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Myrtle Beach SkyWheel

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Coordinates: 33°41′31″N 78°52′46″W / 33.692035°N 78.87954°W / 33.692035; -78.87954
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Map
General information
StatusComplete and operational
TypeFerris wheel
LocationMyrtle Beach, SC Oceanfront Boardwalk and Promenade
Coordinates33°41′31″N 78°52′46″W / 33.692035°N 78.87954°W / 33.692035; -78.87954
Construction started2011
Completed2011
InauguratedMay 20, 2011[2]
Cost$12 million[1]
Height187 feet (57 m)[1]
Design and construction
Architect(s)Ronald Bussink Professional Rides[3]
EngineerChance Morgan[3]

The Myrtle Beach Skywheel is a 187-foot tall (57.0 m) Observation wheel located in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina [1] that opened May 20th, 2011 and at the time of its opening was the second-tallest extant Ferris wheel in North America, after the 212-foot (64.6 m) Texas Star in Dallas, and the tallest wheel in the United States east of the Mississippi River. [4][2] Since its opening it has become the sixth-tallest Ferris wheel in the United States.

In January 2021 it was closed for renovation, expected to be reopened in May that year.

Design and safety

SkyWheel is a Ronald Bussink Professional Rides designed R60 Giant Wheel, and was manufactured by Chance Morgan.[3] It is similar in design to the Niagara SkyWheel on Canada's side of Niagara Falls,[4] and the Seattle Great Wheel, both of which are 175 feet (53.3 m) tall. Skywheel has "42 glass-enclosed, temperature controlled gondolas"[4] described as "ballooned-out square",[5] each with seating for six passengers.[3] [6] City manager Tom Leath said, "It's big enough to be an iconic feature for the city."[4]

The wheel operates year-round except for the day of Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Each gondola must be removed if high winds are predicted, completing a process that takes around eight to ten hours.[7]

Each gondola is equipped with temperature-controlled air conditioner units with hatch windows that allow airflow into the gondola. The gondolas are also equipped with a red "Emergency" button that alerts the ride operator.

Unrelated people are not required to sit together.[4]

If a child were to ride without their parents or guardian, they must be able to reach the top of the gondola where the emergency button is located. If the child does not meet this requirement, a staff member can be provided to ride with the child or the child may ride with another customer with the consent of the adult.

Location and description

St. Louis-based developer Koch Development Company and Pacific Development had been looking for a site for a Ferris wheel; they chose Myrtle Beach because of its new boardwalk, which has its northern end near the site, next to Plyler Park. Architect James Hubbard, AIA a Principal with Pegram Associates, Inc. designed the site, which includes a 5,400-square-foot (500 m2) building with a restaurant, gift shop and the ticket booth. The Golden Villas motel was torn down and an alley was moved.[4]

The September 8, 2010 meeting of the Myrtle Beach Downtown Redevelopment Corporation included a discussion of SkyWheel. TLC planned a show about the wheel's construction, and a camera was positioned above the site at the Slingshot reverse bungee attraction across Ocean Boulevard.[8] Al Mers, a Pacific Development partner, said later in the month that the steel frame was being built outside St. Louis, while the gondolas were made in Switzerland.[5] The wheel went on a deck 20 feet (6.1 m) above sea level to protect it from possible hurricane storm surge. Construction of the building started in December, while the wheel's frame began work on February 23.[9][10] Land Shark Bar & Grill opened the same day as SkyWheel, the third restaurant in the city connected with Jimmy Buffett. The others are Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville at Broadway at the Beach and Cheeseburger in Paradise on the city's north end.[11][1]

Renovation

The SkyWheel closed in January 2021 and was taken apart and shipped to Wichita, Kansas, where it was renovated for its 10th anniversary later that year. Upgrades include new floors and seats in the gondolas and a new logo and lights on the center globe. The attraction will also have the ability to do safe gender reveals, and more light shows are planned.[12][13]

