Remembering the long-lost amusement parks of Texas

Click through the slideshow to see abandoned amusement parks in Texas. Click through the slideshow to see abandoned amusement parks in Texas. Image 1 of / 60 Caption Close Remembering the long-lost amusement parks of Texas 1 / 60 Back to Gallery

Stomach-hurling, whiplash roller coasters seem to have been a staple of teenage summers since they were invented. And while Six Flags sends fans head-over-heels screaming and boomeranging back for repeat thrills, the heyday for independent, kitschy theme parks was before the dominance of the Dallas-based chain Six Flags.

For many Texans growing up in the '60s, '70s and '80s, AstroWorld was hands-down the ultimate rite-of-passage amusement park — whether you lived in Houston or traveled hours to brave that rickety, terrifying Texas Cyclone.

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San Antonians of a certain generation had Playland Park and the Rocket roller coaster, which was actually the first "rollie" in Texas erected in the 1940s. Playland Park was in fact Texas' first amusement park. Originally located in Houston, the predecessor to AstroWorld, it moved to San Antonio in the 1960s. But many recall their first dates and back to school parties there.

Click through the gallery above for a brief history of Texas theme parks that are long gone but not forgotten, from Sea-Arama in Galveston to El Paso's ill-fated Magic Landing.

And remember life before Sea World docked in S.A.? We had Aquarena Springs in San Marcos with "mermaids" and Ralph the swimming pig, famous for his swine dive.

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Many of these parks went under when Six Flags rose in the 1990s, and when Sea World came to San Antonio. Some parks suffered tragic accidents and weren't able to recover.

Nonetheless, people continue to hold these places deep in their nostalgic hearts, and memorial sites are all around from the Facebook group We Miss Games People Play to the blogs Magic Landing In Memoriam and Remembering Sea-Arama.

If you remember Sunshine Park in San Antonio's southside, or you can recall parties at Playland or family vacays to any of Texas' old amusement parks, share your best memories in the comments.

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