Ferris Wheelers Backyard and BBQ is permanently closed. The beloved Design District spot – known for its 50-foot Ferris wheel, backyard patio, and smoked brisket – shut its doors in November 2025. The space at 1950 Market Center Blvd has since been taken over by AM/FM, a diner-lounge-live music concept from Spune Productions and Chef Anastacia Quinones-Pittman.
If you’re searching for Ferris Wheelers, you’re not alone – the name still draws thousands of searches every month. Here’s the full story of what it was, why it closed, and what’s worth checking out in its place.
What Was Ferris Wheelers Backyard and BBQ?
Ferris Wheelers opened in Dallas’s Design District as a BBQ restaurant, outdoor bar, and entertainment venue rolled into one oversized backyard party. The anchor attraction was impossible to miss: a 50-foot Ferris wheel rising above the patio, visible from Market Center Boulevard and basically functioning as the world’s most effective restaurant sign.
The concept leaned all the way into the backyard theme. A sprawling outdoor patio held lawn games, picnic tables, a live music stage, and enough space to make you forget you were a five-minute drive from downtown. Inside, the bar served craft cocktails alongside a solid beer list, and the whole setup attracted everyone from date-night couples to families to large groups who needed room to spread out.
The BBQ
The kitchen ran a straightforward Central Texas-style program: brisket, pork ribs, smoked turkey, sausage, and classic sides. Texas Monthly named Ferris Wheelers one of its Top 10 New and Notable BBQ places, which is not a small thing in a state where barbecue criticism is practically a varsity sport.
The brisket held its own against Dallas’s competitive smoker scene, with a peppery bark and clean smoke ring. Ribs and pulled pork rounded out the menu, and the sides – mac and cheese, coleslaw, beans – hit the expected notes without trying to reinvent anything. It was good, honest barbecue served with a side of spectacle.
The Backyard Experience
What set Ferris Wheelers apart from every other BBQ spot in town was the experience around the food. The Ferris wheel itself became a landmark – locals used it as a meeting point, couples rode it on dates, and it generated approximately one million Instagram posts over its lifetime.
The live music stage hosted local and touring acts on a regular schedule, leaning into country, Texas blues, and the kind of rock that sounds best outdoors with a cold beer. Yard games – cornhole, giant Jenga, and the like – filled the gaps between sets. On a warm spring evening (the precious two months a year when Dallas patios are actually pleasant), the whole place hummed.
The parking situation, for the record, was exactly what you’d expect from a popular Design District venue: complicated. Street parking was limited, and valet was the move on busy nights.
Why Did Ferris Wheelers Close?
Ferris Wheelers closed in November 2025. The specific reasons behind the closure were not widely detailed in public statements. What’s known is that the concept ran its course, and the property transitioned to new operators relatively quickly.
The Design District has seen significant turnover in its restaurant and nightlife scene over the past several years. Rents in the area have climbed as the neighborhood continues its shift from warehouse-and-trade-show territory to a dining-and-entertainment destination. Whether economics, lease terms, or a strategic decision by ownership drove the closure isn’t clear from public reporting.
What is clear: the closure hit a nerve. The volume of people still searching for Ferris Wheelers months later tells the story better than any press release could.
What Replaced Ferris Wheelers? Meet AM/FM
The space at 1950 Market Center Blvd didn’t sit dark for long. AM/FM opened in early January 2026, brought to life by Spune Productions (the events and hospitality group behind several Dallas music venues) and Chef Anastacia Quinones-Pittman.
AM/FM bills itself as a “neighborhood diner, lounge, and live music venue” – three concepts under one roof, which is ambitious but not out of character for Spune’s track record.
The Food at AM/FM
Chef Quinones-Pittman’s menu leans into what she’s calling elevated diner classics, filtered through Mexican-American and Nuevo Southern cooking traditions. Think comfort food with real technique behind it, not the greasy-spoon version.
Highlights from the menu:
- Masa pancakes – made from corn masa, bridging diner-breakfast comfort with a Tex-Mex soul
- Huevos rancheros – a brunch staple done with care
- Fried chicken – because every diner worth its salt needs one, and Quinones-Pittman’s has a reputation
The AM portion of the concept (mornings and daytime) focuses on breakfast and lunch service, while the FM side (evenings) shifts into lounge and live music territory. It’s a clever structural idea – the same space serves different audiences at different hours without either feeling like an afterthought.
The Live Music
Spune Productions built its name on live music programming in Dallas, and AM/FM keeps that thread alive. The venue hosts local and regional acts, continuing the tradition of live performance that Ferris Wheelers established at this address.
If you used to come to Ferris Wheelers for the outdoor music sets, the DNA is still in the building – just expressed differently.