On March 18, 2021, renovations had reached the halfway point.[14][15] Sections of the SkyWheel were returned starting on April 14,[16] and by April 23 the SkyWheel was reassembled, with some maintenance required ahead of the Skywheel's 10th birthday later that month. Its anticipated reopening date was Thursday May 20th.[17]

Honors

In 2012, Officialbestof.com named SkyWheel "Best Scenic Experience in South Carolina".[18]

On January 13, 2021, it was announced that the SkyWheel will be lit blue in honor of LCpl. Melton ‘Fox’ Gore of the Horry County Police Department who was struck and killed by a vehicle while he was cleaning up debris from an accident that occurred near Highway 22. LCpl. Gore served as an officer for the Horry County Police Department for more than 20 years. [19][20]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Bryant, Dawn (2011-05-20). "SkyWheel, LandShark eatery debuted today in Myrtle Beach". The Sun News. Archived from the original on 2012-09-11. Retrieved 2011-05-20.
  2. ^ a b NBC News Myrtle Beach gets super-tall SkyWheel
  3. ^ a b c d Myrtle Beach SkyWheel Press and News Archived 2012-01-20 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ a b c d e f Anderson, Lorena (2010-06-15). "Ferris wheel may roll to Myrtle Beach". The Sun News. Retrieved 2010-07-30.
  5. ^ a b Anderson, Lorena (2010-09-16). "Hotel makes way for Ferris wheel in Myrtle Beach". The Sun News. Retrieved 2010-09-16.
  6. ^ Salinger, Adva (2011-08-23). "Hurricane Irene path veers east, but Myrtle Beach area not out of woods". The Sun News. Retrieved 2011-11-30.
  7. ^ Salinger, Adva (2011-08-23). "Hurricane Irene path veers east, but Myrtle Beach area not out of woods". The Sun News. Retrieved 2011-11-30.
  8. ^ Anderson, Lorena (2010-09-09). "Myrtle Beach boardwalk gets visitors' approval". The Sun News. Retrieved 2010-09-09.
  9. ^ Bryant, Dawn (2011-02-24). "One giant ride, going up in Myrtle Beach". The Sun News. Retrieved 2010-03-03.
  10. ^ Bryant, Dawn (2010-11-30). "Construction under way for SkyWheel in Myrtle Beach". The Sun News. Retrieved 2010-11-30.
  11. ^ Bryant, Dawn (2010-12-09). "Jimmy Buffett eatery to land in Myrtle Beach". The Sun News. Archived from the original on 2012-09-12. Retrieved 2010-12-09.
  12. ^ Karacostas, Chase (2021-03-18). "Myrtle Beach SkyWheel renovations halfway done. When will it return to the Boardwalk?". The Sun News. Retrieved 2012-03-18.
  13. ^ "SkyWheel to undergo 'major makeover' ahead of 10th anniversary". WMBF-TV. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  14. ^ "Myrtle Beach SkyWheel halfway done with renovations". WBTW. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  15. ^ "SkyWheel Upgrade Progress Report". Myrtle Beach SkyWheel. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  16. ^ Karacostas, Chase (2021-04-15). "Myrtle Beach rolls out the red carpet to roll in the boardwalk's SkyWheel". The Sun News.
  17. ^ "Skywheel Myrtle Beach Revamp Progress". Myrtle Beach Skywheel. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  18. ^ Bryant, Dawn (2012-03-20). "Myrtle Beach attraction gets nod from website". The Sun News. Archived from the original on 2012-09-03. Retrieved 2012-03-22.
  19. ^ Luna, Kaitlyn. "Myrtle Beach SkyWheel to be lit blue in honor of LCpl. Melton 'Fox' Gore". WBTW. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  20. ^ Altman-Devilbiss, Alexx. "Skywheel to light blue in honor of HCPD LCpl. Melton "Fox" Gore". WPDE-TV. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
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