EXPLORE LAGOON: RIDES: Sky Scraper

  

 

Opened: 1991

Location: North Midway

Manufactured By: Nauta Bussink

Ride Model: R40 Giant Wheel

Cost: $1.5 million

Max Speed: 7-15 mph

Max Height: 150 feet

Number Of Gondolas: 36

Ride Capacity: 216 (6 per gondola)

Structure Weight: 400,000 pounds

Base Dimensions: Approx. 77 feet wide by 56 feet deep

Height Requirement: Children under 46" must ride with an adult

 

history & info

On this giant Ferris wheel, riders can spin their gondola 360° as they view the park from above, the Wasatch Mountains or even the Great Salt Lake. At night, the city lights of Layton to the north and Bountiful to the south can be seen from the top. On the average ride, the wheel rotates three times. 

      Sky Scraper started life in Circus World in Florida where it was originally installed in the mid-1980s. It remained there when the park was sold and changed to Boardwalk & Baseball. It was painted red and yellow. The park was never able to make a profit and closed in 1990. Lagoon bought the ride and it became the first ride at Lagoon to exceed 100 feet in height. It arrived in late 1990 on 13 semi-trailers. It was painted white and new supports were added. The old Ferris Wheel which had been at the park since 1953 was removed after the 1990 season. The Sky Scraper originally boasted an amazing light show utilizing about 180,000 individual lights. 

      Nauta Bussink is a Swiss company founded in 1985 and has since been renamed Ronald Bussink. They design some of the most popular giant wheels in the world.

 

photos

Photo: Mike Pitcher

 

Sky Scraper after dark.

Photo: Rick

 

View of the Midway from the Sky Scraper.

Photo: Braden Miskin

 

  

 

SOURCES

Lagoon
Website Visitors

Florida's Lost Tourist Attractions

Ronald Bussink

 

Updated 30 Oct 2007