1. Fayez Sarofim - unless things have changed, he's the richest person in Houston. Dude had way more clout and connections that anyone listed so far. Fertitta isn't in the same league, yet alone ballpark.
For the complete attraction package, it was $15.99 per adult and free for kids under 2. That included being able to walk through all the acquariums, the shark train tour and all the amusement rides, which are grocery store parking lot quality at best. The menu was pricey. Minimum $10-$12 for an entre. I ordered a rib-eye that was $22 and it tasted like a dirty shoe. It was dry and had absolutely no flavor to it. The bread was rock hard and the cokes were watered down. I only finished it because I did pay $22 for it and I ended up getting sick on the way home and had to pull over and use a gas station restroom. On top of it all, because the rodeo was in town, this cowboy magicial kept bothering us at the table because we were practically the only ones eating in there. Throw in a couple of souveniers and you are over $200. The ****ty thing is, the won't even let you take your own photos in certain places. You have to pay for them to take your photo. Stupid.
Fertita's restaurants are overpriced and overrated but I think he has enhanced the city with the attractions. When you go to Kemah, hang out on the boardwalk and eat at one of the local eateries. I also like eating at the Willie G's on the Pier in Galveston. That's really nice and the food is pretty good, still overpriced though.
Yeah im thinking we'll do the zoo in the Spring. I would also think that NASA would be a relatively cheap afternoon. Definitely wouldn't go back to the acquarium though. For a Saturday afternoon, that place was totally dead. I can't imagine what it costs to run that place.
we almost went to the aquarium the weekend before last. plans ended up falling through. i've heard others say the same thing you're saying. went to the zoo last year for my son's birthday and had a blast. i'm a lifelong, 4th generation houstonian....i've NEVER been to the space center! i want to go. i think my wife is taking my older son and a friend of his this week.
this thread also isn't taking the underbelly of the city into consideration. I imagine there are some quite powerful shady dudes in the city. Especially considering our huge port and proximity to central and and south america.
i'll say leadbelly shoul be up there. he was born in louisiana, but lived all over the area between shreveport and houston. houston has commonalities with the rest of texas but also affinities with its neighbor, louisiana, and with the deep south. dallas, austin or san antonio do not. leadbelly's music is a cultural bridge that had a huge influence on guys like woody guthrie, pete seeger and the origins of rock and roll.
I think we're talking about Houstonians who are still alive, although for an all-time list, Huddie Ledbetter would be up there.
Heard that aquarium place cost $30 mil to build...maybe an exaggeration but thats what i think they said over there.
He's rich, but he's not even one of the richest. Houston has its fair share of oil Billionaires and guys pretty close to a billion that you've never heard of...they do more to influence the city than Tillman can ever hope to.
if dead are considered, judge hofeinze should be on there. he brought the coldest foam in the dome! and the national recognition that came with it.
I agree. I don't think you could underestimate the impact building the Dome had on Houston, in so many ways. Also, whoever was behind the construction of the Ship Channel deserves kudos. They/he would be long dead, of course. LBJ brought NASA to Houston. Was he an honorary Houstonian??
