Astroworld fans buy items in three-day auction

Posted | Contributed by Jeff

Much of the amusement park's equipment and artifacts -- including Lionel Richie's piano used only one time during a concert at the theme park in the 80's -- was be sold to the highest bidder. Some of the items, like the park's roller coasters, do have a reserve.

Related parks

Six Flags Astroworld

I want to know who got Greezed Lightning. That would be a cool thing to bid on.

Here ya go. Low prices are scaring the Astroworld faithful- possible scrap iron pile for most rides. This is from saturday 1-7-06
THE FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF THE RIDES AND PRICES THEY WERE SOLD FOR AT THIS MORNING'S AUCTION. Some of the rides did not meet the reserve
VIPER--$8000...did not meet reserve price
GREASED LIGHTNING $8000..did not meet reserve price.
BARNSTORMER--$5000
XLR8--$7000..did not meet the reserve price.
MYAN MINDBENDER $9000...did not meet the reserve price.
LOOPING STARSHIP $17,000
GUNSLINGER $23000
SERPENT (TRACK ONLY) $4000
Bidders who won the auction, but did not meet the reserve price still have the option to buy the ride for the reserve price. If they choose not to buy the ride, it will be sold privately.

I got back from the auction yesterday. It was absolutely amazing what Houstonians would spend for a piece of AW memorabilia. I was hoping to get a few items for the National Roller Coaster Museum and Archives but everything was pretty much out of our price range. We did end up with a small XLR-8 sign. One of the first items up was a Texas Cyclone "keep your hands in the car" sign and with the opening bid of $100.00 at least 40 bid cards were in the air. It sold for over $800. A print of the park featuring Texas Tornado sold for $2,300.00 and it wasn't even in that good of shape. A dirty old oil painting of blue bonnets that had nothing to do with AstroWorld except for the fact that it hung somewhere in the park sold for over $200. I was interested in a one of the longhorn steer horns that were mounted on the wall but the small one sold for over $250. I thought the piano would go for more, but it sold for about $4,500.

I was surprised at the number of items missing. There were very few ride signs, and I understand many of the items were taken home by employees.

All of the coasters were in some state of disassembly. Most of the track of Serial Thriller was gone, but I was surprised at the number of supports still up. Most of XLR-8 is still standing but some sections of track were removed. Batman had about half of its track laying on the ground. Greezed Lightnin' was mostly in pieces and you could see where the fire had damaged the station.

Photos: http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=2114891159&code=20229555&mode=invite&DCMP=isc-email-AlbumInvite
*** This post was edited by Jeffrey Seifert 1/11/2006 11:24:01 AM ***

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