R.I.P., Dusty

Dusty Hill, bassist for legendary Texas rock band ZZ Top, passes away at 72

Dusty Hill was a founding member of the legendary Texas rock band.

Photo by Emily Jaschke

Dusty Hill, a native of Dallas best known for being ZZ Top's bassist, died on Wednesday, July 28 at the age of 72.

Hill died in his sleep at his home in Houston, according to a post published on the band's Instagram page. A Facebook post on the band's official page said:

We are saddened by the news today that our Compadre, Dusty Hill, has passed away in his sleep at home in Houston, TX. We, along with legions of ZZ Top fans around the world, will miss your steadfast presence, your good nature and enduring commitment to providing that monumental bottom to the ‘Top'. We will forever be connected to that 'Blues Shuffle in C.'

The musician, whose given name is Joseph Michael Hill, was born May 19, 1949 in Dallas and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004 as a member of ZZ Top.

He played cello as a student at Woodrow Wilson High School. He played guitar with his brother, Rocky, in bands around the Dallas area before moving to Houston along with Frank Beard in the late 1960s.

Together, they joined Billy Gibbons and released their first record as ZZ Top in 1969.

Hill and his ZZ Top bandmates recorded nearly 20 albums, including four live recordings that produced two top 10 singles, including 1984's "Legs" and "Sleeping Bag" from the now legendary album Eliminator.

The band's 1973 song "La Grange" from the Tres Hombres album paid tribute to the Chicken Ranch brothel made famous in reports in Houston by ABC13 — then known as Action 13 — icon Marvin Zindler.

ZZ Top is scheduled to be the headliner at the 2021 Legends Concert Series benefiting the University of North Texas Health Science Center, scheduled for October 4 at Fort Worth's Dickies Arena; pre-sales are to start Friday, July 30. As of press time, a cancellation had not been announced.

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For more on this breaking news story, visit CultureMap news partner ABC13.

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Fun in the Trees

Go Ape Adventure Park to bring ziplining and treetop thrills to Cedar Hill

Rendering of Go Ape Adventure Park in Cedar Hill

Image courtesy of City of Cedar Hill

The new Go Ape Adventure Park in Cedar Hill brings ziplining and more to the treetops of the Dallas suburb.

A new Go Ape Adventure Park is swinging into the Midtown district of Dallas suburb Cedar Hill. The Cedar Hill City Council approved the new park during its meeting Tuesday, August 25 meeting, according to a release.

The adventure experience, known for its ziplines, rope bridges, tree houses, and canopy walks, currently has one other DFW park, in Arlington (a Plano location is closed for repairs this season). There's also one location in the Houston area and locations in eight other states.

Designed to offer a range of experiences for people of all ages, the Cedar Hill location will pair Go Ape’s most popular attractions with new, site-specific adventures inspired by the city’s unique terrain and natural landscape, the release says.

While many details of the Cedar Hill location are still TBA, if it's anything like the Arlington park, guests can expect a Treetop Adventure, a three-hour, high-ropes course with eagle-eye views of the terrain below; and a one-hour version called Treetop Journey. The Arlington park also has a range for outdoor axe-throwing.

People at Go Ape Walk among the treetops at Go Ape!. Photo courtesy of Go Ape!

Construction is expected to begin before the end of 2026, with the goal of opening in spring 2027.

“We’re incredibly proud to partner with Cedar Hill to bring these new aerial amenities to life," said Tony Holt, CEO of Go Ape, in a statement. "From design and installation through ongoing operations, our goal is to create exceptional experiences that residents and visitors can enjoy for years to come, while adding a new dimension to the city’s recreation and visitor experience."

Midtown is an emerging district in Cedar Hill, designed to be a connected, walkable destination for retail, dining, entertainment, office, hospitality, and mixed-use development.

Go Ape will join the already-existing Library in a Park, Government Center, and Cinemark movie theater in the Midtown district.

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