Myrtle Beach SkyWheel, Ferris wheel on the boardwalk in Myrtle Beach, United States
The Myrtle Beach SkyWheel is a 187-foot (57-meter) observation wheel on the boardwalk in Myrtle Beach, United States. The glass-enclosed gondolas rotate slowly and offer clear views of the coastal waters and surrounding shoreline.
The wheel opened on May 20, 2011, after developers chose the boardwalk site next to Plyler Park; the Golden Villas motel was demolished and an alley moved. Its steel frame was built outside St. Louis and the gondolas were made in Switzerland. It closed in January 2021, was shipped to Wichita, Kansas, for renovation, and reopened on May 20, 2021.
The wheel's name comes from its height and open setting: at 187 feet it rises above the boardwalk next to Plyler Park. Its 42 gondolas are described as "ballooned-out square", each seating six, and unrelated riders are not required to share one. The wheel runs year-round except Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Each climate-controlled gondola holds up to six people and rotates several times over roughly ten to twelve minutes. Boarding takes place at ground level, so wheelchair users can enter without steps.
The wheel lights up after dark with programmable LED patterns that spread across the entire metal frame and reflect in the water. The light sequences change depending on the season and occasion, so the nighttime appearance always varies.
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