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Location DB > United States > Texas > Galveston > The Flagship Hotel
 Name
The Flagship Hotel
 Viewing Options
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 Database Info
created by Secretsquirrel on 3/16/2009 4:16 PM
last modified by Price on 4/23/2011 5:36 PM
 Viewability
Publically Viewable Publically Viewable
This location has been labeled as Demolished, and therefore can be viewed by anyone.
 Overview
 Description
7 story hotel built on a 1000 foot pier off of the Galveston seawall.
 Basic Information
Type: Building
Status: Demolished
Accessibility: Difficult
Recommendation: forget it
 Physical Information
Address
2501 Seawall Boulevard
Galveston, Texas
United States
Owner: Tillman Fertitta
 Hazards
  • rust
  • unsafe flooring
  • water
  •  Interesting Features
    its gone.
     Security Measures
  • fences
  • locked gates
  • workers
  •  Historical Dates
    Built: 1964
    Closed: 2008
     Required Equipment
  • flashlight
  • long pants / sleeves
  •  Recommended Equipment

     History
    Back in 1912, forward thinking city promoters dreamed of an amusement pier similar to the one in Atlantic City. Time passed by, but in 1931, plans were drawn up for a 700 foot pier with an auditorium . Construction did not start until right before World War II. By 1944, the pier was almost completed, but it did not fully open until after the war in 1948. The new pier, named Pleasure Pier , was four blocks long with a ballroom, an outdoor theater, a snack bar, and a T-head fishing area. Unfortunately, it was not profitable and Galveston defaulted on its payments earning the name: "Galveston's White Elephant." Hurricane Carla damaged the buildings but not the structure of the pier in 1961. Houston businessman James E. Lyon negotiated for the pier in 1963, paying the government $179,000 for the defaulted bonds (amazing with the accumulated interest these bonds had a face value of $2,300,000.) Galveston gave Lyon $2,000,000 in new bonds in exchange for those old bonds and issued another $1,800,000 bonds to Lyon. Lyon agreed to pay Galveston $185,000 annual rent for forty years which would pay off the bonds. When the bonds were paid off, Galveston would own the hotel. With these funds, the Flagship Hotel was built in 1964. It was originally designed to resemble a ship on the inside and was named the USS Flagship. The hotel has slowly gone downhill overtime. A lack of maintenance and much needed renovation left the hotel in very poor condition. In 2004, the operator of the hotel, Daniel Yeh filed for bankruptcy. He was convicted for fraud having to do with him lodging hurricane Katrina victims. In 2008 hurricane Ike blew through and caused extensive damage to the Hotel and also the pier it sits on. The main drive way to the parking lot collapsed and the T-head fishing area suffered serious damage. Officials said that employees were allowed back inside to collect their personal belongings , but ever since then has been abandon.
     Media Coverage

     Future Plans
    Has been demo'd and will soon be turned into a new age Pleasure Pier like Kemah.
     Stories


    Add your own story
     Photo Galleries
    Click to view gallery
    Flagship interior
    Mon, Mar 16th, 2009
    posted by Secretsquirrel
    25 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    More Flagship pictures.
    Mon, Jan 18th, 2010
    posted by backslider26
    25 pictures


    Add your own photos

    Mark all galleries as Seen
     Web Links
    www.flagshiphotel.com
     Contribute

    Edit this Location
     Moderator Rating
    The moderator rating is a neutral rating of the content quality, photography, and coolness of this location.

    Category Rating
    Photography 7 / 10
    Coolness 9 / 10
    Content Quality 8 / 10
     Validation
    This location's validation is current. It was last validated by Opheliaism on 4/23/2011 7:18 PM.

     Latest Changes
  • on Apr 23 11 at 19:18, Opheliaism validated this location
  • on Apr 23 11 at 17:36, Price changed the following: Recommendation
  • on Apr 23 11 at 17:35, Price changed the following: Status, Accessibility, Interesting Features, Security Measures, Future Plans
  • on Jan 18 10 at 22:57, Opheliaism validated this location
  • on Jan 18 10 at 22:07, backslider26 reordered images in gallery More Flagship pictures.
  • on Jan 18 10 at 22:05, backslider26 updated gallery picture 2010_01180042.JPG
  • on Jan 18 10 at 22:05, backslider26 updated gallery picture 2010_01180053.JPG
  • on Jan 18 10 at 22:05, backslider26 updated gallery picture 2010_01180046.JPG
  • on Jan 18 10 at 22:04, backslider26 updated gallery picture 2010_01180040.JPG
  • on Jan 18 10 at 22:03, backslider26 updated gallery picture 2010_01180037.JPG
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