“The Lost Busch Gardens of Houston”

In 1971, Houston got a theme park that almost nobody remembers today—Busch Gardens Houston. Built next to the Anheuser-Busch brewery, this short-lived attraction blended Asian-inspired gardens with exotic animal exhibits, a narrow-gauge train, and even a frozen ice cave filled with penguins, polar bears, and sea lions. It was unlike anything else in Texas… and it closed within just a few years.

In this episode of The Middle of Fun, we dive into the story of how Busch Gardens Houston came to be, why it failed to capture the crowds, and why it remains one of the city’s most fascinating forgotten attractions. From frosty caves to missed expectations, join us as we rediscover a park that melted away almost as quickly as it appeared.