Vegas ferris wheel named 'The High Roller' opened in 'sin city' yesterday, March 31, 2014. At 550 feet, the Vegas ferris wheel is the highest observation wheel in the world.
Tony Anouvongs, a security corporal at the Flamingo Las Vegas, is one of the first people to ride the Vegas ferris wheel, the city's newest attraction. He is also one of the first people in the world to take a selfie on the highest ferris wheel in the world.
Everyone together with him on the highest point in Las Vegas snapped photos on their Smartphones of the picturesque view of the Vegas sunset and the mountains surrounding the Vegas ferris wheel.
Airline call center employee from Phoenix, Van Kim, said the experience atop the Vegas ferris wheel was "unanimously awesome."
Steve Sisolak, chairman of the seven-member Clark County Commission that governs the Strip, called the view from the top of the Vegas ferris wheel spectacular. He said of the view, "You can see the entire valley. This is going to be one of those things everyone who comes to Las Vegas is going to want to do." He added that the job boost provided by its construction is important.
The Vegas ferris wheel got its official operating permit from Clark County last week and opened to the public today at 1 p.m. Anouvongs said of his selfie on the High Roller, "My daughter requested it. She seemed so excited to have me ride it and take a selfie for her."
So what sets the Vegas ferris wheel apart from other high ferris wheels in the world? Once the sun sets, the High Roller is probably the brightest thing you will ever see in the world, and the highest. With 2,000 LED lights turned on, the wheel which is akin to a bicycle tire with a hub and a spindle, turns into a wonderful massive kaleidoscope. Indeed, it is a sight to behold.
Yes, Las Vegas has always been known for having everything in it over-the-top with colors and aesthetics, but with the opening of the High Roller which is commissioned by Caesars Entertainment, Las Vegas is a whole new level of over-the-top.
The Vegas ferris wheel was highly anticipated and now that it has opened, it has drastically changed the Vegas Skyline. It is now competing with attractions such as the Stratosphere observation deck and the Paris Hotel and Casino's Eiffel Tower replica.
It beat the 'tallest' ferris wheels in the world at around 51 stories tall. Amongst gigantic attractions it won over is the Singapore Flyer, the Star of Nanchang in China, and the London Eye. The Vegas ferris wheel can fit up to 1,120 people.
Jon Gray, vice president and general manager of The LINQ says, "It's really an art piece on the Las Vegas skyline, from the dynamic lighting sequences to the overall engineering and architecture that it adds to the skyline. It's a new icon that everyone, locals and tourists alike, have embraced. We've really enhanced the Las Vegas skyline."
The Vegas ferris wheel opens publicly today at 4 p.m. EST. Ticketing options are available online and on-site starting at $24.95, plus fees. The Vegas ferris wheel will be open seven days a week 365 days a year.
To get a glimpse of the Vegas ferris wheel, see video below.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
