there were — The Pointer Sisters, singing their all-time hits, were the big hurrah of the night, taking the spotlight at 10:30 and further stimulating the crowd that had been more than sufficiently revved by the raucous Flamingos. Volleyball, anyone? In the middle of the Flamingos endless set, a volleyball net appeared across the dance floor and dozens of lightweight beach balls were launched into the crowd. It was instant party madness of the best kind.
Who was in the milieu? State Sen. John Whitmire with Gigi Lee, Gwen Goffe and Ed Eubanks, Sheridan and John Eddie Williams, Dianne and Ed McDonough, V.J. Tramonte, Dancie and Jim Ware and plenty of the Knights of Momus duchesses and their escorts.
Later, while the main stage was being surreptitiously changed for The Pointer Sisters, stage two came to life with saucy Golden Nugget Dancers in a “burlesque” routine and let’s not forget the astonishing Jenyne Butterfly, world champion pole dancer who did her best to drive the men in the room crazy, but it was actually more acrobatics than seduction.
Face painting was once again a popular entertainment and this year the added Turban Tyers, natives of India, who tied colorful turbans with a blazing “jewel” on all willing men. Among those playfully donning this fashion disconnect were Todd Fertitta, Vic Fertitta, Lee Wiley, Richard Handler and Gerry Del Prete.
The Mardi Gras madness enveloped Galveston Mayor Joe Jaworski, State Rep. Carol Alvarado, Joy Fertitta (Tilman’s mother), Laura Ward, Margaret Williams and Jim Daniel, Mary Ann and Bob Wilkins, Lisa and Mike O’Leary, Liz and Dr. Bill Decker, Katie Decker, Amber and Steve Mostyn, Rachel and Darryl Bristow, Jordy Tollett and Kim McClure with Blake Tartt III.
Last, but far from least, in the partying throng was Dr. Donald S. Prough, chair of the Department of Anesthesiology at UTMB, the evening’s honoree with his department beneficiary of proceeds raised.
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