In the overbearing heat of the South Texas Summer, people need to
find some place to cool down. That has been adequately provided
by the Kemah Boardwalk in Kemah, Texas.
Kemah used to be a small fishing spot on the highway to Galveston.
It slowly grew into a town, mainly because of some of the best shrimp
catches around. People began stopping there to eat, and also to buy
shrimp in bulk to take home for the freezer. Then, back in the 50's,
a night club with dining, dancing, and gambling opened up, giving
people another reason to stop.
(The following is excerpted from the July 2002 edition of Texas Highways)
(Now), the gulls still hover, the boat parade continues its human
comedy, and you can still buy fresh shrimp in nearby Seabrook, but
what was Kemah's laid-back restaurant now has blooked into a 30-acre
family-entertainment complex called Kemah Boardwalk, a mega-project
unveiled (now) nine years agoby Landry's Restaurants, Inc. Handsimely
designed and beautifully maintained, it already challenges SAan
Antonio's River Walk, the Alamo, and Space Center Houston as one
of the top tourism draws in Texas.
Tillman Ferris, Landry's chief executive officer, remembers: "one
evening in 1992, I realized that this waterfront could become
unbelievable, if the city would let me close off the street and
build a boardwalk that had both a front and a back." City officiale
ultimately agreed, and the project hit the drawing boards.
Today, walking through Kemah Boardwalk's entrance arch sets the stage
for carv=nival-like fun. Calliope music draws you to a classic
carousel at the bay end of the site, and a 65-goot high Ferris
wheel offers breezy views in all directions from the top seats.
The large sailboats tacking back and forth in Galveston Bay like
bathtub toys.
Dining here is optional, but seven restaurants beckon, all part of
the Landry's chain. (Lovers of "old Kemah" will be glad to hear
that the Flying Dutchman's famous and succulent shrimp salad is
still delicious.) Optional, too, is participation in the amusement
park rides and games, each of which cost $2 per person. Admission
to the Boardwalk, however, is free, and folks are welcome to freely
stroll the grounds.
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