Amusement Park News

Located along Galveston Bay and Clear Lake, the Kemah Boardwalk spans 60-acres just 30 miles south of Houston, Texas. The beloved boardwalk amusement attractions made a significant upgrade this year on the Boardwalk Bullet, its signature wooden roller coaster.

Kemah Boardwalk general manager Jacob Bigger relates that the Boardwalk Bullet is “one of our premier attractions here…[one] that attracts over 300,000 riders annually.” The thrilling ride includes a 92-foot drop, multiple turns, 42 crossovers, a 3.5x G-force, and a top speed of 51 miles per hour. The ride is positioned just 5-feet away from Galveston Bay, offering stellar coastal views. It was designed by The Gravity Group and constructed by Martin & Vleminckx Rides in 2007. Constructed from pressure-treated southern yellow pine, regular maintenance is key, especially due to the ride's coastal location.



Bigger relates that the Bullet receives multiple accelerometer readings annually, which the company uses to ascertain if any track areas need further inspection. The readings are compared over time to other readings in order to see how the track holds up. “This process has led to us putting the coaster on a multiyear, multi-phased plan that has included re-establishing its centerline,” Bigger reports.

Kemah boardwalk works with both The Gravity Group and Texas Skilled Carpentry on maintenance and improvement, with Texas Skilled Carpentry working on the ride for over 13 years, according to Luis Acevedo, the company's owner. Acevedo's son Johny Acevedo notes that this year the company worked on several different areas of the ride, including installing brand-new magnetic brakes in the brake run. Last year, even more extensive work was performed, when the entire lift hill on the vertical track was changed. The reason? Johny Acevedo explains, was “to eliminate any sag…when bends are too far apart.”

Bigger reveals that Kemah has also used new materials when upgrading the wood on the ride, including the Brazilian hardwood, Ipe. The boardwalk has also upgraded the ride control system to make the Bullet feel smoother and more enjoyable for guests, as well as to enhance rider safety.

Considering the wooden coaster's proximity to the Gulf waters and sea breezes, humidity and salt can affect the coaster adversely if it were not properly maintained. The location's year-round approach to maintenance on the 3,235-long track is the saving grace, which Bigger fully utilizes to preserve the classic ride and enhance the overall experience.

Along with the structure of the coaster itself, Bigger says the amusement park makes sure the train cars are also in peak operating condition. There are two trains with six cars each, allowing 24 riders on each of the trains, and carrying 800 passengers per hour. In 2017, Philadelphia Toboggan Company, the original supplier, completely overhauled them.

Of course, Kemah Boardwalk also performs regular updates on all 15 of its amusement rides, as well as the boardwalk's party, dinner, and sightseeing yacht, the FantaSea Yacht. The boat completed a $740,000 remodeling last year, following a four-month closure. The boardwalk maintains a fleet of yachts, with the FantaSea one of the vessels since 2011. The remodel stripped the boat all the way to bare metal for new decking, new carpeting, and shiny new paint.

Currently Kemah Boardwalk is performing maintenance on its Drop Zone ride. The free-falling experience plunges riders down 140 feet and creates a thrilling sensation that make the tower drop ride feel even higher.



Additionally, a four-year project to improve congestion on access to the boardwalk via Highway 146 is nearing completion despite construction delays.

Other rides at Kemah Boardwalk include the Century Wheel, a double decker carousel, a CP Huntington Train, and other thrillers such as Pharoah's Fury. Rides can be experienced individually, or attendees can purchase an all-day pass for multiple rides, priced at $28.99 for adults and $22.99 for kids under 48” in height. Discounts are made available for military and veterans.

Also a part of the boardwalk attraction mix are midway games such as Longshot Basketball and a Balloon Bust game, indoor arcade games, dancing water fountains and splash pad for kids' play, a playground, and the Stingray Reef attraction and rainforest exhibit inside the Aquarium Restaurant.

According to Bigger, the boardwalk also hosts a variety of special events. Upcoming on September 29th is a salsa festival – the dancing kind, not the spicy dip for chips. There will be a live band as well as dancing.

On October 5 and 6, the boardwalk will hold its 2024 Oktoberfest, replete with nine different types of beer, souvenir steins, a corn hole tournament and both costume and stein-holding competitions. Food items will include schnitzel, bratwurst, and soft pretzels.



Throughout the month of October, the boardwalk also hosts its annual “Freaky Fridays” and “Spooky Sundays,” with a variety of events ranging from DJs to movie nights, Trick or Treating for kids, and a fun house for little kids plus the considerably more frightening Phobia Haunted House and Doom seasonal attractions for the older crowd.

And on October 27th, a special Dia de Los Muertes event is set that includes a performance by Ballet Folklorico En La Piel, a Day of the Dead costume contest, and live music that includes a Shakira Tribute act.