The Great Orlando Wheel was officially announced Wednesday afternoon, June 25, 2008, by company and tourism officials. The Great Wheel, a $200 million observation wheel, is going to be built on a site just south of the Orange County Convention Center on International Drive.
The Singapore company behind the wheel, Great Wheel Corp., touted the 400-foot tall wheel as a first point of contact for tourists to the Orlando area, a place where they will get a bird's eye view of much of what Central Florida has to offer.
The Great Orlando Wheel, inspired by the London Eye, will be the first the company has planned in North America. The company hopes the attraction will be a hub for social events, as well as drawing tourists to the area. The wheel's glass capsules, which measure 38 feet by 16 feet, can accommodate board meeting, birthday parties and other events. Weddings are a near-daily event at the company's first wheel, which opened in Singapore earlier this year, Bollen said.
This will be a great addition to the Central Florida area and should be a big draw for tourists. Keep checking back as we will be bringing you any new information as it becomes available and photos as soon as the construction begins.