What are some fun facts about the first Ferris wheel?

It measured 250 feet in diameter, and carried 36 cars, each capable of holding 60 people. More than 100,000 parts went into Ferris' wheel, notably an 89,320-pound axle that had to be hoisted onto two towers 140 feet in the air. Launched on June 21, 1893, it was a glorious success.



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The Weiner Riesenrad is the oldest still-operating ferris wheel in the world. It was originally constructed in 1897 to honor Emperor Franz Josef I's 50th Jubilee, and remains one of Vienna's most beloved attractions.

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The original Ferris wheel could carry 60 passengers in each of the 36 cars, for a total capacity of 2160 passengers per rotation.

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The Great Wheel debuted to the public on June 21, 1893, and ran without incident until November 6. A single revolution took 9 minutes on the 2-million-pound structure. The first Ferris wheel enjoyed nearly 1.5 million paid rides, netting the Ferris Wheel Company a $395,000 profit.

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During Summer operations with larger crowds, we typically have ride times between 12-20 minutes. During Winter operations with smaller crowds, we typically have ride times between 10-15 minutes. But as always, every ride is three full revolutions of the wheel.

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