14 DAY TRIAL // Las Vegas's newest attraction is a 550-foot (167.4-meter) tall observation wheel in The LINQ, a shopping and dining district in Paradise, Nevada
The Ferris wheel, called High Roller, is the world's tallest observation wheel and beat the previous record holder, the Singapore Flyer, by 9 feet (2.75 meters). After nearly three years of planning and construction, it finally opened to the public on March 31, 2014.
The High Roller features a 520-foot (158.5-meter) diameter giant wheel and has 28 transparent spherical cabins that can accommodate up to 40 people each, which means 1,120 passengers can ride it at the same time. The cabins are mounted outboard of the rim and are individually turned by electric motors to keep the floor horizontal throughout the wheel's rotation.
The impressive wheel is illuminated at sunset by an LED system which includes no less than 2,000 lights and can display a single solid color, differently colored sections, multiple colors around the rim or custom displays for special events.
According to Amusing Planet, the High Roller takes 30 minutes to make one complete revolution, moving at 1 foot (0.30 meters) per second. So, it gives passengers enough time to admire the Las Vegas Strip and the surrounding valley.
Ticket prices vary from $24.95 (€18) for day time rides to $34.95 (€25) during the night.
If I ever get the chance to visit Las Vegas, I would surely enjoy a ride in this enormous wheel.