All Houston city tours and attractions will be suspended at least through Sunday as Southern Texas braces for Hurricane Ike, a Category 2 storm that's already churning up huge waves that are slamming into the Galveston Island. The eye of the storm is expected to hit Houston this evening along the Texas Gulf Coast, where mandatory evacuations have been in effect.
Houston Space Center will be closed Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, September 12-14, 2008 due to Hurricane Ike, according to the Johnson Space center website www.spacecenter.org. Space Center officials said that they will honor all tours ticket holders for another day after Ike will pass the area.
Because of weather conditions associated with the arrival of Hurricane Ike, the Houston Zoo will be closed, Friday September 12. After the storm threat has passed, Zoo officials will assess the effects of the storm and determine and appropriate opening date and operating hours. Information regarding the Zoo's hours of operation will be posted on the Zoo's Web site, www.houstonzoo.org. Zoo animals will not be evacuated prior to the storm's arrival. 'The Zoo has strong and secure off exhibit holding areas for our animals,' said Zoo official. It would be far more stressful for the animals to move them out of the Zoo than to keep them in these familiar surroundings in the care of the keepers that they know and trust.
The Lynchburg Ferry and the Bolivar Ferry are ceased all operations on Thursday.Battleship Texas S.H.S. & San Jacinto Battleground S.H.S Park is currently closed until further notice, due to Hurricane Ike.
Several Texas State Parks have evacuated campers and closed due to Ike, Evacuees from storm-damaged areas may tent camp at no cost in Texas State Parks, and they may stay in cabins or screen shelters at discounted rates. The latest information is available through the Texas State Parks reservation center at (512) 389-8900 or on the TPWD Web site (www.tpwd.state.tx.us).
*** Galina Tulchinsky, US Expert Tour Guide, American Riviera Tours, http://americanrivieratours.com
