The world’s tallest observation wheel took its inaugural spin on March 31 on the Las Vegas Strip.
The 550-ft-tall, 28-cabin “Las Vegas High Roller” anchors Caesar Entertainment’s recently opened $550-million, 200,000-sq-ft. Linq entertainment complex. The 520-ft-dia., 1,120-passenger wheel is taller than the London Eye and 9-ft. higher than the former record holder, Singapore Flyer. American Bridge Co., Coraopolis, Penn., was the general contractor, with the San Francisco office of Arup as engineer-of-record.
However, an observation wheel planned for the northeast side of Staten Island could soon wrest title away from Las Vegas. Design-build contractor Starneth BV is scheduled to finish the 630-ft.-tall, 1,440-passenger “New York Wheel” in 2016.
