HOUSTON -- Local 2 investigates the future of the Houston Astrodome. Last summer, we exposed how the dome was hit with a slew of building and fire code violations. Those problems will cost taxpayers millions of dollars and the Dome's future is still uncertain.

When it opened in 1965, the Houston Astrodome was considered the eighth wonder of the world. Now that it stands in the shadow of Reliant Stadium, the Dome is showing its age. Roof damage, cracks, rust and a beating from the elements tarnish what some consider an icon.

"It's got a lot of history," said Houstonian Ron Curtis. "I mean, I grew up with it and I have fond memories of it."

"That's something we would hate to see go. It's almost like a historic monument there," said Leslie Curtis.

"Almost every speech I give, you give the Q&A and somebody always says, 'Well, what are you going to do with the Dome?'" said Harris County Judge Ed Emmett.

Emmett said he has been given a lot of ideas over the years -- some serious, some financially unrealistic.

Emmett said the most serious idea was to turn the Dome into a hotel. The proposal came with an estimated price tag of more than $450 million.

"When I came in, I said, 'Well, show me the money,'" said Emmett.

The plan for a hotel hit one financial snag after another. Plus, officials with the Texans and the Rodeo claimed the proposed hotel deal violated their rights to revenue, parking and access. And now there is the current economic climate.

"These are tough times to be building a hotel," said Emmett.

Emmett said the chance to turn the Dome into a hotel has one last chance. Two bills were filed with the state legislature this session that would allow a portion of sales- and business-use taxes to be redirected to the project. House Bill 3343 is listed by the State as "left pending in committee" and Senate Bill 1833 is listed as "Referred to Economic Development."

"If the hotel idea doesn't come to fruition, then I think we'll be looking at something that will be a more public venue -- something everybody can use," said Emmett.

One idea being floated is to use the Dome to host the dozens of festivals held in Houston every year.

"You've got secure weather and it gives us some flexibility," said Emmett. "This coming weekend is a great example. You've got the International Festival and we're hearing it's going to rain for two days."

Local 2 Investigates also spoke with officials from Astrodome Studios, a private company that has been working for the last year-and-a-half on a proposal to turn the Dome into a massive sound-stage and production facility.

Company co-founders Cynthia Hand-Neely and Elise Hendrix said the project would be privately funded.

Whether a hotel, a venue for festivals or a movie studio, Emmett said a decision on the Dome will come this summer when the county puts together its capital improvement budget. Before that decision is made, taxpayers will still have to spend millions of dollars to maintain the Dome.

Reliant Park General Manager Mark Miller told Local 2 it costs the county between $2.5 million and $3 million a year to maintain the vacant Dome.

"Basically, we are maintaining the Dome as is until a real decision is made on its future," said Miller

Last summer, Local 2 reported the Dome had fallen into disrepair and was cited by the Houston Fire Department for several fire code violations. City of Houston building inspectors also cited the dome for several problems and yanked its certificate of occupancy. Every building in the city is required to have a certificate of occupancy before it is allowed to be opened for business.

"Once (Hurricane) Ike hit, we put all that stuff on the back burner, trying to get everything back on property and back in shape," said Miller.

Miller said several repairs have been completed, but estimated it will still cost between $5 to $8 million to address other problems cited by the city, make improvements to prevent further deterioration of the Dome and repair damage done by Hurricane Ike. Miller said this figure doesn't bring the entire Dome up to code.

"At the very least, you're talking a couple hundred million dollars to make it something that's usable," said Emmett.

Emmett said that kind of expenditure could require a bond referendum.

"I think the public will support something that keeps the Dome intact and turns it into something that's usable by the public," said Emmett.

Houstonians Local 2 spoke with have mixed feelings.

"With the economy like it is, I don't see how in the world they can be spending money on the Astrodome," said Bonnie Braun.

"I think it should be preserved if it's reasonable to preserve it and put it to good use once it's preserved," said Bill Brown.

The county still hasn't finished paying for the Dome.

Mike Austin with the Harris County Budget Office said as of Feb. 28, the county owed just under $25 million. This debt came from massive renovations made to the Dome during the time the city and county were trying to keep Bud Adams from taking the Houston Oilers to Tennessee.