French wheel may be coming down

Sounds like the Eiffel Tower story. After the exposition it was built for ended the city wanted it removed.

Hurry up and tear it down. There may still be time to reassemble it at SFGAm for the 2002 season ! Doesn't SFGAm want one anyway ? This would be perfect. *** This post was edited by Joe Carroll on 1/8/2002. ***

Funny thing is, until I heard the story about it on the radio this morning, I didn't even know that wheel existed. I knew about London's wheel, but not the one in Paris. Turns out it's a Nauta-Bussink 60m wheel.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

Isn't that the one right along the River. It does seem out of place, plus it's in a prime location.
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BMCOASTER

bmcoaster@wi.rr.com

I was in Paris last summer and standing atop the Arch of Triumph, I thought the ferris wheel looked cool with the Obelsik tip in the wheel's center.  It added to the awesome perspective you get starting from the Grand Arch at La Defense to the big Arch of Triumph then down the Champs Elysee to the Obelisk and Ferris Wheel before the smaller Arch of Triumph and Pyramid entrance to the Louvre.
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Matt's Homepage for la jolie fille de France et le gâteau de Marie:
http://www.bw.edu/~mzarzecz

I've been on the London Eye.  It takes a half an hour to go around in it.  Since it was while MF was being built, I remember looking around half way up at 300ft to imagine what MF would be like. ;)
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A dream or some substance?
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-Dead Pres

is there anyway they could move it to a better location without spending too much money?

Is this the Ferris Wheel that was on the TV show "The Amazing Race"?
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"A gun is not a weapon...it's a tool...like a butcher knife, a harpoon, or an alligator"

Yep, Good call about the Amazing Race. The Grand Rue I believe.  It was the first checkpoint in episode three.

I was in France this past summer too, and I like the wheel there in the Place de La Concorde. Dont tear it down...that's my opinion, but hey I dont live there and have to look at it. I guess I could see how they look at it as a blemish in their historic area, french ppl dont seem to like much change.
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It's not that the French people don't like change, it just takes them a while and/or they don't like modern things in historic areas. Le Place de la Concorde is a VERY VERY historic place. But if you look at some French events of the past, you'll see that they do adapt. As someone mentioned above, the Parisians hated the Eiffel Tower: now they love it! Also, when Disneyland Paris was to be built, the French thought it would be a gigantic eyesore in the beautiful French countryside. For the first year, it didn't go over well, but word got out, and now not only do the French love it, but all of Europe does! Also, think about the gigantic change from Franc to Euro. I think it is a mistake to say the French do not like change, they just need a good reason for the "change". I too was in Paris last year, and I loved seeing the Ferris Wheel from the Arch. I just don't think the Parisians see a need for a Ferris Wheel. Perhaps it could be re-located to another spot in Paris or to Disneyland Paris. Who knows. Slightly off topic, but when I was there, there seemed to be a lot of unusually placed amusement rides, such as carousels, little car rides, and the like. I really don't know why they were there, and they were just kind of scattered all over the city. Hmmmm.

Jeff Walker

Je parle français!

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Jeff Walker
Future Cedar Point Employee
ARC Web Designs
www.cedarpoint.cjb.net

is this the one that has like glass gondolas and the gondolas rotate like on a gear?

Yeah, right, another ferris wheel at SFGA? So your'e telling me that a VERY HIGH attendance park, with 11 roller coasters, is going to put a up ferris wheel  Joe C? I'm not sure about you, but I WILL NOT wait over an hour to go on a ferris wheel on a busy day. A ride like that has no place in a park like SFGA. Maybe a lower attendance park like Six Flags St. Louis could handle it (but they already have one) And would the Village of Gurnee grant a height variance for it? HELL NO! For a relativley unobtrusive coaster lift hill, yes. But a steel gondola-laden behemoth? I think not. There weren't any plans for a wheel in 2002 (at least thats what us hosts were told at the end of last season)
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Welcome to Six Flags Great America. The land where we work on the non- working coasters!

CP Has  Big Ferris wheel, what is so strange about SFGAM getting one too even if it is much much bigger?

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Does CCI know how to make a bad coaster?

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there seemed to be a lot of unusually placed amusement rides, such as carousels, little car rides, and the like. I really don't know why they were there, and they were just kind of scattered all over the city. Hmmmm.

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I saw that too!!! that was kind of wierd...they were like every few blocks..near open markets...?? what a great country..lol

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Personally, I could care less if SFGAm gets a Farris Wheel. I'm all about coasters, and "thrill" rides. I say this, because it is rumored (maybe even confirmed), that SFGAm -wants- a large Ferris Wheel (to replace the Sky Whirl).

Although it would help spread out the crowd a bit, and would be great for couples & families, as well as for photography of the park.

So, I guess I do care, as long as it's an "off year" addition and doesn't cut into the coaster budget.

I hope they don't take this down.  This past summer I was in Paris, and I think the wheel adds a unique aspect to the city.  I didn't get a chance to ride it, but it is a great thing for city people to have access to an amusement park attraction.  Ususally you have to travel out into the country to ride an attraction, but with the wheel you can ride right in the middle of Paris.  I also think the wheel adds to the beauty of Paris.  As fellow Amazing Race fans know, the wheel has become sort of a landmark in the past 2 years, and should stay there with many of the city's other famous landmarks.
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I heard on CNN today that they started dismantling it today. http://www.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/europe/01/11/france.wheel/index.html