Kemah Boardwalk - Amusement Park?

[Bullitt]

The place now has rides like a roller coaster and typical carni stuff. My wife and I spent a weekend there a couple of weeks ago and stayed at the Boardwalk Inn, which is the large hotel at the Boardwalk. The hotel was pricey and the restaurants were fine, however, overall I think the boardwalk is getting seedy with the ambulatory & free-event crowd, so I would not recommend visiting the place for an evening stroll on a Saturday night.

I'm wondering if the place is now classified as an amusement park. No gate except for the individual rides.

[CleverNickname]

No it wouldn't meet the definition of an amusement park and they'd have to post a 30.06 sign anyways.

[seamusTX]

You're good to go on the Kemah boardwalk.

The only places in Texas that fit the definition of amusement park in 46.035 are Six Flags and Sea World. Kemah is not in a county with a population of a million.

- Jim
[Edited to correct typo]

[CHLSteve]

overall I think the boardwalk is getting seedy with the ambulatory & free-event crowd, so I would not recommend visiting the place for an evening stroll on a Saturday night.

Really? I was there a couple of weeks ago with my wife, on a Saturday night. We live close by, so we come down there a few times per year. I would disagree with your characterization of it--if what you intend to say is that it's an "unsafe" place to visit with your family! We take our young son fairly often.

Now there certainly is a new element that frequents the Kemah area as of recently. It started around September 1st, 2005 or so if you know what I mean.http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... 00884.html

[Bullitt]

overall I think the boardwalk is getting seedy with the ambulatory & free-event crowd, so I would not recommend visiting the place for an evening stroll on a Saturday night.

Really? I was there a couple of weeks ago with my wife, on a Saturday night. We live close by, so we come down there a few times per year. I would disagree with your characterization of it--if what you intend to say is that it's an "unsafe" place to visit with your family! We take our young son fairly often.

Now there certainly is a new element that frequents the Kemah area as of recently. It started around September 1st, 2005 or so if you know what I mean.http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... 00884.html

Steve,

Yes, we live in the Clear Lake area also, even though we stayed at the hotel. Been here since '85. Yes, I do think the element has changed there over the last couple of years. It could have been an off night, or it could be that Carni types are hanging there now regularly. Visit a carnival in downtown Houston and you will see what I mean. The restaurants however were fine. I hate to sound like an elitist, but price of admission does keep the riff-raff out.

[stevie_d_64]

I haven't seen anything there that leads me to believe that the Kemah boardwalk falls anywhere near the definitions as the major amusement parks around the state (that do fall within that scope) that would automatically restrict us...

I have though seen "some" things (on occasion, not everytime we've been there) that would cause me to carry anyway...

And still we have a wonderful time there...

I have also not heard of any serious incidents that would cause me to not patronize that venue...Seamus and a few others that live even closer than we do, would surely tell us if the information was lacking...

[seamusTX]

The Galveston County Daily News reports most of the violent felonies that occur in the county, certainly homicide and armed robbery. Nothing of the sort happens in Kemah. It's a tax-rich town with a large police force for its population, and the boardwalk has only one exit for vehicles. Crooks are dumb, but they would have to be really stupid to pull something there.

- Jim

[gregthehand]

Even if it was a full-blown amusement park with a gate it would have to post a valid 30.06 sign just like Six Flags, Sea World, etc.

[Penn]

Even if it was a full-blown amusement park with a gate it would have to post a valid 30.06 sign just like Six Flags, Sea World, etc.

Yes - people need to pay more attention in class.

[Venus Pax]

Whether it's seedy or not, it would still be a wise choice to carry there.

[Penn]

Personally - I think it's a good choice to carry everywhere.

[Liberty]

I don't think the place is any more dangerous than any other entertainment district. But a google search on Maceo Fertitta and Galveston will explain why I stay away.

[Venus Pax]

Personally - I think it's a good choice to carry everywhere.

[seamusTX]

I don't think the place is any more dangerous than any other entertainment district. But a google search on Maceo Fertitta and Galveston will explain why I stay away.

That stuff (Galveston gangsters) was over before either of us was born. I think Tilman Fertitta is clean as a whistle. Too many people, including some prosecutors, would take him down if they could.

The only reason I don't go to Kemah is that I have been there, done that, got the T-shirt, etc.

BTW, no Fertitta property that I know of is 30.06 posted. You have to give him credit for that.

- Jim

[stevie_d_64]

I don't think the place is any more dangerous than any other entertainment district. But a google search on Maceo Fertitta and Galveston will explain why I stay away.

That stuff (Galveston gangsters) was over before either of us was born. I think Tilman Fertitta is clean as a whistle. Too many people, including some prosecutors, would take him down if they could.

The only reason I don't go to Kemah is that I have been there, done that, got the T-shirt, etc.

BTW, no Fertitta property that I know of is 30.06 posted. You have to give him credit for that.

- Jim

Bingo!

His political/social fundraising functions are also a window to what he and his family are all about...