Buzz
During the summer of 1893, the first Ferris wheel in history made its grand appearance at the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, Illinois. This iconic creation was designed by George Washington Gale Ferris, Jr., a steel engineer from Pittsburgh, and was built to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the European discovery of the Americas. It was conceived as a bold counterpart to the Eiffel Tower, the centerpiece of the 1889 Paris Exposition.
The Ferris wheel stood over 260 feet (80 meters) tall and could accommodate approximately 2,000 passengers simultaneously. Its main axle alone weighed more than 71 tons, and a single 20-minute ride cost 50 cents.
Since then, hundreds of Ferris wheels, often referred to as 'observation wheels' for the largest ones, have been constructed worldwide. This ranking highlights the top ten currently in operation. Selection criteria included not only size (only three of the world’s twelve tallest wheels made the list, and two of the top five) but also beauty, uniqueness, and historical significance. The surrounding environment of each wheel was also a key factor, ensuring a diverse representation of global locations. This list aims to serve as a comprehensive guide for Ferris wheel enthusiasts seeking the ultimate experience.
10. Navy Pier in Chicago
Navy Pier, located along Chicago’s Lake Michigan shoreline—once home to freshwater submarines and WWII aircraft carriers—is an ideal starting point for our list. Near the historic site of the first Ferris Wheel and surrounded by museums and theaters, a stunning white Ferris wheel stands as a quintessential example of what a classic Ferris Wheel should be. It offers spectacular views of the city skyline and, in turn, becomes a picturesque landmark itself.
While not an exact replica of the original 1893 Ferris Wheel (it features four extra gondolas, is roughly 100 feet shorter, and has a smaller capacity), its design pays homage to the iconic Expo creation. As a tribute to that era, it makes a powerful statement, especially since the original structure was dismantled in 1906.
A ride costs $6 and lasts approximately 7 minutes.
9. Singapore Flyer
On February 11, 2008, the Singapore Flyer, standing at 541 feet (165 meters), began its rotation and claimed the title of the world’s tallest Ferris Wheel, becoming the ninth wheel to hold this distinction and retaining it to this day.
This engineering marvel features 28 air-conditioned capsules, each seating 28 passengers, and is fully accessible for individuals with disabilities, offering restrooms, ramps, and even champagne and cocktail services. Initially, tickets were priced at $8,888 in Singapore dollars, a number considered auspicious in Asian culture. Later in the year, following advice from feng shui experts, the wheel’s rotation direction was changed to clockwise, now facing the marina.
Potential challengers to the Singapore Flyer’s title include proposed projects in Beijing, Berlin, Dubai, Bangkok, and to a lesser extent, Las Vegas and Baghdad. However, none of these projects currently seem poised to move forward.
8. Santa Monica Pier
Situated at the western terminus of Highway 10 in Los Angeles, marking the unofficial end of Route 66 in California, the Santa Monica Pier has hosted two remarkable Ferris Wheels since 1996. The first, known as the “Pacific Wheel,” was adorned with 5,392 light bulbs (2,392 white, 1,500 red, and 1,500 blue) and starred in 71 TV commercials, 28 films, and 13 music videos during its 12-year operation. After its retirement, the wheel was auctioned on eBay for $132,400, with half the proceeds donated to the Special Olympics and an additional $1 per rider on its final day (May 4, 2008) going to the Los Angeles SPCA.
Its successor, nearly identical in design, features spacious, covered, open-air octagonal gondolas and holds the distinction of being the world’s first and only solar-powered Ferris Wheel. Equipped with 160,000 energy-efficient LED lights, it illuminates the beachfront as brilliantly as its predecessor.
Rising nearly 90 feet above the pier and 130 feet above the ocean, the Santa Monica Ferris Wheel offers a more stunning experience than California’s other beachfront wheels in Newport Beach’s Balboa Peninsula and Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Despite its awe-inspiring views, it remains the shortest wheel on our list.
7. Big-O
The Big-O Ferris Wheel, located in Tokyo Dome City, is a cutting-edge entertainment and shopping hub in Tokyo, Japan. It stands out globally as the only Ferris Wheel without a central axle, spokes, or internal supports. Instead, it is supported by two arrow-shaped structures resembling oversized chopsticks. Adding to its uniqueness, the Thunder Dolphin roller coaster, Japan’s tallest and fastest, zooms directly through the wheel’s open 200-foot rim.
For visitors to Tokyo or those planning a trip, Tokyo Dome City and the Big-O Wheel are easily accessible via any JR line to Suidoi Station in Bunkyo ward.
6. Texas Star
The Texas Star in Dallas, Texas, stands as North America’s tallest Ferris Wheel and has been the highlight of the Texas State Fair since its debut in 1985, built to celebrate Texas’s sesquicentennial. Rising 21 stories high, it features 44 gondolas, each seating six people, and is operated by a team of 18 staff members. Originally lit by 16,000 incandescent bulbs, the wheel was upgraded in 2008 to an energy-efficient LED lighting system, similar to the Santa Monica Pier’s Ferris Wheel.
While exact numbers are hard to pin down, the Texas State Fair, which runs for three weeks, draws an estimated 3 million visitors each year and injects over $300 million into Dallas’s economy. The fair offers a variety of attractions, including concerts, auctions, auto shows, and unique deep-fried treats like Twinkies, Oreos, butter, banana splits, beer, and even Coke. What better way to enjoy the spectacle than from the top of the Texas Star?
