The world’s first Ferris wheel debuted on the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, Illinois. A creation of George Washington Gale Ferris Jr., an American bridge builder, the “Nice Wheel” was 264 toes tall, an unbelievable feat of engineering and design on the time. In the event you’d wish to be taught extra in regards to the historical past of Ferris and his wheel, try this glorious video from WQED Pittsburgh:

When you may need imagined the primary Ferris wheel as a tiny contraption just like what you’d discover on the county truthful, it was something however. It featured 36 passenger vehicles, every able to carrying 60 individuals for a complete capability of two,160 passengers. With some minor changes, it little question might have been wheelchair accessible!

Greater than a century later, the Ferris wheel stays a preferred attraction. Though accessibility shouldn’t be at all times assured, there are unbelievable wheelchair-friendly statement wheels value experiencing. Listed here are my high 9, fairly a number of of that are a lot smaller than the world’s first, however which nonetheless have the facility to mesmerize vacationers of all ages.

London Eye — London, UK

Opened in 2000, the London Eye attracts greater than 3 million vacationers yearly and is a can’t miss attraction for guests to London, England. Positioned on the financial institution of the River Thames, the 443-ft. wheel affords sweeping views over the capital metropolis.

From the highest of the wheel, guests can see sights together with the Palace of Westminster (i.e. Parliament), Huge Ben, St. Paul’s Cathedral, The Shard, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Tower Bridge, the River Thames and extra. It’s a exceptional spectacle.

Wheelchair entry is great, with it being potential to roll about contained in the spacious 25-person pods. A most of two wheelchairs are permitted in every pod, and it’s suggested that wheelchair customers pre-book a time slot to make sure availability. Securing a time slot is feasible through the London Eye reserving platform — a paid ticket is required along with a time slot reservation.

Excessive Curler Ferris Wheel — Las Vegas, NV, USA

At 550 toes tall, the Excessive Curler in Las Vegas, Nevada reigned on the world’s tallest Ferris wheel from 2014 to 2021, however has since been eclipsed by the Dubai Eye (820 ft.).

With 28 40-person cabins, the Excessive Curler can accommodate as much as 1,120 passengers. The wheel, which affords wheelchair entry to every cabin, has grow to be an iconic fixture of the Las Vegas skyline. It’s situated at The LINQ Lodge and On line casino, proper throughout from Caesars Palace.

Tickets begin at $23.50 for adults throughout the daytime (2 p.m. to six:59 p.m.) and $34.75 for adults at night time (7 p.m. to 12 a.m.). The ticket covers one revolution of the wheel, a couple of 30-minute journey.

Niagara SkyWheel — Niagara Falls, Canada

So far as views from the highest of a Ferris wheel go, it actually is hard to beat the Niagara SkyWheel. Take a journey and also you’ll see two nations, Canada and the USA, and the awe-inspiring Niagara Falls.

Standing solely 175 toes tall, the Niagara SkyWheel is the smallest on this record, however its accessibility is as much as par, with cabins massive sufficient to accommodate an influence wheelchair. It was, in truth, the very first Ferris wheel that I rode as a wheelchair person in 2014, and what a memorable expertise it was!

Tickets to journey the SkyWheel are priced at $15 CDN plus tax for adults and $7 CDN plus tax for kids. Extra data is out there from the web site of the attraction’s operator, Clifton Hill.

Hong Kong Statement Wheel — Hong Kong, China

The Hong Kong Statement Wheel, which stands at 197 toes, appears small compared to the towering skyscrapers which encompass it in Hong Kong, China. However on a transparent night time, the view is magnificent, with the town’s glittering lights reflecting off Victoria Harbour.

The wheel’s 42 air-conditioned gondolas supply level-entry boarding to wheelchair customers, lining up evenly with the boarding platform. Tickets are priced at 20 HKD for adults, with half-price tickets accessible for kids, seniors and folks with disabilities. The wheel makes a number of revolutions and the journey lasts about quarter-hour.

For be taught extra in regards to the Hong Kong Statement Wheel, seek the advice of the HKOW web site or see the pamphlet with data for wheelchair customers (PDF doc).

Singapore Flyer — Singapore

One of many highlights of my ill-fated journey to Singapore, the place I used to be admitted to the hospital, was the Singapore Flyer, which at 541 toes tall is the world’s third largest Ferris wheel.

Opened in 2008, the Singapore Flyer affords riders unbelievable views of the town skyline from certainly one of its 28 air-conditioned capsules. On a transparent day, it’s potential to see the neighboring nations of Malaysia and Indonesia, however on the very least guests will see Singapore’s iconic Gardens By The Bay and Marina Bay Sands, in addition to different fixtures of the metropolitan skyline.

