New Gilley's development in La Porte approved by city council

LA PORTE, Texas –  

The La Porte City Council has approved the development of the new Gilley's venue.

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The planning and zoning commission approved the proposal back in December.

Now that it's approved, the new Gilley's would go up along Highway 146 between West Fairmont Parkway and Wharton Weems.

The original Gilley's, of course, was a honkey-tonk bar in Pasadena. It exploded in popularity after providing the backdrop for the movie, "Urban Cowboy."

We're told the new complex would be more family oriented.

 

The plot of land is just north of an elementary school.

Mickey Gilley himself told La Porte planners he would like to see the establishment come back, not as a honky tonk, but as something that would make the community proud.

"The Gilley Family Entertainment Center is approximately 50,000 square foot, give or take, and it will have the memorabilia as you enter from the past but blend in with a performance center," real estate developer David Miles told KPRC 2 in December.

Miles said part of the memorabilia might include the original mechanical bull from Gilley's.

If  everything goes in the contractor's favor, Gilley's could be open by Spring 2017.