Jenna welcomed Grand Prairie native Monica Saldivar on the podcast back in 2021, just as she was nominated for Best New Female Artist at the Tejano Awards. She talks about her journey from a shy choir kid at Jackson Middle School, to being accepted at the prestigious Booker T Washington Performing Arts High School, to becoming an award-winning Tejano artist.

She opens up about how mentors and family helped her find her voice, why she resisted following the crowd of Selena impersonations, and how the pandemic nearly derailed her momentum just as she released her album. Instead of giving up, Monica leaned into livestreams and social media, building her fan base and keeping her dream alive. Her persistence paid off with nominations for Best New Female Vocalist, Best New Group, and Video of the Year — the culmination of more than a decade of hard work, culture, and heart.

Visit Monica’s LinkTree, where you can find links to her music and follow her on socials.

Back in November of 1971, the Grand Prairie Daily News announced something big. The Southwestern Wax Museum — once a small Fair Park exhibit — was moving to a brand-new palace on Thornton Freeway. The article promised an opera house–style building, filled with Texas legends, antique treasures, and famous faces in wax. City leaders believed it would bring thousands of visitors and help put Grand Prairie on the map.

More than fifty years later, that vision is still alive — and bigger than ever. What started as one wax museum has grown into Ripley’s Believe It or Not and five attractions under one roof. Today, we’re taking you behind the scenes at this iconic landmark — a place where history, pop culture, and community memories all come together.

General Manager Rachel Rotella and Marketing Manager Lino guide us through all five attractions: the Ripley’s Museum, Louis Tussaud’s Wax Museum, the Mirror Maze, the 7D Moving Theater, and Ripley’s Power Up Game. Along the way, we learn about the history of the Palace of Wax, unique exhibits like Pilgrimage: The Life of Jesus Christ, interactive experiences such as wax hands, and the blend of education, entertainment, and community that makes Ripley’s a beloved local landmark.

In October, Ripley’s will transform its attractions for Halloween, a tradition that’s been carried on for decades. Tickets are $29.99 per person and can be purchased here.

In other wonderful news, Fox 4 reported that in August, “Hawaiian Falls water parks join Ripley's 100+ attractions across nine countries, including Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Ripley’s Aquariums, Great Wolf Lodge (Niagara Falls), Guinness World Records attractions, wax museums, traveling shows, miniature golf courses, mirror mazes, and more.

Hawaiian Falls tells its visitors that there will be no change to their current daily ticket or season pass programs. 2025 and 2026 season passes are still valid at all three parks and now include one FREE admission at Ripley's Believe It or Not in Grand Prairie, Texas with a 2026 season pass.”

(Editor’s Note: In the video, I said passholders had until September 30 to visit Ripleys, but that was untrue - annual passes must be purchased by September 30 but passholders can visit Ripley’s anytime until the end of the year)

And if you’d like to support this entertainment channel or explore sponsorship opportunities, visit facesofgrandprairie.org/make-a-donation. Your support helps us continue covering major local attractions, community events, and new developments right here in Grand Prairie.

Six Flags Over Texas has been undergoing a massive transformation — and it shows. Today, I’m taking you on a mini-tour of some of the updated areas of the park and sharing my vision for future entertainment venues on this channel. Stick around until the end!

In July 2024, entertainment giants Six Flags and Cedar Fair merged to create the largest amusement park company in the United States. Cedar Fair, known for operating Knott’s Berry Farm and other iconic parks, has brought major changes to Six Flags’ operations.

One of the biggest shifts? In May, the company restructured all its parks and removed the “park president” positions, streamlining everything to the corporate level for more consistent operations.

As someone who has been a pass holder for over 14 years, I can honestly say this year’s experience has been leaps and bounds better than previous seasons. Back in January, I even posted about a frustrating dining experience and wrote the then-president about it (spoiler: no reply). But now? The improvements are noticeable.

Major Park Updates (via SFOTSource.com)

• Dueling Piano Show – now playing at Crazy Horse Saloon

• Southern Palace Renovation – rumored new Fright Fest show on the way

• New Giga Dive Coaster (2026) – replacing the classic Bobsled ride

• Front Gate Overhaul – updated entry experience (shown in the video)

• All-American Café & JB’s Smokehouse – remodeled with efficient serving lines

• Self-Serve Drink Stations – cutting wait times dramatically

• Titan Repainted – fresh new look for this iconic coaster

Dining Experience: A Huge Step Up

According to a March 2025 press release, Six Flags Over Texas welcomed internationally renowned chef Douwe Iedema as its first-ever executive chef. He’s revamped menus with fresh ingredients, healthy options, and smoked-in-house meats — a major upgrade for park dining.

My only ongoing frustration? Ice. Drink stations still run out regularly — which is rough in Texas summers — but at least this year, employees acknowledge the issue and actually apologize (a huge improvement over last year’s blank stares).

Theft: Still a Big Problem

One major issue remains: theft of personal items, especially the $40 season cups. Twice this week, our cups were stolen from ride bins. These open bins are labeled with disclaimers that Six Flags can’t guarantee safety and recommend lockers instead.

The problem? Universal Studios offers free lockers at every ride — a guest-friendly policy Six Flags should consider adopting. At the very least, cubbies with partitions would be a major improvement over giant communal bins.

Final Thoughts

Overall, the changes are overwhelmingly positive. The park feels fresher, operations smoother, and dining significantly improved. If Six Flags can address lingering guest experience issues like theft and drink station reliability, they’re on track to create their best guest experience yet.

Want to be an influencer in the entertainment space?
We’re building a network of local creators to partner with amusement centers like Six Flags, Hurricane Harbor, Boulder Adventure Park, and Andretti’s Indoor Kart and Games so we can keep Grand Prairie residents up to date on the newest and most exciting things to do around town. If you’re interested, email us at facesofgrandprairie@gmail.com — we’d love to hear from you!

For more about the Fender Benders Band and their upcoming gigs, go to https://fenderbenders.band/. Music clip credit:

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Episode Time Stamp:

00:00Podcasting Beginnings and Technical Challenges

07:02Exploring Musical Backgrounds and Influences

14:01The Journey into Music and Band Dynamics

21:50Live Music Scene: Fort Worth vs. Dallas

24:51The Evolution of Local Music Scenes

28:02Recognition and Awards in the Music Community

30:10Balancing Music and Day Jobs

32:40The Creative Process Behind the Music

37:52Gender Dynamics in the Blues Scene

39:12The Joy of Performing and Musical Identity

42:03Nostalgia for the 90s Music Scene

48:17The Changing Landscape of Music Consumption

51:21The Evolution of Music Identity

54:04Music as a Bridge Across Generations

58:49Local Music Scenes and Shared Experiences

01:02:38Cultural Integration and Community Influence

01:05:20The Joy of Jamming and Community Engagement

01:08:45Pursuing Music Passion at Any Age

01:11:20The Power of Music and Lifelong Learning