Beginning Monday, Sept. 30, St. Louis Wheel at St. Louis Union Station will open to the public.
Community VIPs and city leaders, including St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson, a well as members of the media and other invited guests, were among those taking inaugural rides on Tuesday, as The St. Louis Wheel and the adjacent Wheel Park were unveiled during a preview.
Krewson gave remarks before guests boarded the giant wheel for its maiden spin, telling the audience she anticipates the ride to be “one of the largest attractions in St. Louis.”
The 200-foot-tall, 320-ton massive observation wheel towers over Union Station and provides visibility for up to 20 miles. The wheel features 42 climate-controlled gondolas, each holding up to eight passengers. The Swiss-made gondolas have glass exteriors, and one VIP gondola also includes glass floors, leather bucket seats and other amenities.
Each ride, which lasts approximately 12 to 15 minutes and includes three rotations, costs $15 for adults and $10 for children. The wheel will be open year-round, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Extended hours are planned to coincide with selected game nights, concerts and other special events at nearby Enterprise Center.
Also opening in conjunction with the St. Louis Wheel is the new Carousel, a classic 36-foot-wide merry-go-round with 30 whimsical animals and two themed chariots, as well as an 18-hole mini-golf course.
The Soda Fountain at Union Station, a reimagined retro diner, is also slated to open next week, and will feature over-the-top “Freak Shakes,” burgers, hot dogs and other classic diner food.
The St. Louis Wheel, carousel and all other attractions are part of a $187-million family entertainment complex at St. Louis Union Station, owned by Lodging Hospitality Management. The St. Louis-based lodging and hospitality management company is also developing the St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station, which is slated to open in late 2019.
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