Peering at the Pier: Last Glimpse of the Old Santa
Monica Ferris Wheel, California
3 May 2008 - Page 1 of 2
 I
went to the Santa Monica Pier for the last weekend that the old Ferris wheel
would be in operation. Lisa and Lorenzo Scott, drummer for
Nectarphonic as well as an avid photographer, joined me to take photos.The Santa Monica Pacific Wheel Ferris Wheel was put up for auction on eBay in April 2008, with a minimum bid of $50,000, with 50 percent of the winning bid donated to Special Olympics Southern California: FREE WHEELIN’ FUN FOR SALE ON EBAY: ONE FAMOUS FERRIS WHEEL, SINGLE PROUD OWNER, 3 MILLION RIDERS Pacific Park’s High-Flyin’, Nine-Story Tall, Ferris Wheel Features 5,392 Light Bulbs, Reaches Speeds Of 2.5 RPM And Includes 20 Gondolas That Seat Up To 600 Riders Per Hour ~~ Left: An enthusiastic patron telling her friend about the Pacific Wheel being the first solar-powered Ferris wheel. |
 The
Pacific Wheel catching the rays of the setting sun.
The Pacific Wheel debuted May 1996 with the opening of Pacific Park and was adapted as the world’s first solar-powered Ferris wheel in November 1998, more eco-friendly fun than you can handle. The Ferris wheel originally cost approximately $800,000, weighs 122,000 pounds, stands 90 feet tall and is 30 feet wide. |
 Lisa
and I took one last ride on the Pacific Wheel, looking at the setting sun
and the boundless Pacific.
|
 The
Pacific Wheel has become a Southern California icon over the past 12 years,
and has been featured in numerous movies and videos, and has given 3 million
people beautiful views of the Santa Monica Bay during their ride.Not to mention gorgeous sunsets over the Santa Monica Mountains. |
 Santa
Monica Pier just after sunset, as viewed from the top of the Pacific Wheel
ferris wheel. |
 Overlooking
the Santa Monica beach. |
 The
red bulbs of the 2,392 white, 1,500 red and 1,500 blue bulbs.
The big new Ferris wheel will have 15,000 total lights of varying colors, all LED for energy efficiency. And they'll be able to make creative shapes out of 'em. |
 The
octopus-shaped Pacific Park sign looming over the evening beachgoers, as
seen from the top of the Pacific Wheel, Santa Monica Pier. |
 The
new Ferris wheel, a $1.5-million state-of-the-art replacement for its
90-foot-tall Ferris wheel that will feature computer-generated special
effects, have many more bulbs, and use 75% less power. And yes, it too
will be solar powered! |
 A
Pacific Park employee gazes wistfully at the historic Pacific Wheel as he
prepares another game for the many Saturday evening patrons. |
 Pacific
Park, Santa Monica Pier. |
 After
being put up for auction on eBay, the Pacific Wheel was eventually purchased
by Grant Humphreys, the son of a former Oklahoma City mayor, sight unseen,
for $132,400.
'Course, he also had to purchase a supporting base. He found one for $135,000. And he gets to pay the shipping for this too. I found myself wondering if he would still call it the Pacific Wheel. |
Peering at the Pier: Last Glimpse of the old Santa Monica Pier Ferris
Wheel, California
3 May 2008 - Page 1 of 2
Miscellaneous Photos
Eleven Shadows Travel
Page
Contact photographer/musician Ken Lee
