Ferris wheel

A Ferris wheel (also called a Giant Wheel or an observation wheel) is an amusement ride consisting of a rotating upright wheel with multiple passenger-carrying components (commonly referred to as passenger cars, cabins, tubs, gondolas, capsules, or pods) attached to the rim in such a way that as the wheel turns, they are kept upright, usually by gravity. Some of the largest modern Ferris wheels have cars mounted on the outside of the rim, with electric motors to independently rotate each car to keep it upright. These cars are often referred to as capsules or pods.

This article is about a type of amusement ride. For the original example, first erected in Chicago in 1893, see Ferris Wheel (1893). For other uses, see Ferris wheel (disambiguation).

The original Ferris Wheel was designed and constructed by George Washington Gale Ferris Jr. as a landmark for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago; although much smaller wooden wheels of similar idea predate Ferris's wheel, dating perhaps to the 1500s. The generic term "Ferris wheel", now used in American English for all such structures, has become the most common type of amusement ride at state fairs in the United States.^[1]

The tallest Ferris wheel, the 250-metre (820 ft) Ain Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, opened in October 2021 but is no longer in operation. The current record holder since 2014 of a Ferris wheel in operation is the 167.6-metre (550 ft) High Roller in Las Vegas, Nevada, which opened to the public in March 2014.

Terminology and design[edit]

The term Ferris wheel comes from the maker of one of the first examples constructed for Chicago's World's Columbian Exposition by George Washington Gale Ferris Jr. in 1893.

Modern versions have been called observation wheels.^[2]^[3] In 1892, when the incorporation papers for the Ferris Wheel Company (constructors of the original 1893 Chicago Ferris Wheel) were filed, the purpose of the company was stated as: [construction and operation of] "wheels of the Ferris or other types for the purpose of observation or amusement".^[4]

Design variation includes single (cantilevered) or twin sided support for the wheel and whether the cars or capsules are oriented upright by gravity or by electric motors. The most prevalent design is the use of twin sided support and gravity-oriented capsules.

1893: the original Ferris Wheel was 70.4 metres (231 ft) tall. Built for the in Chicago, Illinois, it was moved to St. Louis, Missouri, in 1904 for the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, and demolished there in 1906.

World's Columbian Exposition

1895: the was built for the Empire of India Exhibition at Earls Court, London, UK, and was 84 metres (276 ft) tall.^[18] Construction began in March 1894^[19] and it opened to the public on July 17, 1895.^[20] It stayed in service until 1906 and was demolished in 1907, having carried over 2.5 million passengers.^[21]

Great Wheel

1900: the was built for the Exposition Universelle, a world's fair held in Paris, France. It was demolished in 1920,^[4] but its 86-metre (282 ft) height was not surpassed until almost 90 years after its construction.^[17]

Grande Roue de Paris

1920: the was built to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Emperor Franz Josef I, at the entrance of the Wurstelprater amusement park in Austria's capital Vienna. Constructed in 1897, when the Grande Roue de Paris was demolished in 1920, the Riesenrad became the world's tallest extant Ferris wheel with 64.75-metre (212 ft), and it remained so for the next 65 years until 1985, its 97th year.

Wiener Riesenrad

1985: , later renamed Technostar, was an 85-metre (279 ft) tall giant Ferris wheel, originally built for the Expo '85 World Fair in Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan. Work began on dismantling Technostar in November 2009.

Technocosmos

1989: the was built for the YES '89 Yokohama Exposition at Minato Mirai 21, Yokohama, Japan. Originally constructed with a height of 107.5 metres (353 ft),^[22] it was dismantled in 1997 and then in 1999 relocated onto a taller base which increased its overall height to 112.5 metres (369 ft).^[23]

Cosmo Clock 21

1992: Igosu 108 at , Shiga, Japan, opened April 26 at 108 metres (354 ft) tall, hence its name. It has since been moved to Vietnam, where it opened as the Sun Wheel on a new base, now totaling 115 metres (377 ft) tall.^[24]

Biwako Tower

1997: the , in Osaka, Japan, opened to the public on July 13, and is 112.5 metres (369 ft) tall.^[25]

Tempozan Ferris Wheel

1999: the at Palette Town in Odaiba, Japan, is 115 metres (377 ft) tall.^[26]

Daikanransha

2000: the , in London, United Kingdom, is 135 metres (443 ft) tall. Although officially opened on December 31, 1999, it did not open to the public until March 2000, because of technical problems.

London Eye

2006: the , in Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China, opened for business in May and is 160 metres (525 ft) tall.

Star of Nanchang

2008: the , in Singapore, is 165 metres (541 ft) tall. It started rotating on February 11, and officially opened to the public on March 1, 2008.

Singapore Flyer

2014: the , in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States, is 167.6 metres (550 ft) tall. It opened to the public on March 31, 2014 and is currently the world's tallest Ferris wheel in operation.^[27]

High Roller

2021: the in the United Arab Emirates is 250-metre (820 ft). It opened to the public on October 21, 2021, but is no longer in operation. There is no official explanation as to why it ceased operating. ^[28]

Ain Dubai

The 128 m (420 ft) is China's first giant observation wheel with motorised capsules.

Bay Glory

The 250 m (820 ft) , world's current tallest observation wheel.

Ain Dubai

The 167.6 m (550 ft) , world's tallest from 2014 to 2021, has externally mounted motorised capsules of a transparent spherical design,^[53]^[122] and is described as both a Ferris wheel and an observation wheel by the media.^[52]^[53]^[123]^[124]

High Roller

The 165 m (541 ft) has cylindrical externally mounted motorised capsules and is described as an observation wheel by its operators,^[125] but was also credited as "world's largest Ferris wheel" by the media when it opened in 2008.^[126]

Singapore Flyer

The 135 m (443 ft) , typically described as a "giant Ferris wheel" by the media,^[127]^[128] has ovoidal externally mounted motorised capsules and is the "world's tallest cantilevered observation wheel"^[129] according to its operator.