Belfast Wheel facts for kids
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,_December_2009.JPG)
The Belfast Wheel was a huge, movable Ferris wheel in the heart of Belfast, Northern Ireland. It stood in the grounds on the east side of Belfast City Hall. This giant wheel was open from November 2007 until April 2010. It was about 60-metre (200 ft) tall, which is like a 20-story building!
Contents
History of the Belfast Wheel
The Belfast Wheel came to the city thanks to a partnership between Belfast City Council and the Department for Social Development. A company called World Tourist Attractions was in charge of running it.
Opening and Fun Rides
The wheel first opened in November 2007. It was open every day of the week. From its 42 special capsules, you could see amazing views all over Belfast and Belfast Lough. Each capsule was fully enclosed and had its own climate control, so it was always comfortable inside. The capsules went up almost 60 meters high, and a full trip lasted about 13 minutes. There was even a special VIP capsule with a DVD player, a glass floor, and champagne for a fancy experience!
Staying Longer and a Memorial Issue
In May 2009, the Belfast City Council decided they wanted the big wheel to stay for two more years. This meant it would remain on site from September 2009.
However, the Belfast Titanic Society was not happy about this. They felt the Belfast Wheel was blocking the view of the Titanic Memorial. This important memorial remembers those who died on the Titanic. The wheel's structure was built around and on top of the memorial. The Society suggested moving the memorial to a different part of the City Hall grounds.
The Wheel's Last Days
The Belfast Wheel closed for good on Sunday, April 11, 2010. The company running it, Great City Attractions, had announced a few weeks earlier that it would be taken down. The main reason was that the Environment Agency did not want the wheel to stay any longer. They wanted to make sure it didn't become a permanent structure next to a listed building (a building with special historical importance). There were some talks about moving the wheel to Belfast's Titanic Quarter, but these plans did not work out. The very last ride on the Belfast Wheel happened at 6:00 PM that day.
An Unusual Event
On June 22, 2009, an unusual event happened at the Belfast Wheel. A 38-year-old man climbed to the very top of the wheel. This caused the wheel to stop completely, and tourists were stuck in their capsules for over three hours! A special team of firefighters eventually helped the man get back down to the ground.
