SAN MARCOS, Texas – If you've ever been up to Aquarena Springs in San Marcos, you may have visited the Submarine Theatre at Spring Lake.
On Thursday, crews attempted to remove the theatre, as part of an effort to restore the area to its natural state.
Using both a 300- and 400-ton crane, the attempt was unsuccessful, as crews were only able to pull the structure one foot above the water.
"When you're dealing with objects of this size and weight, it's better to be safe than sorry and they want to have that extra margin of error, just to be on the safe side," said Jayme Blaschke, of Texas State University.
Blaschke said another attempt at removal will be made in the next few days.
For many, the removal of the theatre is a bittersweet event.
"For a whole generation, it was the top amusement park in the state," said Andrew Sansom, of Texas State University. "Many Texans came on their honeymoon, or as children, so it's a beloved site. "
It's a beloved site that is home to eight federally endangered plant and animal species.
Though the theatre will be gone for good, Texas State, who owns the property, says the hope is that the endangered wildlife there survives.
"It's an ecological jewel, and we're stewards of this," said Blaschke. "This is a major initiative to preserve this for future generations. "
There were no injuries during that attempt at removal.