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ParkWord June 2013
Several new world-class attractions have opened in Singapore in recent years, including Universal Studios and Marine Life Park at Resorts Worlds Sentosa, River Safari, Gardens by the Bay and Marina Bay Sands’ Skypark and ArtScience Museum. So many new attractions, in fact, that whilst compiling my pre-Asian Attractions Expo itinerary recently, I almost forgot the Singapore Flyer.
Standing 165-metres tall, the world’s tallest observation wheel opened in
2004. Various would-be attraction developers have threatened to steal the Flyer’s record-breaking status (which it stole from the 135m London Eye), but none have yet succeeded.
One proposal currently on the table is a 625-feet-tall (190m) ride for Staten Island, New York City. It’s one of several wheels currently earmarked for the United States, including up to three in Las Vegas (one or two seems more likely). Smaller, semi-permanent 60m-tall rides are also operating in Niagara Falls, Seattle, Myrtle Beach and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
In fact, there have actually been relatively few wheels of over 100m built around the world since the London Eye debuted in 2000. The cost and planning associated with such structures is prohibitive, which is why several canny operators and ride manufacturers have found a viable business model in providing 50/60m wheels in various cities, and then moving them elsewhere when a better opportunity arises.
If this sounds like a carnival operation, it’s not. The rides stay in one place for much longer, sometimes years, and the logistics are different too (most rides pack into containers rather than trailers). Even though the basic structure of the 60m attraction Dutch Wheels and Chance Rides are currently marketing is directly descended from a ride that has been travelling the German fairs for years, operators are able to command a higher ticket price due to its status as an observation wheel with added extras like climate-controlled gondolas. As we note in our special feature on wheels and other sightseeing experiences starting on page 41, such attractions have plenty of life in them yet. It would be nice, however, if a few more operators would have the courage to “think outside the gondola” and commission a ride in something other than white. I recommend silver.
Owen Ralph – Editor
Editor Owen Ralph (+44 161 438 2934)
parkworld@btopenworld.com
North American Editor Contributors this issue
Paul Ruben (+1 585 381 1012)
parkw@rochester.rr.com
Lisää Koriin, Jack Samuels
Sales Manager Mark Burgess (+44 1622 699124)
parkworld@datateam.co.uk
Publishing Director Paul Ryder
pryder@datateam.co.uk Data Development Manager Alex Wetton
awetton@datateam.co.uk Managing Director Parvez Kayani
p.kayani@datateam.co.uk Publication Secretary JUNE 2013
Jennifer York (+44 1622 699109)
parkworld@datateam.co.uk
ISSN 1462-4796
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