The company that runs the Zilker Zephyr, the miniature train that runs through Zilker Park, will stop operating the ride. But the Austin Parks and Recreation Department says it’s looking for another company to run it.
The family-run business Texas Special Inc. has operated the Zilker Zephyr for the last 22 years. The train has been closed temporarily since May after heavy rainstorms led to erosion and the track was deemed unsafe.
When the storm happened, less than a year remained in the vendor’s contract. Repair costs were going to take longer than that for the company, which is responsible for the repairs, to recoup. Fixing the storm damage would have taken 14 months and cost about $286,000, according to city documents.
The parks department ultimately offered the company a three-year contract with two options to renew, the management company said in a Facebook post — an agreement the company says wasn’t sufficient.
“Due to the amount of money we had projected we would have to invest for the repair, we understood only a contract with a guaranteed five years would make financial sense for our level of investment,” Texas Special wrote.
Parks and Recreation had been looking into re-bidding the train service to “ensure the public receives the best services possible,” the department said in a statement Wednesday. The department says it tried to work with the vendor to create an agreement “to continue operations while preserving future bidding opportunities.”
Ultimately, the two parties were not able to come to an agreement. The city says it will send out a request for proposals for the management and operation of the train by late spring.
This story was produced as part of the Austin Monitor’s reporting partnership with KUT. Photo courtesy of the Zilker Zephyr’s Facebook page.
The Austin Monitor’s work is made possible by donations from the community. Though our reporting covers donors from time to time, we are careful to keep business and editorial efforts separate while maintaining transparency. A complete list of donors is available here, and our code of ethics is explained here.
And we’re honored you look to us for serious, in-depth news. You know a strong community needs local and dedicated watchdog reporting. We’re here for you and that won’t change. Now will you take the powerful next step and support our nonprofit news organization?
City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department: The city department responsible for the city's park system, rec centers, and associated infrastructure.
Zilker Park: Austin's largest downtown park, Zilker Park is comprised of 350 acres donated by Andrew Jackson Zilker in 1917. It contains the Zilker Botanical Gardens, Umlauf Sculpture Garden and adjoins Barton Springs Pool.
