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# Special memories of wheel go online
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/special-memories-of-wheel-go-online/
- Published: 2008-04-02T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-24T23:49:34.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Entertainment, Santa Monica, #archive-import

Alexis Hawkins SOON TO BE HISTORY: The iconic Pacific Wheel at Pacific Park is scheduled to be removed.

“Thank you, “Heather.” The Pacific Wheel debuted May of 1996 with the opening of Pacific Park and was reintroduced as the world’s first solar-powered Ferris wheel in November 1998.The nine-story Pacific Wheel was later selected “Best Solar System” in the Reader’s Digest Best in America 2006.

Forever in the spotlight, the Pacific Wheel has over 300 celebrity appearances including 105 photo shoots, 71 television commercials, 69 television shows, 28 feature films, 13 music videos and top billing in the opening shots for NBC’s “Tonight Show with Jay Leno” and appears on television’s no. 1 program, “American Idol.”

The Pacific Wheel, which has provided more than 3 million rides in its 12 years of operation, stands 130 feet above the Pacific Ocean, features 20 gondolas with a maximum eight riders per car and can accommodate up to 600 riders per hour.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on April 2, 2008.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/040208.pdf?ref=smdp.com)