Spindletop Houston: From Gushing Oil to Revolving Around Your Dinner
Spindletop, Houston – the name conjures up images of either black gold erupting from the earth in a chaotic frenzy, or maybe a fancy restaurant slowly spinning you around for panoramic city views. But hold on there, partner, this Texas tale has more twists than a Spindletop waiter dodging a dropped crème brûlée on the moving floor.
The OG Spindletop: A Gusher of Epic Proportions
Back in the early 1900s, Spindletop was a sleepy little hill just outside of Houston. Then, in 1901, things got a little... explosive. A fella named Pattillo Higgins decided to drill for oil there, despite everyone saying it was a fool's errand. Well, those folks sure ate their Stetsons because oil came a-gushin' out of that well like a rogue fire hose! We're talking 150 feet in the air, 100,000 barrels a day. It was a wild time, let me tell you. The whole area turned into an oil boomtown overnight, and Houston hasn't looked back since. Spindletop put Texas on the map as a major oil producer, and we all know what that means – money, honey!
Spindletop Takes a Spin: The Rise (and Fall, and Rise) of the Revolving Restaurant
Fast forward a few decades, and Spindletop transforms from an oil patch to a posh perch. In 1972, the Hyatt Regency Houston hotel plops a fancy restaurant right on top, complete with a gimmick that would make any disco ball jealous – a revolving floor! Now, you could enjoy a romantic dinner for two while the city of Houston slowly did a ballet around you. Talk about setting the mood!
This revolving restaurant, also named Spindletop, became a Houston icon. Imagine the marriage proposals that happened as the city twinkled by, or the business deals sealed with a million-dollar view (literally, the view might have cost a million). But like all good things, the first Spindletop restaurant eventually took a tumble.
Hurricane Ike in 2008 wasn't kind to the revolving restaurant, and it shut down for a while. Fear not, fans of spinning meals! The Spindletop restaurant made a grand reappearance in 2017, once again offering breathtaking views and that signature slow spin. Just maybe hold onto your toddler a little tighter this time.
So, What's the Deal with Spindletop Today?
So, the next time you hear "Spindletop," you might be thinking of either a historic oil discovery that changed Houston's destiny, or a swanky restaurant that gives you a whole new perspective on dining. Either way, Spindletop is a reminder that Texas history is full of surprises, and sometimes, the best things in life come with a little spin.
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