ODESSA, Texas — A new form of entertainment is coming to Odessa and replacing an old icon. The Regal Permian Palace at Music City Mall closed down early last year, making way for the next generation of Odessa families.
Demolition is underway to tranform the movie theater into an Urban Air Park, and those on the job say it's a unique project -- not just because of the transformation -- but because of the legacy left behind and the future that lies ahead.
“Bringing in like 1,900 dump trucks and 11 movie theaters being destroyed and 22,000 seats removed – it’s an overwhelming feat," said Ginamarie Soto, Owner of Urban Air Odessa.
As the credits roll on the regal theater, a new movie is set to begin.
"It is the first Urban Air to convert a movie theater, an ultrasound movie theater, into an Urban Air where the height of the ceilings is amazing to have for the Sky Rider," said Soto. "To put in a go-kart track; inside the demo of the movie theater the depth is incredible. It was just poised and primed for an Urban Air – it's just a perfect landscape."
Urban Air Odessa is an adventure park set to turn rubble into a racetrack.
“When you walk down the halls of an old theater – replacing that with open air trampolines and go-karts, you really have to, kind of, have a 3-D vision in your mind of how all of that’s going to fit in this area," said Luke Snow, Construction Superintendent of Witz Incorporated in Houston.
An area that will also include some legacy, says Music City Mall General Manager Greg Morgan.
“There’s a lot of nostalgia with the building and we hope to maintain some of that," Morgan said. "Some of the original pieces that were here, the new lessee will try and incorporate into their new business as well, so you’ll be able to come through and say, ‘oh hey I remember that little thing, that little piece of the sign’ or something like that – it’ll be neat.”
Signage that means a lot to Odessans.
“We would like to definitely auction off some of the signage for charity so we’re working with that," Soto said. "So, to bring the community together and then give back to the community with this place – I think it’s forever going to give back.”
For one couple, a piece of signage is history.
“We had a man walk in saying he was going to marry someone after 10 years he met in the movie theater 1, so he wanted the sign for their wedding this past weekend," Soto said. "It was really special.”
While new entertainment arrives, some things never change.
“The guy that wanted the sign and gave it to his future wife from movie theater 1, I hope their kids get to have their first date here and enjoy it," Soto said.
Now there will be an official groundbreaking ceremony with city leaders on Monday, May 8th at 1 P.M. at Music City Mall to celebrate what this means for business in Odessa.