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Monday, April 30, 2012 , Updated 12:00 p.m., August 5, 2012

UPDATED: Four DFW landmarks get cameo on Travel Channel show Off Limits


Tune in August 5.

Four Dallas-Fort Worth locations will appear on the Travel Channel's show Off Limits in the coming months. The show highlights "forbidden, hidden, and unseen spaces across America." In North Texas, those spaces are: Cowboys Stadium in Arlington; the not-yet-open Klyde Warren Park in Dallas; the Stockyards Championship Rodeo in Fort Worth; and Hawaiian Falls Water Park in Roanoke.

[UPDATE: The Klyde Warren Park episode airs Sunday, August 5.]

Off Limits host Don Wildman (center), was joined by Hawaiian Falls CEO David Busch and Hawaiian Falls Vice President of Construction Mike Prince for a day of filming.

David Alvey

Off Limits host Don Wildman (center), was joined by Hawaiian Falls CEO David Busch and Hawaiian Falls Vice President of Construction Mike Prince for a day of filming.

We wouldn't call Cowboys Stadium hidden nor unseen, but parts of it may very well be forbidden. The show aims to explain how architectural marvels work.

“There are certainly historical places [the show has covered], like we went to Cowboys Stadium and looked at that. It's sort of an engineering marvel,” said Julie McCully, executive producer of Off Limits on the Travel Channel. “You and I could go to [Klyde Warren] park and see it when it opens. But Don gets behind it. He goes behind-the-scenes to see what makes it tick.”

She's referring to Off Limits host Don Wildman, who's is known for taking camera crews into unknown parts of known structures most people would never be able to see. A recent episode took him to the San Francisco City Hall, where he explored how to “earthquake-proof” the building. He's also learned to make modern moonshine, fly the Goodyear Blimp, and wrestle an alligator.

Upon arriving in North Texas for the shoot, the film crew had an adventure of their own: They had to seek shelter almost immediately while the tornadoes in early April blew over.

“Welcome to Dallas: Here's our tornado,” said Mark Banta, president of Klyde Warren Park. “They literally had to abandon their cars and seek shelter on their way from the airport. … We had to reschedule with them, but it became a little bit of an interesting, memorable experience.”

The crew volunteered on a down day to help a family after the tornado. After that, Dallas-Fort Worth had sunny skies and mid-70s temperatures, making for a beautiful few days on-camera, Banta said.

Cowboys Stadium in Arlington

The TV at Cowboys Stadium looks big on TV and it looks big from the stands. But it looks biggest when you're standing right underneath it.

Photo by Sarah Blaskovich

The TV at Cowboys Stadium looks big on TV and it looks big from the stands. But it looks biggest when you're standing right underneath it.

The spotlight of Cowboys Stadium on Off Limits will feature its retractable roof and video board. Crews visited the football stadium for half a day in April, a physically demanding job.

“We did a lot of climbing,” joked Cowboys Stadium spokesperson Brett Daniels. Getting up to the retractable roof required lots of stairs and catwalks. “The camera and sound guys had their work cut out for them,” Daniels said.

They also looked inside the “guts” of Jerry Jones' television screen, which is a hollow structure that measures 160 feet in width, 72 feet tall.

McCully didn't have an air date for the Cowboys Stadium segment yet, though she said it would be a 6-7 minute cameo.

Klyde Warren Park in Dallas

At Klyde Warren Park, crews wanted to explain how the park “literally floats over a freeway,” said Banta. It was his job to show them around after moving to Dallas just a few weeks prior.

A photo taken of Klyde Warren Park in April 2012 shows the trees beginning to be planted.

Aerial Photography, Inc.

A photo taken of Klyde Warren Park in April 2012 shows the trees beginning to be planted.

After crews scouted for the best shots, Banta donned a hard hat, safety vest, safety glasses, and a microphone – which he calls the “outfit of the day: construction de jour.” Banta showed off the children's area of the park, the dog park, and the tunnel underneath the freeway. He explained how massive oak trees grow in concrete trays above the busy highway. “It's almost like a giant, potted garden that's very high tech,” Banta said of the park.

