Ferris Wheel (Palace Amusements)
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| Manufacturer | Phoenix Bridge Co. | ||||||||
| Product | Ferris Wheel | ||||||||
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| Height | 65 feet | ||||||||
Ferris Wheel was a Ferris Wheel built by Phoenix Bridge Co. (also referred to as the Phoenix Iron Company)[1] originally located at Palace Amusements in Asbury Park, New Jersey, USA and later at Wonderland Entertainment Park in Gautier, Mississippi, USA. The wheel was 65 feet tall.[1]
History
The Ferris Wheel replaced an earlier, wooden version at Palace Amusements.[1]
The Ferris Wheel originally featured an observation deck built around its top.[2] Riders could disembark at the top of the Ferris Wheel to use the observation platform.[3]
At opening, each of the 18 cars (at times misreported as 20) were named after a prominent USA city.[1]
The observation platform was removed in the 1920s.[3]
Ferris Wheel closed with Palace Amusements on November 20, 1988. It was put up for auction on February 25, 1989, but a bid of $55,000 for the ride was rejected.[4] The ride was listed for sale in Amusement Business in summer 1989 and later sold to Wonderland Entertainment Park in Gautier, Mississippi, USA.[4][5][4]
It operated at Wonderland Entertainment Park until it closed in 1997.[3] New Jersey developer William Sitar rescued the wheel and hoped to revive the palace. He kept the attraction in storage on his golf course in Tinton Falls.[3]
The Schulykill River Heritage Center purchased the wheel from Sitar for $50,000 in 2008.[3][6] As of late 2024, the organization plans to rebuild the ride as a monument in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, USA, where the ride's steel was originally forged.[3]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Anderson, Norman. Ferris Wheels: An Illustrated History. Bowling Green State University Popular Press. p. 148. ISBN 0-87972-532-X.
- ↑ Carino, Jerry (2022-02-21). "Photos: Asbury Park's Palace Amusements Ferris wheel, then and now". app. Retrieved 2025-06-13.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Carino, Jerry (2022-02-21). "Asbury Park Ferris wheel may rise again — but you'll be surprised where". app. Retrieved 2025-06-13.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Anderson, Norman. Ferris Wheels: An Illustrated History. Bowling Green State University Popular Press. p. 151. ISBN 0-87972-532-X.
- ↑ Walck, Lauren (2014-06-01). "For sale: Gautier carousel that once inspired Springsteen". Stone Pony Messages. Retrieved 2025-06-23.
- ↑ Mikulich, Leah. "Historic Ferris Wheel Returns to Phoenixville to Become 74-Foot Statue of Americana". 2024-11-13. Montco Today. Retrieved 2025-06-13.