Rivers as Commodity: Adapting Floodways as Tourist Retail Corridors
Kevin Romig © 2008
Department of Geography
James and Marilyn Lovell Center for Environmental Geography
Texas State University
Research Objectives
1.To identify key elements in the success of adapting
floodways as tourist clusters.
2.Compare and contrast two regional examples: San
Antonio River Walk and Bricktown Canal in Oklahoma City.
3.Examine scales that specific landscape patterns become
visible at the two canals.
Methods
1.Landscape appraisal
2.Land-use inventory
3.Archival Research
In 1911, boosters in San Antonio sought a way to develop
in downtown and decrease the likelihood of flooding on the
great bend of the San Antonio River. After a major
flood in 1921, engineers decided to re-rout the River, but
allow for controlled flow through the Great Bend. WPA
labor in the 1930s helped the River Walk first come to life.
More development came with the HemisFair of 1968 when
many of the local hotels were built to accommodate visitors.
In Oklahoma City, the Bricktown District had been the RR
Hub as long red brick buildings warehoused industrial goods.
The area declined with trucking industrial districts,
but in the 1990s, developers saw an opportunity to use a
dry wash as a River Walk type space anchored by a new
baseball field to spur downtown redevelopment.
Business Inventory
Bricktown Businesses Along Canal
Biga Restaurant
Bass Pro Shop
Homewood Suites
Residence Inn by Marriott
Westin Hotel
Sonic Office Building
Hotel Contessa
Falcone's Pizza
Little Rhein Steak House
Sonic Restaurant
Hilton Hotel
Toby Keith's Bar
Ibiza Bar
Earl's Rib Place
Dirty Nelly's Irish Pub
Marble Slab Creamery
Casa Rio
Harkins Theaters
Republic of Texas Restaurant
Starbucks
Café Ole
Redpin Bowling Lounge
Mr. Ice Cream
Stumpy Burger
Michelino's
Skky Bar
Boudro's Bistro
Rok Bar
Rio Rio
National Guard Recruiting
Lone Star Steakhouse
Hooters
Original Mexican Restaurant
Drink Z
Rocky Mtn. Chocolate Factory
Rave Bricktown Dance Club
Santa Fe Connection
Dungeon 3D
Coyote Ugly Saloon
Hall of Fame Bar & Grille
CVS Pharmacy
9 News Bricktown Studio
Saltgrass Steakhouse
Margarita Mama's
Haagen Dasz
Chelino's Restaurant
Rainforest Café
Jazmo's Bourbon St. Café
Both canals have water pumped into
their system, but Bricktown is more
obvious about it with the pipe giving
life to the canal at the beginning
whereas River Walk once was wet, but
because of aquifer conditions now needs
engineering to maintain water flow.
The Alamo is a major tourist attraction
adjacent to the River Walk whereas
Bricktown Ballpark, home of the AAA
Texas Rangers affiliate is the draw and
inspiration for the Bricktown Canal.
Background
River Walk Businesses Along Canal
Business Type
Hotels
Restaurants
Bars
Clubs
River Walk Bricktown
7
1
22
7
8
3
5
3
Both locales use native materials in much of the
construction as Texas limestone is the material
of choice along River Walk and Oklahoma red
brick is common in most buildings along the
Bricktown Canal. The landscape maturity of
River Walk is evident in these comparative
photos of the two canals.
While River Walk tries to maintain a unique
San Antonio cultural feel, through time
corporate chains like Hard Rock Café have
located along its banks. At Bricktown, native
Oklahoman, Toby Keith, uses his name to
bring notoriety to this bar and grille to
enhance the local sense of place.
Both canals are very successful. Adaptive re-use
is a common technique along both corridors as
seen in the photo of River Walk (left) and the
addition of more retail establishments, whereas
Bricktown canal still has open space (right)
available along its banks, but Bricktown is the
fastest growing entertainment district in the
Southwest and open space is quickly diminishing.
Different eras are not only visible in the
superior ADA compliance of Bricktown,
but also in the mural art’s political correctness.
This mural (R) at Bricktown depicts three
Native American woman in a serene
landscape while the River Walk
mural (L) recounts tails of more
hostile times and a characterization
of a mean-spirited Mexican sniper.
Paesano's
Cullem's Landing
Hard Rock Café
Mad Dog's British Pub
Landry's Seafood House
Joe's Crab Shack
County Line BBQ
Starbucks
Nerve Ana Club
Dick's Last Resort
Rita's on the River
Las Canarias Restaurant
Waxy O'Connors Irish Pub
Colego Bar
Pesca Fish
Watermark Spa
La Mansion Hotel
Iron Cactus Restaurant
Agave Room Bar
The Esquire Tavern
Drury Inn
Texas Land and Cattle Restaurant
Stephania's Italian Dining & Dancing
Hyatt Hotel
Maps of both canals
Both canals are below street level
to offer visitors a feeling of
being away from the city while
in the City. This also underscores
both as being a flood corridor.
The contrasting eras of major
construction are also visible by
the big-box retail in Oklahoma (R) as
compared to Casa Rio restaurant which
has operated at this location (L) in
San Antonio since 1946.
Conclusions
1.While both locations are contrived natural spaces
much of their appeal stems from the visual and nautical
amenity the floodway course provides to patrons.
2. The Oklahoma City project resembles the
pre-Hemisfair River Walk in San Antonio. It remains
more of a local destination than regional or national.
3. Both corridors exibit internal geographies at
different scales that seek activities from various markets.
4. While the OKC project is clearly influenced by
River Walk in SA, the built environment at Bricktown
reflects a more modern and inclusive society.
Future Research
1. Investigate how people interact with “nature” at
these locales through qualitative methods.
2. Broaden this topic to view other ways flood
corridors are used and managed as economic
development projects.
Sources:
Arreola, Daniel D. 1996. Urban Ethnic Landscape Identity. Geographical Review. 85: 518-533.
Barron, Kelly. 2006. Bricktown: A Place to Visit. The Titan. A1.
Fisher, Lewis F. 2007. River Walk: The Epic Story of San Antonio’s River. SA: Maverick Press.
Goss, John. 1999. Once Upon-a-Time in a Commodity World: An Unofficial Guide to the
Mall of America. Annals of the Association of American Geographers. 89:45-75.
Kimmel, Jim. 2006. The San Marcos, A River’s Story. College Station: Texas A&M Press.