Though it was the park's first cameo on television, Banta has been featured on other television shows, including an episode of Extreme Home Makeover where a girl was given a new home with a water feature that took inspiration from Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta, where Banta was once general manager.

Klyde Warren Park will be featured on Off Limits for a 6-7 minute segment sometime in early- to mid-July, McCully said.

Stockyards Championship Rodeo in Fort Worth

Photo, taken 2012-04-27 14:13:53

Photo by Laura Evans

When the film crew visited Fort Worth's Stockyards Championship Rodeo, they'd already had about three other shows filmed at the rodeo recently. The Off Limits crew was most interested in bull riding, said Dee Dee Wix, director of operations for the rodeo.

The building where the Stockyards Championship Rodeo in Fort Worth is hosted, Cowtown Coliseum, is the home of the world's first indoor rodeo in 1886. The building is next-door to Billy Bob's Texas, and many patrons go to the rodeo and then to a country show on the same night, said Wix.

The crews spent most of their time getting close-ups of the bull riders and their bulls, who ride at the beginning and end of each rodeo. “We talked to them about style and form, and what the judges are looking for,” said Wix. “We talked to them about what goes on behind the scenes. ... We talked about injuries, the people who do the rodeo. We kind of covered it all,” she said.

An air date was not available for the rodeo segment.

Hawaiian Falls in Roanoke

Off Limits host Don Wildman hangs from a safety line on the Mega WaterWorld’s Hawaiian Halfpipe at Hawaiian Falls Roanoke.

David Alvey

Off Limits host Don Wildman hangs from a safety line on the Mega WaterWorld’s Hawaiian Halfpipe at Hawaiian Falls Roanoke.

Host Wildman was able to test his extreme skills at Hawaiian Falls in Roanoke, which is the “world's largest aqua play structure,” according to spokesperson David Alvey.

Wildman helped wax and buff the Hawaiian Halfpipe slide, harnessed so he wouldn't fall. He also climbed inside a 1,000-gallon bucket at the water park to help a Hawaiian Falls worker replace a plug.

We'll update you when we have an air date for the Hawaiian Falls segment.


Off Limits airs for one hour on the Travel Channel on Tuesdays at 9 p.m. CT.



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SitizenKane, anonymous:

Why call it Clyde Warren Park; just because some ego-centric rich guy wanted his son immortalized, doesn't mean Pegasus News has to play along......

Why don't you adopt a new name for the deck park.

Sarah Blaskovich, staff:

SitizenKane, the name Klyde Warren Park might not catch on -- time will tell on that -- but for accuracy purposes here, we refer to it by its real name. (I almost said its "God-given real" name, then realized that ain't true.)

Slangly, it may always be deck park, which I think is catchy.

rumrunner, anonymous:

Sarah,

Why pander to SitizenKane? This person obviously baited you into making an ignorant comment on a mute point and you took it.

Years from now, when your resentment of wealthy people wears off, and someones asks you why our park is named Klyde Warren, you likely will smile and say "our landmark park is named for the love between a father and his young son, and not a beverage company or telecommunications giant".

You are the company you keep, and attracting readers like SitizenKane and encouraging their lack of imagination is a poor reflection on you and your paper.

Sarah Blaskovich, staff:

Hi rumrunner,

I appreciate your comment. My note on the name Klyde Warren Park has nothing to do with the people behind it and everything to do with whether it's a name that will stick. Same goes for the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge: There have been many discussions about what else we could call it, not in hate for the person its named after, as you state, but because it doesn't roll off the tongue all that well. I think we'll find ourselves calling these major landmarks by another name, or a shortened version of what they've already been called.

SitizenKane, anonymous:

No bait......

And thanks for your honest response Sarah.......

No doubt Mr. Warren thinks alot of his son....but most of the public think it is an ostentacious PDA.

.

rumrunner, anonymous:

SitizenKane,

I am curious to know on what basis allows you to make the statement "most of the public think it is an ostentacious PDA" ?

Are you giving a nod to an existing public opinion poll? Or simply stating that of your own, and maybe the people you would call friend's and family's, opinion? An honest answer would go along way in this discussion.

