Meet Navy Pier's New Ferris Wheel: Centennial Wheel
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Chicago is just weeks away from the grand opening of Navy Pier's new and improved Ferris wheel and now it has a new name.
"I'm pleased to announce today, Chicago's new wheel has a new name, the Centennial Wheel to honor the Pier's first 100 years and is a nod to the next 100 years of Navy Pier," said Navy Pier president and CEO Marilynn Gardner.
The new 196-foot Centennial Wheel will stand nearly 50 feet taller and fit up to 180 more passengers per ride than the previous ride.
Gardner said the project began on the ground on a frigid day in February, but has been two years in the making.
"This is such a critical moment of our history, because it marks the completion of the first phase of Navy Pier's redevelopment. We're ready to show off the beginnings of the new Navy Pier, and it begins with this amazing iconic structure," she said.
The $26.5 million attraction will offer nightly light shows, and 42 temperature-controlled gondolas featuring interactive TV screens.
"We're just about ready to go. We'll finish up the next couple of weeks, a lot of the landscaping so the guests can experience the entire Pier Park," said Navy Pier chief operating officer Brian Murphy.
Murphy says the light shows will be unique to Chicago.
"Generally, at about 6 p.m. every night, the wheel will begin to what we call 'wake up.' We'll see fireflies dancing on the wheel; just slow-moving, just getting the wheel flowing. And, about 8 o'clock, we're going to use the wheel as a canvas," he said. "What they've developed was these abstract forms and artwork that will flow across the wheel, like a canvas; that will change colors throughout the night. At 10pm, we'll switch to an LED uplighting system where we'll light the outer ring of the wheel and we'll light the edges of the gondolas."
Murphy said the new wheel will give people an even better experience to see the city.
"We'll do one spin, one rotation just to load the wheel. After everybody's loaded, we'll spin it at least two more times. So a guest will go over the top at least three times on this new ride; a lot different from the old ride where you went around once," he said.
The Centennial Wheel is part of a $640 million project approved in 2013 aimed at drawing more tourists and trade shows to Chicago.
"This summer we will introduce the Pier's dramatically transformed entrance with the unveiling of the new Polk Brothers Park, Fountain & Plaza. The fountain will reflect the world around it with 250 programmable jets and during the winter months, the fountain will transform into an ice rink," said Gardner.
There will also be at least ten new restaurants setting up shop on the Pier.
Tickets for the new Ferris Wheel will go on sale May 20.
Navy Pier's birthday celebration will be Memorial Day weekend and the Wheel will make its maiden voyage on May 27 at noon.
Navy Pier opened to the public on July 15, 1916.