Auction Management Corporation
As of Tuesday afternoon, the former Houston Funplex Ferris wheel had a top bid of $1,150, less than 24 hours before the auction was set to end.
The auction of hundreds of pieces of equipment from the Houston area’s now-defunct Funplex is set to end this week. Some significant items, such as the venue’s indoor Ferris wheel, had top bids of $1,200 or less as of Tuesday afternoon.
Funplex, the indoor amusement park located in southwest Houston on Beechnut Street, announced last December that it would be closing for renovations with plans to reopen in 2025. However, less than a year later, the property was sold to a new owner, according to the Houston Chronicle.
The amusement park opened in 1986 and changed hands several times throughout its nearly 40 years in business.
As of Tuesday afternoon, less than 24 hours remained to bid on some of the most notable Funplex items as part of an online auction:
- A Ferris wheel standing taller than 60 feet
- Multiple go-karts and bumper cars
- 40 lanes of Brunswick Boost ST String bowling ball pinsetters
- Various pieces of skating equipment from the venue’s skating rink — featured in Beyoncé’s “Blow” music video from 2014
- Dozens of arcade and claw machines from various eras
The auction began Aug. 22 and is being managed by the Auction Management Corporation.
The hundreds of items are being sold as part of two auctions with different bidding deadlines. The auction for bowling-related items, rides, virtual reality, arcades, go-karts, skating rink, playport and inflatables is scheduled to end at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 24. The other auction, including audio/visual equipment, food service and catering items, decor, furniture and electrical equipment, will end at 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 25.
Bids can be placed online ahead of time, and purchased items will be available for pick-up from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sept. 29-Oct. 11.