My opinion is this; Mr. Warren is no celebrity in this city, and I say most of the public doesn't have a clue as to who he, or his son, is. The story is still there to be told, and you SitizenKane clearly state how you would like it to read; as I said, unimaginative.

You, SitizenKane, would prefer the story-line of today, cynical, disparaging and insincere. Other areas of our city should be so lucky as to have you brand the legacy so early in its existence.

SitizenKane, I draw my conclusion based from the only reason you allow for a name change - an unfounded dislike of some rich guy you know nothing about. And, too much PDA (would you have preferred he named it after himself?).

Sarah, you are the one writing the story of our little park. How will you assure it will read? I only hope you consider that your opinion writing can have an impact beyond this blog in both time and scale.

If I may add one more opinion, I think Klyde Warren is a great name, and may be one that transcends generations. Try this, say it softly in your head, in different ways you may use it each day "let's meet at the Klyde" "See you at the Warren" "What is showing at Klyde park tonight?" It isn't too hard to do, and you may grow to appreciate its modest genesis.

Jason Rice, verified:

Ok, so Kane plus me. That's two. all we need is about twelve million three hundred thousand more.
I'll get right on it.

I've always hated vanity plates, whether on a Volvo or a National Monument or a Secular Cathedral.

And rummie... picking on Sarah is no way to make points. She stated the patently obvious. Face it "The MORT" just never quite clicked despite the early hype. Most call it "The Meyerson" -- Winspear kinda isn't gelling like they thought it would as the sponsorships muddy the ID.

I always come back to my grandfather's observation:
"You can't give yourself a nickname."

Glad you got a date with some rich kid in the Warren Klan. Good for you.

SitizenKane, anonymous:

Why am I the unimaginative person: because I don't buy into selling the naming rights to an UTR trust fund kid for some UNDISCLOSED price ?

SitizenKane, anonymous:

We know NOTHING about the deal that the WRP Foundation cut with Warren....we don't know the price, the terms, the number of years. All we got was a public announcmement of the park name, donor, and the fact that the kid has the right to "intern" at the park until he is 21.

Jason Rice, verified:

Ooops -- I meant Clan. Not even Freudian - just a typing slip.

And Kane, you can't go pointing out the irony of wanting a purchase price anonymous so that your heir won't be. That's just "thinky" stuff that we don't do round here.

I'm glad he likes his kid. Need more of that. Glad he has peta-bucks. Good for him. Let us small and menial day to day worker bees begrudge him if we want to. It's all we've got to talk about.

And in the end, I think it's a better gift than a pony. You're not stuck in the stalls on the weekend.

SitizenKane, anonymous:

There nothing noble in Mr. Warren buying his son the park's name.....why you are streching to spin it otherwise is beyond me.

Jason Rice, verified:

You'd rather shovel horse manure?

rumrunner, anonymous:

Not entirely sure what to make of the direction this discussion has gone in, am I being mistaken for a Warren insider? Or rather one of the 12 million three hundred thousand more (whatever this number was intended to represent) whom are of no relation to the Warrens.

I'm dismayed to see your brain takes you to the former and not the way more "patently obvious" latter.

One thing we agree on: Names of things, especially in public spaces, is important. Is it terrible we call it "The Meyerson"? I say no, because as apart of the generation not involved in the naming, and subsequent push for "MORT", I get to associate Meyerson to the beauty of the building and the sound inside, rather than what could have been slight towards the guy who brought us such a gem. I only know what I know.

SitizenKane, apply a different reason for re-branding the park and you may evoke a different response to your opinion. You instead would attempt to rename the park because of a shallow dissident towards a class of people. I see this as unimaginative, and deserving of just as sharp a criticism as you would apply to the name a mother gave her son.

If the terms of the deal were disclosed, and they were to say that by naming this park Klyde it will assure the park operates in perpetuity to the benefit of future generations (which, gasp, will include young Klyde, and maybe even his Klyde's son), or must there be scandal involved with the gift?

