Spin on the Wheel

Wonderfair Wheel. 8/10/24 dwm

The huge wheel showed up at State Fair in 2018. It was called the Wonderfair Wheel, like the big attraction at Coney Island. I didn't ride it that year but got some cool pictures (you can see a couple below).

My first trip on the wheel was in 2021 on a cloudy, overcast day. It's the largest traveling Ferris wheel, standing 15-stories tall with 36 enclosed gondolas.

Just a block from where it towered over the fairgrounds from its location along the west fence, it had a larger presence in the heart of the fair, at the end of the Central Mall and next to the Giant Slide which has been an attraction more than 50 years.

I avoided rides like this for a long time, recently I became more likely to be interested to experience the view; the journey to the top; and the photos I might take.

Loading the wheel is quite a process, they can service six cars at a time with up to 6 passengers in each. The ride, from start to finish, is around ten minutes. I'd estimate four to five minutes are spent going around without a stop but it's understandable that getting people on and off takes time. There are doors on both sides of the car so getting six people out and six people in takes less than 30-seconds.

Standing in line. 8/10/24 dwm

You move a short distance several times, working your way around the circle, then the wheel speeds up a little as it makes several orbits. I was in a gondola with a family of four. The children counted each trip around, I think we made four full-trips without a stop.

I took pictures almost continuously but it was when we were at the top that was most exciting with the Milwaukee skyline in view.

There was an interesting moment when we stopped at the top and a gust of wind caught our gondola enough to make it sway gently. The oldest child looked at me and raised his eyebrow. I could only think to say, "That's fun, isn't it?"