Ferris Wheel (3)
Big Eli
| Other Name(s) | Eli Ferris Wheel |
|---|---|
| Type | Rotating Ride |
| Park Section | Center |
| Built | 1927 |
| Opened | 1927 |
| Closed | 1937 (park closure) |
| Manufacturer | Eli Bridge Company |
| Model | Big Eli |
| Materials | Steel |
| Height | 60 or 75 feet |
| Vehicle Type | Car |
| Inversions | 0 |
Big Eli was a Ferris wheel that opened at Olentangy Park in 1927.[1] It was 60 ft. tall.[2] The ride remained operational until the park closed in 1937. Despite being listed for sale in The Billboard,[2] it was moved to the Haenlein Brothers' new Zoo Amusement Park across from the Columbus Zoo.[3][4]
Notes
A 75-foot Ferris wheel is said to have been "newly-constructed" in 1933 at Olentangy Park and one of the five largest in the country.[5][6]
A Ferris wheel already existed at Zoo Amusement Park in 1930.[7] Not sure which Ferris wheel is referenced in articles after 1938.
References
- ↑ "Promise at the Park." The Columbus Dispatch. Page 60.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Advertisement. 1983. The Billboard. April 16, 1938. Page 41. Accessed through the Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/sim_billboard_1938-04-16_50_16/page/40
- ↑ Barrett, Richard E. 1984. "Olentangy Park: Four Decades of Fun." Columbus and Central Ohio Historian No. 1. April 1984. Page 17.
- ↑ "Zoo Amusement Park Has Established Its Popularity." Columbus Dispatch, June 2, 1929. Page 14-A.
- ↑ Charrington, H. E.. "Olentangy Opening Near---Hardgrove Is New Fo'castle Manager---Tidings of Film." The Columbus Dispatch. May 16, 1933. Page 2-C.
- ↑ "Olentangy Now Open." The Columbus Dispatch. May 27, 1933. Page 5.
- ↑ "Bird's Eye View of Columbus Municipal Zoo, Taken from an Amusement Device At Nearby Park." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. Aug. 3, 1930. Page F-1.