Visiting AM/FM
Address: 1950 Market Center Blvd, Dallas, TX 75207 (Design District)
Hours:
Reservations:
Parking: Design District standard – plan accordingly, and check if valet is available on event nights
For more Dallas restaurants in the Design District, check out our local business directory.
What Happened to the Ferris Wheel?
This is the question everyone asks, and the honest answer is: nobody seems to know for certain.
As of mid-2026, the fate of Ferris Wheelers’ signature 50-foot Ferris wheel has not been publicly confirmed. CultureMap Dallas reported that inquiries about the wheel went unanswered. Whether it was sold, moved to storage, relocated to another venue, or dismantled hasn’t been made clear.
It’s a strange loose end for something that large and that recognizable. If the wheel does resurface somewhere in the metroplex, we’ll update this page.
The Design District Dining Scene in 2026
Ferris Wheelers was part of a wave of restaurant and entertainment openings that helped reshape the Design District from a trade-only neighborhood into a legitimate dining destination. That transformation hasn’t slowed down.
The area around Market Center Boulevard and Oak Lawn continues to add new concepts, and the foot traffic from the nearby Dallas Design District showrooms, galleries, and breweries keeps the neighborhood active.
If you’re heading to AM/FM and want to make a night of it, the Design District has options worth exploring – from craft breweries to upscale dining. Browse Dallas restaurants and bars on our directory, or check the Dallas events calendar for live music and food events happening this week.
Other Dallas BBQ Worth Your Time
If you were a Ferris Wheelers regular and you’re still chasing that barbecue fix, Dallas has no shortage of serious smokers. A few that deliver:
- Pecan Lodge (Deep Ellum) – The line is legendary and the brisket earns it. Arrive early or regret it.
- Terry Black’s BBQ (Deep Ellum) – The Austin transplant that brought Hill Country-style ‘cue to Dallas with full-service dining and a solid cocktail program.
- Cattleack Barbeque (Farmers Branch/Addison area) – Only open a few days a week, and they sell out. This is a pilgrimage, not a casual lunch.
- Slow Bone (Design District) – Literally in the same neighborhood, with a no-frills approach to smoked meats that locals trust.
- Smokey John’s Bar-B-Que and Home Cooking (Northwest Dallas) – A Dallas institution since 1976 with soul food sides that rival the meats.
Each of these has its own personality, and none of them has a Ferris wheel – but the brisket doesn’t need one.
FAQ
Is Ferris Wheelers still open?
No. Ferris Wheelers Backyard and BBQ permanently closed in November 2025. The restaurant, bar, and entertainment venue at 1950 Market Center Blvd in the Design District is no longer operating under the Ferris Wheelers name.
What replaced Ferris Wheelers?
AM/FM, a neighborhood diner, lounge, and live music venue, opened at the same 1950 Market Center Blvd location in early January 2026. It’s operated by Spune Productions and features a menu by Chef Anastacia Quinones-Pittman, focused on elevated diner classics with Mexican-American and Nuevo Southern influences.
What happened to the Ferris wheel?
The fate of the 50-foot Ferris wheel that gave the restaurant its name and identity remains unknown as of 2026. Inquiries about the wheel’s status went unanswered, per reporting from CultureMap Dallas. Whether it was sold, relocated, or dismantled has not been publicly confirmed.
Where can I get good BBQ in Dallas now?
Dallas has a deep bench of excellent barbecue. Top picks include Pecan Lodge and Terry Black’s in Deep Ellum, Cattleack Barbeque near Farmers Branch (limited hours – check before you go), Slow Bone in the Design District, and Smokey John’s in Northwest Dallas. See our Dallas restaurant directory for the full list.
Where was Ferris Wheelers located?
Ferris Wheelers Backyard and BBQ was located at 1950 Market Center Blvd, Dallas, TX 75207, in the Design District. The same address now houses AM/FM.
Local Tips
- Getting there: The Design District is just west of I-35E, accessible from Oak Lawn Avenue or Market Center Boulevard. It’s a short ride from Uptown, Downtown, or Oak Lawn. Budget a few extra minutes for parking.
- Best time to visit AM/FM: If you’re going for the diner experience, mornings and early afternoon are your window. For the lounge and live music side, evenings are the move.
- Combine it: The Design District is walkable once you’re parked. Pair a meal at AM/FM with a brewery visit or gallery stop nearby.
- Stay updated: Restaurant concepts in this neighborhood evolve quickly. Check AM/FM’s social media or website for current hours and events before heading out.
Last updated: June 2026. If you have firsthand info about the Ferris wheel’s whereabouts or corrections to this article, let us know.
