Observation Wheel Directory

Additional Notes: The Great Wheel carried two and a half million passengers in its lifetime. It was the world’s tallest Ferris wheel from 1895 to 1900. The Great Wheel opened on 7/17/1895 in Earls Court; London, UK. The observation wheel is 308 feet tall. There are 40 cabins capable of holding up to 40 people […]

Additional Notes: Has 2200 lights which provide a 24-pattern performance. The Colossus opened in 1984 in Six Flags St Louis; Eureka, Missouri, USA. The observation wheel is 180 feet tall. There are 32 cabins capable of holding up to 10 people at one time resulting in a seating capacity of 320 passengers. The duration of […]

State-of-the-art engineering has made larger and more sophisticated observation wheels possible. Here’s a look at some of the latest observation wheel technology and a peek at what’s to come in the future. Propulsion Systems How do observation wheels rotate? Observation and Ferris wheels use hydraulic motors driven by electric pumps to provide energy to rotate the […]

Ferris Wheel History: Past, Present, and Future   PAST: The Birth of the Ferris Wheel In 1893, the world turned its attention to the American city of Chicago, where that year’s World Fair was being held. Besides being only the third city in the United States to host the exposition, after the 1876 fair in […]

Below is a comprehensive list of Ferris wheel accidents and mishaps dating from 2002 to present. Are Ferris wheels dangerous? Absolutely not, if properly maintained and rules are followed. The odds of being seriously injured at one of the United States’ 400 fixed-site amusement parks are 1 in 9 million as safety is the number […]

There is no better example of physics at work than to look at amusement park rides. From the mechanical engineering feats that make a roller coaster, to the physical trickery of carnival games, a fairground is the most practical example of physics in action. Take the Ferris wheel, for instance. If you have ever been […]

Additional Notes: It was the second tallest observation wheel in the United States when it opened. The Myrtle Beach Sky Wheel opened on 5/20/2011 in Myrtle Beach; South Carolina, USA. The observation wheel is 187 feet tall. There are 42 cabins capable of holding up to 6 people at one time resulting in a seating […]

Additional Notes: Carts are painted with Sanrio Co’s famous cartoon figures including Hello Kitty Cinnamoroll Dog and Badtz-Maru penguin. The Kaohsiung Eye opened on 5/12/2007 in Dream Mall; Kaohsiung, Taiwan. The observation wheel is 336 feet tall. There are 36 cabins. Kaohsiung Eye Pictures Videos of the Kaohsiung Eye Last revised on: 6/3/2013 9:50:12 PM […]

Ferris Wheel Books for Adults Fiction The Great Wheel: This interesting book centers around the construction of the original Ferris Wheel, built for the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893. One of my personal favorite Ferris wheel books. The View from the Ferris Wheel: The View from the Ferris Wheel is the journey of a courageous […]

A Look at the Most Unique Ferris Wheels in the World Observation wheels come in many different forms and manifestations. Here’s a look at some of the most unique Ferris wheels and uses of Ferris wheels out there. The Hubless Ferris Wheel A hubless, or centerless, Ferris wheel is exactly what it sounds like: a […]