Did Anyone ever Hear About This?

Today I read in the Erie Times News article, "You Haven't Lived Here if you haven't... tried to spy Canada from a gondola car at Waldameer Park" about how the view is a must see spot that gives character to the erie area. What I'm asking about is later mentioned in the article is Paul Nelson's short story of how the park tried to move the old Ferris wheel with a crane but halfway arcoss the park the wind tipped it. The entire ride splintered. Nelson then gives his account of how the sight still never left his mind.

I'm guessing this accident happened little before the 1994 season when the current Gondola Wheel was opened.

The view is really good from there, although I have only been on it one time to where I could see Canada.

Relating to the Ferris Wheel, it was much smaller than the current. Between the first Ferris Wheel (stated as the one that tipped and splintered) there was another Ferris Wheel, located at what now is the Scrambler area, that was removed at the end of the 1993 season, and the new Chance Wheel was installed.

I never realized that the current wheel is 180 feet tall.

As for the view, here's one of my photos that I took from the ferris wheel (this one showing the view of the peninsula).

*** Edited 8/8/2005 6:08:44 PM UTC by Rctycoon2k***

Well since the land its on has Peninsula drive in the ravine on the one side and a SLOPE on the other, plus it's on a platform about 10 feet above the former bumper boat pool, I guess you can say it's 180 feet above the peninsula.

According to the article, and to Paul Nelson who I asked earlier today, the ride itself is 180 feet from the ground, and much higher over the peninsula because of the ravine.

Who knows. I'm not going to lose any sleep over it or go out with my trusty 500 foot tape measure to try and figure it out... ;)