Millions of people across the country spent their extended Labor Day weekend on the water. While North Texas has a bevy of lakes to choose from, a trip to the beach is going to take either an airplane or a few hours of driving.
The year 1984 being the lone exception.
That was the year radio station KZEW and Coors Brewing Company threw an epic summer beach party at Dallas City Hall. The giant circle fountain in the plaza provided the water and 42 tons of sand were dumped alongside it for sandcastle building, volleyball and everything else you need for a beach party.
It was seen as an opportunity to bring people downtown, and hopefully spark interest in the City Hall building which opened six years earlier.
An Associated Press story said about 12,000 people turned out for the 7-hour event and helped raise $15,000 for charity.
But don’t count on ever seeing it again. Over the years, the city has said the party did damage to the fountain.
More on WFAA:
- REWIND: 50th Anniversary of Pop Music Festival to revive hippie invasion in Lewisville
- REWIND: Running back holdouts are a Dallas Cowboys tradition
- Historic arches return to the Dallas West End neighborhood
- Daybreak Rewind: Seven Seas brought oceans of the world to Arlington, but closed years later
- Daybreak Rewind: From the ABA to the NBA, this former radio announcer has seen it all in Dallas