I have a friend who swears on his 1988 Fleer baseball card set, that way back, sometime in the mid 80s, there existed something called the Play-more. According to his vivid imagination, the Playmore was a cross between Putt-Putt golf and Disney's Epcott Center. Every time he starts to rant about how good things were in the 80s in Laredo (minus the unpaved streets), his eyes light up and a goofy smile fills his face (a goofier smile than usual).
Go carts, arcades, a skating rink, a movie theater, according to my buddy, this place was Laredo's version of Astroworld. However, apparently, you have to be over 33 to remember this lost haven of yesteryear. I only arrived in 1992 to Laredo, years after this place apparently vanished. So if anyone out there remembers this place, drop by and leave some comments. Pictures of this lost city would be great appreciated. I think its just a crazy sugar induced illusion that my buddy concocted in between his imaginary friends.
Someone out there prove me wrong. Did the Playmore really exist? Was it really one of the wonders of the world? Why did it disappear? Where was it located? Whatever happen to Jimmy Hoffa? So many questions, so little answers. Drop me a line if you got some info!
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19 comments:
Your friend is correct it was a mini mall as well. Had a small food court and it was a wonder to Laredo at the time. Yes it had all those things your friend states .Roque Vela managed it or was owner or part owner. I had a fun time in there !
Sure thing. Your buddy is right De Laredo.
El PlayMor--where Family Gardens Inn now stands next to the Walker Plaza--had it all.
And what was fascinating about it now is that it was on the edge of the wilderness, so to speak. It was, in other words, the edge of town. Home Depot, Wal Mart, Office, Max, etc., were still a figment of someone's imagination.
The go karts were fun. The bowling alley and the skating rink were fun. The movie theater, where I saw Rocky III, was there too.
Good times.
Definitely existed. My parents have told me about since it was during their generation, during the 80's.
a very very very cool thing playmor.... i remember going to the movies, playing pinball, bowling, and hangin' there all the time. it was a tiny slice of magic in laredo. i remember playing the death race two thousand video game there, based on the move with david carradine. it also had the first 'pong' video game that i can recall in laredo!
Yep, I remember it too. I saw Star Wars in that movie theater and played my first round of pool. You could go skating there and skate around the pool tables too, but not so much around the bowling lanes.
Yes Playmore does exist in Laredo, it has a up level restaurant, great enchiladas,
it has a theater very small but elegant, i saw great movies there like grease, starwars back in 1976
it has a big skeating area, bowling, arcade machines, pool tables, and go karts outside, that was so wonderful memories, i wish if someone has photos.
The PlayMore definately existed and it was the "in" place to be every weekend. Anything you wanted to do, was in one great place. You had a great movie theatre, where I saw FootLoose, the upper level restuarant and it's openness, where you got to see everything and everyone from up there was great! The pool tables, bowling and the Go Karts only added to the experience....but the one thing thta kept everyone going back was the skating ring! It was the place to be and it's sad that it was eventually closed and replaced with a bank and hotel.
PlayMore used to be on the corner of Mann Road and Santa Ursula.
Ohhhh Memories....
I hope someone has pic and will post them.
This is so cool that others remember. I lived in Laredo between 1972-74 on the 300 block of Del Mar Blvd. across the street from a park and a swimming pool. Except for the baseball diamond a little catty-corner from me, all we had was El PlayMor on the other side of the freeway.
Back then (1972) you walked you could go to either the left or right. On the left was a wig store, a couple other stores and then the movie theater. Saw Zardoz there with my dad. Behind the theater was the bowling alley.
To the right of the bowling alley was the roller skating rink... and in front of that was the arcade were I saw my first Pong game and the Dog Bone video racer.
There were offices in the middle, but above them was a restaurant. If you finished circling around, you were heading back to the front on the right side. My barber had his shop there. I think there was a real estate agent and an insurance agent... and, right by the door, the coolest black light poster/record store.
Nobody believes me when I talk about that place. I live in Tucson now and this place screams for a PlaMor.
This is so cool that others remember. I lived in Laredo between 1972-74 on the 300 block of Del Mar Blvd. across the street from a park and a swimming pool. Except for the baseball diamond a little catty-corner from me, all we had was El PlayMor on the other side of the freeway.
Back then (1972) you walked you could go to either the left or right. On the left was a wig store, a couple other stores and then the movie theater. Saw Zardoz there with my dad. Behind the theater was the bowling alley.
To the right of the bowling alley was the roller skating rink... and in front of that was the arcade were I saw my first Pong game and the Dog Bone video racer.
There were offices in the middle, but above them was a restaurant. If you finished circling around, you were heading back to the front on the right side. My barber had his shop there. I think there was a real estate agent and an insurance agent... and, right by the door, the coolest black light poster/record store.
Nobody believes me when I talk about that place. I live in Tucson now and this place screams for a PlaMor.
I remember when it first opened......
I remember going there to skate and watch movies as a kid. It was an awesome place, had a little of everything: movie theatre, pool tables, small bar at the bowling lanes area, roller rink, video game arcade, restaurant, and go=kart track outside! I think a place like that would still be a hit today. Only problem now days would be liability issues. I remember seeing, Superman, Star Wars, An American Warewolf in London, Alien, ect. there. Some pics of the place would be neat to see!
Yes your friend says the truth I knew the place since me and my brother went to often with our uncle and other kids< unfortunately what i hear that great place disappear for whatever reason the only thing I can tell and I knew a lot of people will be the same its that Wonder Place The PLAYMORE will be Alive in our Hearts and Memories for a Life, cheers to all the people enjoy that wonder decade!
There was definitely a Play-More in Laredo. Went there all the time and had lots of fun.
Who had time for pictures with one of the GREATEST WONDER WE EVER SEEN
Memories last forever picture's fade away
Viva EL PLA-MOR in our hearts forever ...
I don't care what people think OR say
It was there just like Rae , Mario, and Jason Michaels said and myself Karen
This was the best place to hang out. Movies, bowling restaurant,pool,go carts a group of friends and would spend all our time there it was our home away from. We had skating contest against CC,Texas. We spent so much time there that they let us skate for free if we picked up all the skates LOL! It was awesome, The shirt shop even made us T-shirts with our names on the back. Cookie if you see this thank you and Mr. R you had an amazing place for kids. Love!
This was the best place to hang out. Movies, bowling restaurant,pool,go carts a group of friends and would spend all our time there it was our home away from. We had skating contest against CC,Texas. We spent so much time there that they let us skate for free if we picked up all the skates LOL! It was awesome, The shirt shop even made us T-shirts with our names on the back. Cookie if you see this thank you and Mr. R you had an amazing place for kids. Love!
Play-Mor, Gambit, Bordertown outdoor movies, Shakleys, Roxys night club--we had it all!
The best times !!!! Pla-Mor was IT!!!! LOVED IT!!!!
and it's opening again!!!!! Groundbreaking will be next week !!!!
Any pictures?
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