Wonder Wheel

Coordinates: 40°34′26″N 73°58′44″W / 40.574°N 73.97891667°W / 40.574; -73.97891667
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For other uses, see Wonder Wheel (disambiguation).
Wonder Wheel in 2008
Wonder Wheel at night (2016)

Wonder Wheel is a 45.7-metre (150 ft) tall eccentric Ferris wheel located at Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park, in the Coney Island neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York City, US.[1]

Eccentric wheels differ from conventional Ferris wheels in that some of the passenger cars are not fixed directly to the rim of the wheel, but instead slide on rails between the hub and the rim as the wheel rotates.[2]

History

Wonder Wheel on the New York Aquarium's south wall

The Wonder Wheel was invented by Charles Herman and built between 1918 and 1920 by the Eccentric Ferris Wheel Company. It opened on Memorial Day, 1920.[3]

Herman called it the "Dip-the-Dip" promising to combine in his new invention the thrill of a scenic railway, the fun of a Ferris wheel, and the excitement of the Chute-the-Chutes. An article written about the ride in Science and Invention said the Wheel was a "real thrill like you have probably never had before-at least not at this great height."[3]

Deno D. Vourderis bought the Wonder Wheel in 1983 from the son of Charles Herman, then restored it and made it the central attraction of Deno's Wonder Wheel Park.[4] In 1989 it was designated as a New York City landmark by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission.[5]

Since it opened over 35 million rides have been given on the Wheel.[5]

Construction

The Wonder Wheel is 150 feel tall and weighs 200 tons. It has 24 fully enclosed passenger cars, each able to carry 6 people, giving a total capacity of 144 passengers. Sixteen of the cars slide inward on a snaking track, falling outward as the wheel rotates. the remaining 8 cars are fixed to the rim, giving a traditional Ferris Wheel experience to passengers.[6]

Safety and maintenance

The Wheel has a perfect safety record, due in part to the fact that the original owners were also construction men, insuring during construction the highest standards of quality. Every year the ride is overhauled and painted, to protect it from the harsh weather associated with New York winters.[3]

The only time the wheel stopped while not under the control of the operator was during the New York City blackout of 1977 on July 13, 1977. Wonder Wheel operates on electricity, however, the passengers were not stuck on the wheel, as the owners cranked the wheel around to get them off.[6]

Replica

Mickey's Fun Wheel (previously Sun Wheel) is a 48.8-metre (160 ft) tall eccentric Ferris wheel at Disney California Adventure Park.[6] There is also a replica in Dreamland, Yokohama, Japan.[5]

In popular culture

Main article: Coney Island in popular culture

Coney Island has featured in numerous films, television shows, cartoons, and music videos, some of which show Wonder Wheel.

References

  1. ^ "What Saved Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park?". NPR.org. Retrieved 2016-12-22.
  2. ^ MEDIA, Tourism Review. "Ferris Wheels: Thrill Ride on Eccentric Wheels". TOURISM REVIEW. Retrieved 2016-12-22.
  3. ^ a b c "Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park :: Coney Island, NY". www.wonderwheel.com. Retrieved 2016-12-22.
  4. ^ "Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park :: Coney Island, NY". www.wonderwheel.com. Retrieved 2016-12-22.
  5. ^ a b c "Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park :: Coney Island, NY". www.wonderwheel.com. Retrieved 2016-12-22.
  6. ^ a b c Wonder Wheel History

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wonder Wheel.

40°34′26″N 73°58′44″W / 40.574°N 73.97891667°W / 40.574; -73.97891667

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