Navy Pier's New Ferris Wheel To Open For Memorial Day Weekend

By Mae Rice in Arts & Entertainment on Mar 3, 2016 3:48PM

We’ve watched it grow from basically a giant pole to a full-fledged Ferris wheel with climate-controlled gondolas—and now, Navy Pier’s new, 200-foot-tall Ferris wheel has an opening date. The Ferris wheel will open to the public on May 27, the Office of the Mayor has announced.

That day—the Friday before Memorial Day weekend—will also kick off Navy Pier’s Centennial Celebration. The Ferris wheel is just one piece of the pier’s epic remodel, a 100th birthday present to itself titled the Centennial Vision.

The swanky new wheel will carry 180 more people than its predecessor, and stand about 50 feet taller. Its Benz-like gondolas will also have, in addition to temperature controls, built-in TVs. (However, these will not have HBO or anything—they’ll just share a constant stream of information about Navy Pier, seemingly whether you like it or not!)

Currently, the Ferris wheel is fully built, and undergoing engineering and inspection—a process you can watch live-streamed here.