Galveston Schlitterbahn almost ready

After months of construction and some setbacks, the Galveston Schlitterbahn water park is about ready to open, and its owner hopes it'll be a national tourist attraction. The park is the third in the Schlitterbahn empire: the first opened in New Braunfels in 1979, the second in South Padre in 2001. The $34 million Galveston version will have something new, though — a 70,000-square-foot indoor section with a retractable roof, which will allow the park to stay open all winter.

The park, across the street from Moody Gardens, will probably open sometime in mid-March, with a summer opening date of April 22. And don't worry about hurricanes: owner Jeff Henry said the park is built to withstand 132 mph winds. "I think we're going to be OK," he said. "I hope we are."