Help is supplied to company throughout the boarding course of, and every of the wheel’s 28 capsules are wheelchair accessible. Tickets for the 30-minute journey price 33 SGD for adults and 21 SGD for kids. Extra data is out there on the Singapore Flyer web site.

Seattle Nice Wheel — Seattle, WA, USA

At 175 toes tall, the Seattle Nice Wheel in Seattle, Washington is tied for the smallest on this record, however what it lacks in dimension it makes up for with its gorgeous location at Pier 57 on Elliott Bay.

The Nice Wheel is a duplicate of the Niagara SkyWheel, and affords wheelchair accessibility with 30-inch vast boarding doorways. My energy wheelchair, on the time a Quantum Q6 Edge, match simply contained in the capsule.

Rides on the Ferris wheel final between 10 and 20 minutes and encompass three full revolutions. Riders will get pleasure from glorious views of the downtown Seattle skyline, the close by piers and Elliott Bay, which is usually busy with marine visitors.

The price of tickets is $17 for adults, $15 for seniors (65+) and $12 for kids (ages 3-11). Youngsters 2 years of age and below journey free. For extra data, go to the Seattle Nice Wheel web site.

Centennial Wheel — Chicago, IL, USA

Town that was residence to the world’s first Ferris wheel, Chicago, Illinois, celebrated the opening of the Centennial Wheel at Navy Pier in 2016. Named in honor of the pier’s a centesimal anniversary, I feel its naming was a missed alternative — shouldn’t the town have included “Ferris” within the attraction’s moniker?

Navy Pier’s web site advertises that riders can “soar to heights of practically 200 toes,” however I’ve not but been in a position to nail down the wheel’s true peak regardless of quite a few Google searches.

Even supposing “practically 200 toes” is sort of a bit smaller than the 264 toes attraction Mr. George Washington Gale Ferris Jr. dropped at Chicago in 1893, as we speak’s wheel affords a decidedly totally different view. Chicago has certainly one of America’s most spectacular skylines, and the wheel’s place on Navy Pier permits guests to take all of it in from a novel vantage level.

Tickets for the Centennial Wheel are $18 for adults and $15 for kids (ages 3-11). To chop the road, a quick move ticket may be bought for an extra $10 over the usual ticket worth. For extra data, go to the Navy Pier web site.

Rio Star — Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The Rio Star was below development throughout my first go to to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2019, however on a return journey in 2021, I used to be lastly in a position to get pleasure from a journey!

With a peak of 288 ft., the Rio Star is the tallest Ferris wheel in all of Latin America. Positioned alongside the waterfront of Guanabara Bay and inside strolling distance of standard Rio vacationer sights just like the Museum of Tomorrow, the wheel is in an important spot for sightseeing. If, like me, you’re all for tall issues — just like the tallest buildings and towers or Ferris wheels — that’s the principle attraction right here. Tallest in Latin America? That’s cool.

Wheelchair entry to every of the wheel’s capsules is supplied through a conveyable ramp. Tickets price 59 BRL for adults and 35 BRL for seniors (60+), youngsters (ages 4-11) and college students. For extra data, go to the Rio Star web site (in Portuguese).

The Wheel at ICON Park — Orlando, FL, USA

Orlando, Florida is residence to the Walt Disney World and Common Studios theme parks — did it really want a Ferris wheel? Most likely not, but when it was going to have one, it wanted to be huge.

At 400 toes tall, The Wheel at ICON Park is the second tallest in North America (behind the Las Vegas Excessive Curler). The wheel is outfitted with 30 air-conditioned capsules, every with a capability of 15 riders, that means there’s loads of area for wheelchair customers.

Riders will get pleasure from views of the town’s theme parks, its nature preserves, and the favored Worldwide Drive, affectionately often called I-Drive. Tickets bought on-line are priced at $28.99 for adults and $23.99 for kids (ages 3-12), with further reductions for Florida residents. Extra data is out there on the ICON Park web site.

Ferris wheels I’d nonetheless wish to journey…

Haven’t you ridden sufficient Ferris wheels? No! Whereas I’d wish to journey all of them, listed here are a handful that I’ve circled and hope to journey within the close to future!

• Melbourne Star — Melbourne, Australia (394 ft.)
• Ain Dubai (Dubai Eye) — Dubai, U.A.E. (820 ft.)
• Bailang River Bridge Ferris Wheel — Weifang, Shandong, China (476 ft.)
• Bay Glory — Shenzhen, China (420 ft.)

Have you ever ridden a Ferris wheel? Inform me about it within the feedback under, or let me know which of those statement wheels you’re most all for taking for a spin!