Did you guess our next stop correctly? The Wonder Wheel! Built in 1920 this 150-foot ferris wheel has been an icon for Coney Island since its inception. It towers over everything else and is visible from everywhere you go.
As we approached it was obvious that some of the cars were doing a lot of swinging back and forth and I didn’t think I was going to like that very much. That’s because this ferris wheel is unique. The cars on the inside track of the wheel are each on their own track and the movement of the wheel makes them slide forward and backward wildly, kind of like a miniature roller coaster. The cars on the outside (which there are fewer of) remain stationary.
Rick knew instinctively that I wasn’t going to like the roller-coaster like ones, (he knows me so well!) so he said he really wanted to be on the outside at the highest point for the best view. Bless him. We stood in the stationary line. The couple in front of us saw one of the stationary cars go past them with two buckets and a sleeping dog inside it. I guess he didn’t like the swinging cars either. We figured he was the ballast.
We went around once, stopping and starting as all the cars were filled, then when everyone was on board we went all the way around without stopping. Here are the views in each direction.
Looking behind us at the rest of the amusement park.
Looking at the beach.
Looking toward Manhattan.
And looking straight in front of us.
It was a pleasant and smooth ride, and as the cars above and below us swung crazily, I was glad we were in our stationary car at the top of the world.
Where to next ... ?
Posted by Lynne on 09/04/2008 at 05:14 AM
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Daily Life •
Travels Beyond New Jersey