If you are past the point in which you seem to find joy in any new development of our community because you have no one to share them with, or pass onto, I feel sorry for you. However, I and others will gladly pick up the torch, as I plan to spend much time at the park, and enjoy it for what it really is, a generous gift.

SitizenKane, I also question your definition of noble, and what it can mean to other people and the impact nobility can have on a community. Nobody said it was noble or did they say it had to be. I do say it is admirable.

rumrunner, anonymous:

I forgot to add:

...to the benefit of future generations (which, gasp, will include young Klyde, and maybe even his Klyde's son) would that satisfy your need for disclosure? Or must there be scandal involved to satiate your invented perceptions?

Jason Rice, verified:

We get it rummie... fanboys unite!

Jason Rice, verified:

Frankly fanboy - 100% honesty?
I actually pity the poor kid.
Dad has money. He can do as he wishes. And does.
What is that association going to do in a 12 year old psyche?
Maybe the kid will out-do his dad - every father's dream.
Awesome.
At 2.6 billion.. that's a task. Maybe this is his way of naming his boy Sue. If he can crawl through this therapy debris, he'll be something indeed.

rumrunner, anonymous:

Jason,

100% honesty - I never made this discussion about the psyche of the Klyde, I made it about the cynics trying to hi-jack a positive development in our community and would rather us to believe it is a negative.

Calling someone a 'fanboy' who is encourage by the fact that we even have citizens to bring parks to all of us, is a cynics fall card. Do better and you may be convincing. I'll do you one better:

Try something original, like taking a 12 yr old kid to the park and tell him the park is named after a kid just like him, and if he works real hard he too could have a park named after him. Let me know the look on the face of that child when he realizes he's now running around in his very own park. Or not, it may be too encouraging for your tastes. My gut tells me you'd prefer the latter, am I wrong?

Jason Rice, verified:

My kids would ask "What did he do?"
And I would have to say "nothing"

Jason Rice, verified:

Arguments about monied people are like theoretical subatomic physics.

rumrunner, anonymous:

My kids would ask "What did he do?" And I would have to say "nothing" -

That says more about you than it does anyone else. You give little reason to have faith with such a defeatist mentality. I hope your kid didn't inherit your lack of imagination or resiliency.

...and on cue, we are brought back full circle to the shallow disdain for the "haves".

Hopefully you won't say to your kid while standing in the park that resentment is the noble quality and strong foundation to a healthy life.

Now, I'm not so worried about Klyde being the one not able to make it through years of therapy.

Jason Rice, verified:

Ad hominem. Nice.

You could have phrased the question to a total Horatio Algers moment and I'd have had to cave.

And attacks of "unimaginative" twice in the same thread ring less than clever.

mezzetin_subaquatic, anonymous:

bottom line: bumrunner is a practicing delusionist.

rumrunner, anonymous:

Sorry for using imagination twice, allow me to expand on what I meant to say...

Your poor story telling at the benefit (or in your case, consequence) of an inquisitive minds is revealing. I've enjoyed the discussion as I hope you have.

M.S. - I fail to see how I am delusional, when in fact I feel as though I'm the only one here prepared to enjoy a new feature in our city.

I see no merit or value in your comment mezzetin_subaquatic, only a hollow barb meant bring you satisfaction with your low opinions.

jtmbls, anonymous:

Make this three on the PDA vote.

Jason, you are a true prince of poetry. Both intended and unintended.

Jason Rice, verified:

Stick to your main points and I might be swayed.
Something like

It's is pretty remarkable that one guy can put together an ongoing public good like that. Frankly, I'd never heard of the guy before this hit light. So you could easily argue that while people generally cheered the salvation of the Greenville Avenue St. Patty's parade by a self avowed showboat, we should note the orders of magnitude difference and temper our assumptions about his motives for naming as perhaps less self aggrandizement and more a manifestation of deeply civil and societal optimism of a genuinely paternal sort.

Ya see.
I don't really totally believe it, but that could be more compelling.

I do wonder, after having loaned you a much better argument, what on Earth WOULD I name something that large if it were up to me?

