posted December 02, 2009 11:14 AM               

The Outpost is Closing... And this time, it is for good.

Together, Gene Ross, my mother, Sharon, and myself, have kept the Outpost Tavern going for the last thirty years, it has stayed open. My Mom and Gene being the bulk of it, I was meant to be the "Closer" of this deal! Good or bad, whatever anyone thinks of how we did it, we kept it open for you!

However, like many good things in life, sometimes "we" are not in charge. In this case, the property that the OP sits on has been going through many changes ownership-wise, since Pete Wright died, and there has always been a certain air of uncertainty about what may happen in the future. Well, the future is here. I have been informed that the property has been sold to another party.

Rather than wait, wondering when or if someone would come in and say "get out by Friday," I would like to give everyone notice that in January, we close. Finished. The End.

This way, we can enjoy the place a while longer, and make plans on how to save what we can. I would rather have the Outpost close my way, instead of having someone shut us down one day without so much as a "fare-well."

All-in-all, you must admit that it has been an interesting and fun run for this little bar. I hope that in the next several weeks, as we wind down the Outpost Tavern, we can see old faces once again. I was about eleven-years old when the OP first opened as "The Outpost," and now I have two kids and just celebrated my something-ith-birthday. Some who have been coming in have been there for longer, since it was Fort Terry's. You know who you are!

This is not a time to get mad, but instead to remember all the fun that everyone has had here. Most everyone who has been around here for any length of time has known for years that eventually, this day would come. I hate it. You hate it. But, here we are.

In 2010, it will be thirty years (yes!) since Gene bought the place from Terry. So, to end the Outpost Tavern, we will have one hell of a blow-out thirtieth Anniversary party. Hope everyone can attend!

posted December 02, 2009 02:30 PM               

Bad news, a true legend of a place. The bar scene in "Space Cowboys" was filmed there. In 2001 when my eldest son and I were stranded there we visited. As we were leaving I threw him out the door. He looked at me and asked what that was for?

posted December 06, 2009 10:10 AM               

Just heard from Stephanie on the farewell party dates (yes, plural):

Jan 8, 9 and 10, 2010

More details will be announced within the next week (at least those of you who are traveling from afar can start making travel arrangements)

posted December 11, 2009 10:46 PM               

Noticeably missing is much of the memorabilia that once covered the walls, which has now been moved into storage to avoid it being stolen. According to one of the bartenders, the autographed photos and other items are being cycled on display as the owners decide what to do with everything.

posted January 18, 2010 09:53 AM               

Unfortunately, the owners of the land parcel upon which the OutPost Tavern sits have accelerated the "closing date" by changing the door locks on January 14, 2010. This was completely unexpected and I am sorry for our friends who had planned parties throughout the month.

Attorney Richard Melamed, who represents the building's landlord, Walter Wright, said there was a disagreement over when the bar would close. He referred questions to Wright.

Wright said in response that he and his brothers own the business and its contents, as well as the building, and that they intend to move the building and reopen. He said he acted to close it before Foster's farewell plans were completed because he feared "thousands of dollars" worth of memorabilia had already been removed.

"We had no choice," he said. "We're in the process of getting the building repositioned."

He added, "We're trying to preserve the Outpost as hard as we can, from a historical perspective."

Wright said he is trying to have the building, a World War II-era Quonset hut (his description), moved to a location on the existing tract of land, perhaps 100 feet away. He said he hopes to continue to sell food and beer there but "upgrade" to make the place more family-oriented. He did not provide a specific time frame.

"If he thinks he is going to use the Outpost Tavern name," [Foster] said, "absolutely this is going to court."

posted October 16, 2010 04:37 AM               

According to press reports from earlier this year, the building had been emptied by its former proprietor of much of the iconic space memorabilia that lined its walls.

posted October 16, 2010 11:36 AM               

Former astronaut hangout destroyed in fire

The former Outpost Tavern, which for over two decades served as a popular astronaut hangout in Webster, Texas, was destroyed by a fire Friday night.

The cause of the blaze, which was well underway when the Webster Police Department were called to the scene at 10:30 p.m., is under investigation.

Click on image to enlarge. Credit: collectSPACE

"There was no electricity running to the building," assistant fire chief Rick Vargas told collectSPACE. "It is certainly suspicious."

Vargas and his fellow firefighters were on site on Saturday morning dousing the still smoldering pile of debris with water and foam.

Click on image to enlarge. Credit: collectSPACE

Vargas said that none of the tavern's trademark astronaut and space memorabilia that once lined its walls had been found among the burnt remains.

"Just kegs and other bar-related stuff," said Vargas.

The Outpost closed in January after its property owner sold the land on which the bar and grill sat since 1965. Prior to that, the building was located at nearby Ellington Field, where it served as barracks for airmen.

Soon after it was closed, landlord Walter Wright had the building moved the short distance to a neighboring lot, with reported stated plans to convert it to a family restaurant.

Wright claimed that Outpost proprietor Stephanie Foster had removed "thousands of dollars" of space memorabilia prior to the building being shuttered, according to media reports from January.

Friday night's fire caused enough structural damage to the building that firefighters had to call in a backhoe to knock down its walls.

Click on image to enlarge. Credit: collectSPACE

posted October 16, 2010 10:05 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by KSCartist:
Due to the disputes between parties involved - do they think it was arson?

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posted October 17, 2010 06:43 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by KSCartist:
Due to the disputes between parties involved - do they think it was arson?

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quote:

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A sad day in Houston to be sure.

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posted October 18, 2010 08:11 AM               

My first visit to the Outpost was for a post-Challenger Centaur's Been Cancelled beer bust back in 1986. One of my good friends (now deceased), Bill Fisher, said the Outpost was named after a place his sister had outside Kansas City. Bill's retirement party and post-funeral get together were at his beloved Outpost. I enjoyed bringing friends there for their first Outpost bar burger. Yuri Malenchenko met his current wife there during a Yuri's Night event.

Me and my husband were checking the garage sales at 8 AM Saturday when we drove by what was left of the Outpost while three fire trucks nursed the embers.

My favorite feature was the female saloon doors that I always made sure to not open by the bosoms. My most memorable photo on the wall was the STS-47 shuttle crew photo with Jemison air brushed out.

posted October 18, 2010 01:15 PM               

Thanks to everyone for your messages and texts today. It is sad knowing the building is gone forever physically. But the spirit of the OP will live long.

It was very painful for all of us to watch it sit there, rotting and breaking into pieces before our very eyes... I am just so thankful nothing we care about was hurt or destroyed in that fire. Just the building.

The OutPost Tavern, name and treasures, could pop up again someday.

posted October 20, 2010 03:51 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by pokey:
My most memorable photo on the wall was the STS-47 shuttle crew photo with Jemison air brushed out.

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posted October 20, 2010 04:00 PM               

The OutPost Tavern, name and treasures, could pop up again someday.