Kemah Boardwalk

Kemah Boardwalk
Location Kemah, Texas, United States
Coordinates 29°32′52″N 95°1′2″W / 29.54778°N 95.01722°WCoordinates: 29°32′52″N 95°1′2″W / 29.54778°N 95.01722°W
Owner Landrys, Inc.
Opened 1997
Operating season Year-round
Rides
Total 15
Roller coasters Boardwalk Bullet
Water rides The Beast
Website http://www.kemahboardwalk.com

The Kemah Boardwalk is a 60-acre Texas Gulf Coast entertainment destination in Kemah,Texas,[1] approximately 30 miles southeast of Downtown Houston, Texas. The Boardwalk is built entirely along the shores of Galveston Bay and Clear Lake,[2] and is considered among the premier boardwalks in the United States.[3] The complex is owned and operated by Landry’s, Inc., and is home to more than 10 restaurants, a collection of rides, midway games, attractions, a boutique hotel, a charter yacht, a 400-slip marina and multiple shops.[4] There is no charge to walk around on the boardwalk. Tickets for rides can be purchased individually or all-day ride passes are available. Restaurants on the boardwalk include Landry’s Seafood, Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., Saltgrass Steak House,Cadillac Bar and many others.[5]

History

Landry’s,Inc. acquired property along the Kemah Waterfront and opened the Kemah Boardwalk in 1999.[6] In 2007 the Boardwalk Bullet, a high-speed wooden roller coaster opened on the boardwalk. The 96-foot-tall, 3,236-foot-long roller coaster is built on a 1-acre footprint, making it one of the most compact roller coasters in the world.[7]

Accommodations, Rides, Restaurants & Attractions

A side view of the Boardwalk Bullet taken on April 26, 2009.


Accommodations

The 56-room Boardwalk Inn is a boutique hotel located in the middle of the Boardwalk. The hotel offers residentially-appointed guest rooms and suites. Each room includes its own private balcony overlooking the Boardwalk and Galveston Bay. The hotel also has a private swimming pool for guests.

Current Rides

Ride Name Year Opened Ride Type Description
Aviator 2004 Swing Ride Swinging ride lifts riders into the air before swinging them around multiple times.
Balloon Wheel 2004 Mini Ferris Wheel Small Ferris wheel designed for younger riders.
Boardwalk Beast 2007 Speedboat The 70-foot Boardwalk Beast runs seasonally, taking guests on a 25-minute ride cruising across Galveston Bay at more than 40 mph.
Boardwalk Bullet 2007 Custom Wooden Roller Coaster A 96-foot- tall roller coaster that reaches speeds of more than 51 mph along a 3,236-foot-long track. The ride was manufactured by Martin & Vleminckx and designed by The Gravity Group.
Boardwalk Express 1998 C.P. Huntington Train A replica of the famous 1863 C.P. Huntington train travels around the entire Boardwalk.
Boardwalk Tower 2004 Observation Tower Ride gently rotates and rises to the top of a tall tower. At the top, riders can take in views of the surrounding area, seeing miles away.
Double-Decker Carousel 2008 Double Decker Carousel A 28-foot-tall double-decker carousel with sea creatures, zoo animals and more.
Drop Zone 2009 Free Fall Tower Ride Riders rise slowly to the top of a 140-foot tower before a free fall back down.
Ferris Wheel 1998 Ferris Wheel A 65-foot-tall Ferris wheel.
Flare 2014 Fire Ball A 73-foot tall looping coaster ride.
Iron Eagle 2013 Zip-Line

Ride

 A two-seat zip-line ride will take riders soaring over the Boardwalk.
Jungle Bounce 2011 Frog Hopper Ride lifts younger riders up and down in a gentle bouncing motion.
Pharaoh's Fury 1998 Pendulum Ride Pendulum boat ride rocks back and forth, moving higher and higher with each swing.
Red Baron 2008 Airplane Kid's Ride Younger riders sit in the cockpit of a tiny plane as the ride rotates circularly.
Wipeout 2009 Spinning Rides Riders travel at high-speed in a circular motion as the ride rises and tilts.

