Chicago man breaks world record with 48-hour Ferris wheel ride

Mon, 20 May 2013 16:24:00 +0000

CHICAGO (AP) — A manager of Chicago's Navy Pier rode the tourist spot's Ferris wheel for more than two days, bringing the world record for the longest ride to the birthplace of the amusement park favorite.

Clinton Shepherd spent 48 hours, 8 minutes and 25 seconds riding Navy Pier's Ferris wheel over the weekend. Shepherd is park operations manager at Navy Pier.

He calls it "a very overwhelming experience," made easier by the support of friends, family and the city of Chicago.

Guinness World Records allowed him to have one five-minute break each hour. He played hours of videogames to stay awake during the ride, and watched James Bond and Batman movies. Supporters followed him on Twitter.

The first Ferris wheel was built in 1893 in Chicago for the World's Columbian Exposition.

New York City to house world’s largest Ferris wheel

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 21:29:00 +0000

We know what you're thinking: New York City is pretty great, but it's just missing one, huge, important thing -- another tourist attraction. Well, those on the eastern seaboard are in luck, because Mayor Bloomberg has announced that the magnificent New York Wheel is coming to Staten Island. The giant Ferris wheel will stand 625 tall, hold 1,440 people and take around 38 minutes for a full ride.

Bloomberg hopes that the wheel, along with a new shopping complex, will revitalize the area by attracting about 4.5 million people each year. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2014 and the wheel is expected to open at the end of 2015.

h/t The Verge

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Chicago man breaks world record with 48-hour Ferris wheel ride

New York City to house world’s largest Ferris wheel