After the Astrodome, Magic Island may be Houston’s second-most famous abandoned entertainment venue. The club, shuttered for 10 years, will finally reopen this summer.

Many Houstonians will be happy that stage magic is returning. And the club plans to offer private gambling tables this time around.

By sheer luck, I got a chance to poke around the inside of the venue as it moves forward with its renovation. After hiking up from the Southwest Freeway feeder road, I expected to find locked doors. Instead, I met new general manager Michael Loneman, who previously worked at the South Shore Harbor Resort in League City.