Restaurants

Ride Name Year Opened Serving Description
Aquarium Restaurant 1998 Lunch

Dinner

 Guests dine in an undersea-inspired atmosphere around massive floor-to-ceiling centerpiece aquariums. Menu offers steak, seafood, chicken and desserts.
Bayside Grille 2010 Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

 Adjacent the Boardwalk Inn, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. Features coffee, baked goods and a kid's menu.
Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. 2013 Lunch

Dinner

 Only restaurant concept based on a major motion picture, the hit movie Forrest Gump. Guests dine in an atmosphere inspired by the movie. Menu features multiple varieties of shrimp, seafood, steaks and more. Offers outdoor patio.
Cadillac Bar 1998 Lunch

Dinner

Weekend Breakfast

 Restaurant serves authentic Mexican food. Closed Mondays. On Saturday and Sunday, the restaurant offers an extensive breakfast menu. Offers outdoor patio.
Flying Dutchman 1997 Lunch

Dinner

 Restaurant is a Kemah icon with a large waterfront patio. Menu features fresh seafood creations and platters, alongside pastas, chicken and steaks.
Landry's Seafood 1990 Lunch

Dinner

 Restaurant sits in the middle of the Boardwalk, with patio dining right on the water. Menu features steaks, chicken, pasta, fish and seafood.
Lighthouse Buffet 2010 Lunch

Dinner

 Casual atmosphere with 75 feet of buffet, featuring soups, salads, entrées, salad bar offerings frozen yogurt and dessert bar.
Red Sushi & Hibachi 2008 Dinner Restaurant serves traditional Japanese cuisine, sushi and a Hibachi grill. Chef presentations at tables.
Pizza Oven 2010 Lunch

Dinner

 Serves salads, sandwiches and a wide variety of hearty thin-crust pizzas baked in a stone hearth. Located adjacent the Boardwalk Inn.
Saltgrass Steak House 2004 Lunch

Dinner

 Inspired by Texas' Saltgrass cattle drives, restaurant serves steaks, chicken and seafood in a rustic atmosphere.
Starbucks 2010 Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

 Serves coffee, cold drinks, sandwiches and baked goods.
Sweet Scoops 2011 Opens daily a 11a.m. Ice cream shop adjacent the Boardwalk Inn.

Attractions

Boardwalk FantaSea A 133-passenger charter yacht, available for private events. Public dinner cruises also scheduled throughout the year.
Marina With more than 400 slips, the Kemah Boardwalk Marina is located in the heart of one of the nation's largest concentrations of boats and yachts. Daily slip rates available.[8]
Midway Games Throughout the boardwalk, a wide variety of midway games give guests a chance to win prizes.
Shopping Multiple retail kiosks and full shops throughout the property. Current stores include Treasure Chest Gift Shop, Surfs Up Beach Wear, Boardwalk Fun Shirts, Christmas at Kemah, The Toy Crossing, Blayne's Boardwalk Fashions, Thomas Kinkade Gallery, Kandy at Kemah, Saltgrass Junction, Violets are Blue, Kemah Country Store and others.
Stingray Reef Adjacent Aquarium Restaurant, the Stingray Reef allows visitors to touch and feed live stingrays. The Rainforest Exhibit allows guests to view snakes, turtles, fish and more.

References

  1. ↑ http://www.kemahboardwalk.com/
  2. ↑ http://www.visithoustontexas.com/listings/Kemah-Boardwalk/23284/
  3. ↑ http://travel.yahoo.com/photos/america-s-most-awesome-boardwalks-1374794404-slideshow/best-boardwalks-kemah-photo-1374794643650.html
  4. ↑ http://www.landrysinc.com/concepts/familydestinations.asp
  5. ↑ http://www.kemahboardwalk.com/visitor-info.asp
  6. ↑ http://restaurant-hospitality.com/features/rh_imp_6720
  7. ↑ http://www.gizmag.com/go/8000/
  8. ↑ http://www.vacationfun.com/ebrochures/BayAreaHouston/ibrochure/print.html