So if nothing else, I can thank you for that insight.
And Kane... I also see your (presumed implicit) point. It's good to know a thing or two about shoveling.

SitizenKane, anonymous:

Rumrunner; thanks for particpating in this discussion.

I do not have disdain for the "haves" (i don't buy into Obama's class warfare strategy)......

I think the naming community assets is important. I think Mr. Warren was an over-indulgent parent.....the city shouldn't play along.

I intend to enjoy the deck park no matter what name Rumrunner is happy calling it. Even if "Deck Park" sticks !

I don't see why any of Dallas citizens have to particpate in or support Mr. Warren's over the top PDA.

And BTW, I would be curious to know if the purchase price was a "business expense" of any of Mr. Warren's companies ?

Does Mr. Warren's companies have exclusive vendor rights? Afterall Mr. Warren owns entertainment companies.

Does the WRP Foundation have an out? What if Klyde goes on to become a Senator who runs for President who cheats on his wife, has affairs with interns, misuses public funds, wiretaps his opponents, and lies to a grand jury?

Can the city pull down all signs and monuments of the name? Or are we contracturally obligated?

James Scott, verified:

I really don't have the energy to fully contribute to this conversation, as I think it's ridiculous that it has even occurred, but I have to put my vote in with Rumrunner on this one. I can't understand what the big deal is here. There are many more things for us to be upset about than whether or not someone dished out a likely ton of cash in return for naming rights to a park that the ones that are complaining now probably are against anyway.

Jason Rice, verified:

Jeez, James. Don't make us kick a puppy to bring you out to play.

SitizenKane, anonymous:

What is comical is that we now have a park named after an unknown kid whose daddy paid an unknown amount of money; with the details of the transaction unknown to Dallas residents.

Jason Rice, verified:

Well, had they up and announced "The New Facebook Park" we'd be in the same boat, prolly.

SitizenKane, anonymous:

This is a corporate branding deal just the same; I suspect Mr. Warren, being a savy business guy, will leverage the park venues to his corporate benefit.

I don't conisder this a "gift" of generosity to the city.

I just want a go get-em cub reporter to get Klyde Warren on record tweeting somthing like "kwel"; or better, "can't want to pick up babes at my park" !

rumrunner, anonymous:

SitizenKane,

The parks entertainment venue neighbors in the area aren't exactly printing money. When, as stated by earlier posts he has 2 bil sitting in the bank, I highly doubt he needs this small site to leverage anything, much less a major money making proposition.

If I was forced to choose between your two theories as to why someone would want to pay money to have a public space named after their family (this example only); Ego padding PDA, or corporate leveraging (I read financial gain)...I'd go with the ego.

What are you afraid of SitizenKane? Mr. Warren's evil empire is going to corner the market on all small BYOB free outdoor acoustic sessions??

SitizenKane, anonymous:

I am not "afraid" of anything; why are you so supportive of something you know so little about?

If anyone is "afraid" I would say it is Jody Grant and his board at the WRP Foundation and Mr. Warren who conspired to sell the naming rights without telling the public the amount of the sale price ! The conditions of the sale (other than the park name and the fact that little Klyde gets to intern).

Why would they not want us to know that information?

I think it is reasonable to disclose the amount; don't you?

And I am glad that you agree with me that Warren was likely enabled (in part, or wholly) by his Texas sized ego combined with his fat bank account which allows him to be the kind of indulgent parent that should be reigned in, not encouraged. The board is a collection of Dallas power elites; some who I know personally. They do themselves (and the City) no good by participating in a process that is hidden.

If you think the venues at the Deck Park will be limited to "small byob free outdoor acoustic sessions" you are nieve and uninformed.

Public pronouncements by the WRP Foundation say otherwise.

mezzetin_subaquatic, anonymous:

allow me to reiterate.

Jason Rice, verified:

But let's just get starry-eyed for a minute here...
To be fair, it's not like the guy is a stranger to music in need of a venue. I'm betting he's almost lost as much in his studio biz down in Austin in the past several years as he sunk into this project.

I may be changing my mind on this one. I mean anybody that will foot the bill for a C&W instrumental cover of Suki Yaki canNOT be all bad.