5. Wonder Wheel
The Wonder Wheel, constructed in 1920 by the Eccentric Ferris Wheel Company, is a unique type of Ferris Wheel where not all passenger cars are fixed to the outer frame. Instead, some cars glide along tracks within the wheel’s structure as it rotates. Located on Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York City, it stands alongside the Cyclone roller coaster and Nathan’s hot dog shop as one of the area’s most iconic and beloved landmarks.
Standing at 150 feet (46 meters) tall, the Wonder Wheel features 24 passenger cars, with 16 that shift positions and 8 that remain fixed as the wheel rotates. It can accommodate up to 144 riders at once. A nearly identical version, Mickey’s Fun Wheel, was constructed in 2001 at Disney’s California Adventure in Anaheim.
However, the Wonder Wheel remains the original and most iconic of its kind.
4. Riesenrad
Located in Vienna’s Wurstelprater amusement park, the Wiener Riesenrad (meaning “Viennese Big Wheel”) is a historic Ferris Wheel that has stood for over a century. Built in 1897 to commemorate Emperor Franz Josef I’s Golden Jubilee, celebrating his 50-year reign, it held the title of the world’s tallest Ferris Wheel for more than six decades. This enduring landmark stands as a tribute to both its imperial inspiration and its timeless engineering.
During the tumultuous year of 1916, marked by war and the death of Emperor Franz Josef I, the Riesenrad narrowly escaped demolition due to insufficient funds to carry out the order. It suffered significant damage during World War II but was later restored, though it now operates with only 15 passenger cabins, half of its original 30. Its survival is a testament to its enduring legacy, standing as a cherished symbol of Vienna and one of the most magnificent Ferris Wheels ever built, towering at 65 meters—slightly taller than the Texas Star.
3. Tianjin Eye
The Tianjin Eye, a 390-foot (120-meter) Ferris Wheel, is uniquely constructed on a bridge spanning the Hai River in Tianjin, China. Completed in 2007, it holds the distinction of being the only Ferris Wheel in history to be built directly on a bridge.
China is home to six of the world’s ten tallest Ferris Wheels, including those in Changsha, Suzhou, and Zhengzhou, as well as the colossal Star of Nanchang, second only to the Singapore Flyer. The Tianjin Eye earns its place on this list not only for its impressive height but also for its striking beauty, uniquely positioned not beside but above the river.
Instantly recognizable, the Tianjin Eye is supported by massive inverted “Y” buttresses and is beautifully illuminated at night with vibrant two-tone colors, such as gold and pink or turquoise and lime, creating stunning reflections on the river below. Despite its elegance, it can accommodate up to 770 passengers per hour across 48 capsules, placing it in the same league as the London Eye and Cosmo Clock. The achievement of constructing something so grand and visually captivating is truly remarkable.
It stands as the finest Ferris Wheel in the world.
2. London Eye
The London Eye, standing at 443 feet (135 meters), is currently the third tallest Ferris Wheel globally and the largest in the Western Hemisphere. Located on the Thames, it is celebrated for its engineering brilliance and iconic status.
Architecturally, the London Eye is designed as a cantilever, supported on just one side, offering passengers an uninterrupted view of the North Bank, including landmarks like Westminster Palace. The capsules are mounted on the exterior of the rim using rotating circular mechanisms, ensuring a complete 360-degree panoramic view from the top—a feature shared with the Southern Star in Melbourne.
To mark the new millennium, it was officially inaugurated as the world’s tallest Ferris Wheel in a ceremony led by Tony Blair on New Year’s Eve, 1999. It remains the centerpiece of London’s New Year celebrations, with fireworks launched directly from the wheel.
The wheel moves at a leisurely pace of 0.6 mph, allowing passengers to board and exit without stopping. A full rotation takes approximately 30 minutes, with the wheel completing around 8,000 rotations annually. It transports over 10,000 passengers daily and more than 3 million each year. Tickets for adults are priced at £14.50.
1. Cosmo Clock 21
Cosmo Clock 21, a massive Ferris Wheel and clock in Yokohama, Japan, stands at 353 feet (107 meters). It held the title of the world’s tallest Ferris Wheel from its construction in 1989 for the Yokohama Exposition until 1997 and remains the largest clock in the world to this day.
This iconic wheel is the centerpiece of Minato Mirai 21, meaning “Future Harbor 21,” Yokohama’s bustling seaside district. The area boasts other notable landmarks, including Landmark Tower (Japan’s tallest building), Yokohama Marine Tower (the world’s tallest lighthouse), a symphony hall, a convention center, an art museum, and some of Japan’s largest hotels and residential towers.
In 1999, the wheel was dismantled and reassembled on a taller base, adding 16 feet to its height. It features 60 passenger cabins, each accommodating 8 people, and completes one rotation in approximately 15 minutes.
+ Sky Whirl
The Sky Whirl is included as a bonus entry because, firstly, it no longer exists, and secondly, it may not have been a traditional Ferris Wheel. However, it undoubtedly deserves recognition. It was a “Triple Wheel,” featuring three rotating wheels supported by a three-armed structure atop a single tower.
Two Sky Whirls were built, and those who experienced them still fondly remember these unique rides. One operated at Marriot’s Great America Park in Santa Clara, California (now California’s Great America) from 1976 to 1997, while the other ran at Marriot’s Great America (now Six Flags Great America) near Chicago, Illinois, from 1976 to 2001.
And so, as with many things in life, we’ve come full circle once more. I hope you enjoyed the journey.
