USA: Las Vegas Home to the Largest Ferris Wheel of the World
Not only roller coasters and free fall towers are always being built “higher, faster and farther” … also Ferris wheels are subject to the hype to be built higher and higher. With a height of 165 meters, the Singapore Flyer was previously the highest Ferris wheel of the world. Now a new wheel surpasses the Asian version: recently the 167 meter tall Las Vegas High Roller was opened on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada. It is now the world’s largest observation wheel and provides passengers with an amazing view on the Las Vegas Strip and the surrounding mountains. Nevertheless, the new attraction is not the “SkyVue Las Vegas” observation wheel project planned by Swiss Rides, which was featured in EAP issue 5/2012. Located across from Ceasars Palace, the High Roller is part of the Linq, the Strip’s all-new outdoor shopping, dining and entertainment district. A ride in one of the 28 cabins that offer space for 40 passengers each takes 30 minutes. As other cities like New York or Dubai are already planning to build even higher observation wheels, it is certainly only a matter of time how long the High Roller will hold the record for the world’s tallest observation wheel. (eap)