Good or bad - check out his studio. Holy CRUD - this is the indie future. Custom programmed front end. Solid integrated layout with extensible social media junk. Not a single hack on his staff or in his catalog.

Hmmm. I may just turncoat on you Kane.

SitizenKane, anonymous:

I'am beginning to turncoat on myself JR.....thinking the bad party in this transaction is the Jody Grant and the WRP Foundation for not acting in the sunlight; afterall Warren was just being a capitalist, trying to get the best for him and his son.......

Jody Grant and his board needs to be more forthcoming IMO !

pmoras, anonymous:

I have to admit that I stopped reading the other comments somewhat near the top of the page... but i have one thing to add. I for one am very grateful to Mr Warren for making such a generous donation to our city and helping to bring this amazing park to reality. I don't really care if he did it just to immortalize his son's name, but judging from his request for "free music festivals" in the park:(http://www.pegasusnews.com/news/2012/feb/21/park-over-woodall-rodgers-klyde-warren-park/), I think he has the city's best interests at heart. I really think we should be proud and grateful to have such wonderful philanthropic families in our city like the Nashers, the Crows, the Winspears, and now the Warrens - who choose to use their wealth to bring us beautiful cultural icons like museums and parks which will make our city greater and benefit all its inhabitants. This is going to be a free park for use by all, and it is only through such a generous donation like Mr Warren's that we can actually see it become real.

SitizenKane, anonymous:

It wasn't a donation; it was a transaction.

rumrunner, anonymous:

Even if it was a transaction, who benefits the most from it as a result?

Better put:

“Constant complaint is the poorest sort of pay for all the comforts we enjoy.” – Benjamin Franklin

Why don't you really hit at what bothers you about this thing? Full disclosure, no-disclosure, nothing new there. Frankly, why is it any of our business what it cost him. Did you take a tax hike to pay for it? No. Have you watch too many sensationalized new channels? Yes.

Jason Rice, verified:

who benefits the most from it as a result?

If you don't know the terms, you don't know the answer.

SitizenKane, anonymous:

Correct JR.....

Ok Rumrunner, I've got your perspective, you are with the "i don't care" and "it's none of my business because it didn't cost me anything" crowd.....

And wasn't it Benjamin Franklin who said ....

"He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else. "...............stop making excuses for Warren, the WRP Foundation, and your own I don't care because I didn't pay for it attitude....

BTW; Benjamin Franklin was famous for flying in the face of obedience to protocol and held great disdain for government affairs conducted in privacy. Ben would be with me on this one !

Jason Rice, verified:

I enjoy the dichotomy that suspicion over millions of dollars changing hands is naive but glee over getting something for nothing is not.

SitizenKane, anonymous:

JR; that was a profound observation....thanks for pointing it out !

SitizenKane, anonymous:

Rumrunner likes being (in what Thomas Gray described) a state of "ignornant bliss" over the Deck Park.

SitizenKane, anonymous:

BTW; the residents should care (and not operate in some state of ignorance).....there is over $57 million of taxpayer money funneled to the project including some $16 of Obama stimulus money.

But the WRPF thinks it ok to operate in the dark when making transactions; like selling the naming rights to our park. The WRPF website is full of glitzy sketches and cool info.

But try to find out when they meet to decide on such things as selling the naming rights !

rumrunner, anonymous:

Dang, I knew I should have just let it go when ya'll were feelin' the love...

Oh well.

See ya around the park when it opens, hope you can find a way to enjoy it.

Jason Rice, verified:

Dang, I knew I should have just let it go

yeah, Kane and I agree so rarely, I think it threw us all off just a little.

SitizenKane, anonymous:

I'll be there; look me up Rumrunner.....

I'll be the one wearing the "Who the F is Klyde?" T shirt.

Sarah Blaskovich, staff:

SitizenKane, I laughed out loud a little bit picturing you wearing that shirt in the park.

See you guys at the park.

Jason Rice, verified:

Sarah - um -- yeah... me too.

We'll bring enough traveling cash for your bail.

What do you think?

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