Come see the Balloon Boy saucer at this guy’s Denver sports card shop

Are you a secret balloon voyeur? Do you have an unhealthy fixation on large inflatable objects? I’m sorry to hear that. But you’ll probably want to know that the balloon at the center of the 2009 Balloon Boy hoax is on display at Mike’s Stadium Sports Cards in Aurora, Colorado, through October. The card shop owner, Michael Fruitman, 41, bought it at auction for $2,502 — just a bit short of the $1 million that its owner, Balloon Boy dad Richard Heene, expected it to fetch.

Why did Fruitman buy it?

“I thought, let’s have some fun with this,” said Fruitman. “So, I bought Flimflam One for our customers to enjoy. Then, we’ll slice into authenticated chunks of collectible Americana to raise money for the Thanksgiving food project. It’s a win-win, no matter what, providing my 3 and 8 year olds don’t get any clever ideas.”

It will remain on display for free public viewing and photographs through mid-October, during regular store hours. On October 15, the second anniversary of the balloon’s infamous flight, Flimflam One will descend for the final time and be retired into slices of collectible American memorabilia.

Fruitman says that he’s setting up a web cam so that people can look at the balloon … why, I’m not sure. But here’s his site.

In case you’ve forgotten the Balloon Boy story, let this report by feisty Denver TV entertainment host Kirk Montgomery remind you. Jiminy Glick, you have competition. Balloon Boy segment begins at about the 3:45 mark.

The original Balloon Boy story:

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Balloon Boy’s Craft Becomes Card Shop Sensation [Sports Collectors Daily]
Balloon Boy saucer to go on display [The Denver Channel]