Branson is getting a new “old” attraction. The ferris wheel that was dismantled at Navy Pier in Chicago in September to make way for an even larger one (nearly 50 feet taller and allowing 180 more passengers per ride year-round) is coming to the tourist town.
Track Family Fun Parks purchased the ferris wheel, which will be located at Track 4, 3345 W. 76 Blvd. The total cost of the new addition is expected to be around $2.5 million.
Craig Wescott, president and owner of Track Family Fun Parks, said it’s expected to open around Memorial Day.
"We just really thought that the story of the wheel was awesome. You know, we thought that it coming from Chicago, from Navy Pier, it being an icon, and it's just been such a staple there that we thought that it would be a really neat fit in Branson," he said.
According to a press release from Navy Pier, the ferris wheel that’s headed for Branson was installed at Navy Pier in 1995 and conducted more than 16.9 million rides during its time there. It's 150-feet tall and has 40 gondolas that can seat a total of 240 people.
