Community Appearance Board Approves Ferris Wheel ‘Look’

[DriVer]

Myrtle Beach's Boardwalk to Feature Hi-Tech Ferris Wheel by Next Summer!

Myrtle Beach is planning to build the tallest Ferris wheel east of the Mississippi adjacent to the new Myrtle Beach Boardwalk. Local business owners welcome the proposal and it appears that the city council has approved the construction. The chosen site will see the destruction of a 3 story 1950s beach front hotel property which is unoccupied and out of use.

The city wants to bring the SkyWheel Ferris wheel to the beach by next summer. The 175 foot-tall wheel near Plyler Park will feature 42 gondolas that would be heated and air-conditioned so that it could be used all year long.

The SkyWheel property will feature family amusements, entertainment and a dinning facility and will be tied into the Boardwalk.



SkyWheel Ferris wheel

Pacific Development and Downtown Redevelopment Corporation.

Aisha Khan and Mason Snyder
WBTW News13
Published: June 17, 2010

[Route 66]

That's too high for me.

I go by granddaddy's rules; Go no higher than the corn stalks, no lower than the 'taters.

[wa8yxm]

I like Mr. Ferris' Wheel.. However I kind of wonder about the wisdom of one that is not easily taken down in that part of the shore line... 150 MPH winds are kind of heard of there if I'm not mistaken.

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wa8yxm ... 150 MPH winds are kind of heard of there if I'm not mistaken.

That's only a mild CAT4 storm ... we could get a CAT5 here ...

Maybe the wheel has hinges and folds flat!

[Route 66]

Quote:

Maybe the wheel has hinges and folds flat!

Yeah, but not by design intent!

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Route 66 Yeah, but not by design intent!

You saw the movie "1941" ???? Now that would be funny!

[AL]

Hi All,

Wow looks like there making it like the Jersey Shore,LOL!!!! Then again will have to do a lot to catch up with Wildwoods 5 mile Boardwalk and 3 piers! However all kidding aside I will have to stop by there and ride on it, bet it will be a nice view!!!

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by AL Hi All, Wow looks like there making it like the Jersey Shore,LOL!!!! Then again will have to do a lot to catch up with Wildwoods 5 mile Boardwalk and 3 piers!

Hey Al, 1.2 miles with 2 piers ain't too bad !! MYR has more piers per mile!

[DriVer]

As of a couple of days ago the existing hotels on the selected property are being demolished. Within the next few weeks the terrain is going to be leveled. Bids are being accepted to build the Ferris Wheel and it is expected that the wheel will be in commission by May 2011.

The wheel is designed to hold 300 people in air conditioned and heated gondolas. The wheel is all weather and will run all year round.

Business people in the vicinity are telling News sources that this year has been the best it ever was due to the opening of the new Myrtle Beach boardwalk and with the opening of the Ferris Wheel early next year hopes are high that this years business will be exceeded.

[frankdamp]

If they use the same concept as the London Eye, where the wheel sits on drive rollers at the bottom, rather than a central drive axle, it might be more wind-resistant and easier to take down if a strong storm is predicted. You'd need a tall crane, though

[diandtom]

Ok folks I did a search on Myrtle Beach hurricanes,unless things really change I don't think they really have to worry much about hurricanes and/or especially ones with 150 mph winds! Not an every year occurance there,thank goodness.

Last affected by
2008 Sept 6th T.S Hanna hits while moving north with 70mph winds.

This areas hurricane past
1874 a hurricane passes overhead from the SW on sept 29th with 80mph winds while moving NNE
1885 a back door hurricane hits with 100mph windson Aug 25th
1893 Aug 28th a very large & powerfull hurricane hits near Savannah killing over 1,000 in South Carolina.wind field map
1906 in sept a hurricane hits direct bar 27.90(heavy damage to area)
1954 hazel hits and gives this area winds of 106mph,Hazel had 125mph winds at passage while rapidly moving north at 25 to 30mph. This sytem downed many trees in the area allowing developers to build Golf Courses in the now famous Golfing area. Lowest pressure was 28.47 upon eye passage.Newspaper headlines | Hurricane Hazel page
1960 Hurricane Donna sept 12th passes just east by 50 miles with 110mph winds while moving NNE causing moderate damage
1989 hugo 50 miles to south area still got flooded by storm tides.suprising damage on beaches despite Hugo's path well to the south with 135mph winds. more on Hurricane Hugo here
1999 sept 15th hurricane Floyd with 115mph winds brushes approx 60 miles to the east causing minor damage here.
2004 August 14th, Hurricane Charley just offshore with 75mph winds moving quickly to the north.Roof damage to a motel and many trees down.