Chapin City Blues

Shaun (you remember him, right?) has taken an interest in the past. Not history in the sense of historical moments that made it into the textbooks, but the hidden stories in the community around him.  

His most recent interest is Gorilla George’s, an “indoor amusement park” that was big in the 90s. It was the place to host your birthday party. Though, as years went by, its popularity began to wane until it finally shut its doors.  

So armed with my Newspapers.com account, he set off to find some articles of interest. Here are a few of the things he found.  

Indoor amusement park opens its doors to kids

McALLEN — Gorilla George’s has opened its doors, and this isn’t just monkey business.

McAllen businessman George Thatcher and his wife, Laura, plan to make a profit by making kids smile. They have invested around $500,000 in an indoor amusement park for kids, complete with mechanical rides, bumper cars, games and a concession stand.

George Thatcher said he has been toying with the idea of putting an indoor fun park in McAllen since 1988.

“When I first walked into an indoor park I knew it was something I wanted to do down here,” he said.

Gorilla George’s, which already has created 30 part-time jobs for high school and college kids, opened its doors to kids on Saturday, and Thatcher said he was encouraged by the turnout.

The amusement park should catch on because it’s a safe, cool place for kids to play, and the nearest competitor is in San Antonio, Thatcher said.

“There’s nothing like this for a least 250 miles, he said. “Parents can plan a party far ahead in advance because they don’t have to worry about the weather.”

With the walls covered by a multi-colored mural full of jungle animals and the floor space packed with carnival rides, it’s hard to believe the fun house, located in the Miracle Mile Center on U.S. Business 83, was a bingo parlor only a few months ago.

Thatcher said he had helped when considering which rides to offer.

“I’d go to the parks and watch the children to see which ride put the biggest smiles on their faces,” he said. “My final test is always the children.”

2nd Anniversary Saturday, October 14th.

A New View

Gorilla George’s is on the move. The family entertainment center is leaving its current home for a bigger, better one in Pharr and will be transformed into a non-traditional entertainment and bowling facility.