Playland Park (Houston, Texas)

Playland Park was an amusement park located in Houston, Texas operating between 1940 and 1967. Louis Slusky opened Playland Park in 1940 at 9200 South Main. It is remembered for its wooden roller coaster, Giant Skyrocket. Texas' first elevated monorail train briefly operated near the park. Next to the park was an adjoining stock-car racetrack known as Playland Speedway. Playland Park closed in 1967, just prior to nearby AstroWorld opening in 1968. Several of its rides had already ceased operations years prior. By 1973, the land where the park once stood was entirely vacant. Years later, it was redeveloped into retail space and apartments.

Playland Park, Houston should not be confused with the Playland Park located in San Antonio, Texas which opened around the same time and had a wooden roller coaster similarly named The Rocket.