The "Eighth Wonder Of The World" Has Been Sitting Dormant For Over 15 Years But Could It See New Life Soon?

I'll never forget the first time I saw the Astrodome as a kid in the 80's when our family took a vacation to Astroworld. I remember that I couldn't take my eyes off the iconic stadium even though I never got a chance to go inside. Its history is well known and its mystique still looms large over Houston.

Since the stadium closed in 2009, there have been several failed attempts to figure out what to do with it. Proposals have come and gone over the years from plans for an indoor park to being a parking garage.

In 2016, the Astrodome Conservancy was founded as a private, non-profit organization to promote the Astrodome’s legacy through preservation and development.

The Astrodome building is owned by Harris County and along with County commissioners and the conservancy, they recently revealed plans for a billion dollar makeover to the former home of the Astros and Oilers.

The proposed plan is called "Vision: Astrodome" which includes four state-of-the-art buildings under the Astrodome's roof and a retail village. The plan includes a flexible arena space for events and entertainment at its core. Surrounding the center, the plan shows levels of office and hotel spaces with an array of restaurants for visitors to choose from.

The conservancy is asking for a $250 million investment from the county. The conservancy also plans to utilize $400 million in tax credits alongside private and public partnerships to get the project off the ground.

Take a look at the renderings published by The Astrodome Conservancy below.