ON FRIDAY, May 13, when the Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern opens to the public, Houstonians will finally be able to experience the place's dark beauty for themselves.

Now the lost space that’s larger than a football field is open for visits. The Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern was built in 1926 to supply drinking water to the growing Texas city.

HOUSTON - The newest attraction at Buffalo Bayou Park is about to be open to the public - a cistern.

“Hellooooooo cistern!” Anne Olson called into the darkness. For 17 full seconds, her voice echoed back, ricocheting off the 221 concrete columns that hold up the cavernous 87,500-square-foot hall, its ...