Times Square Ferris Wheel Open To Public For Limited Popup
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The wheel is up in Times Square.
A new pop-up 110-foot Ferris wheel is taking visitors up in the air for a new vantage point.
As CBS2's Vanessa Murdock reports, the Times Square Wheel started turning Wednesday.
The creaking sound of its motion is music to the ears of co-workers Claudio Roussillon and Shantel Gilmore.
"You can't get no better than coming to 42nd and enjoying everything that's here," Gilmore said.
The essential workers witnessed the evolution of Times Square, from empty when the pandemic started to now.
"It's very different," one said.
"We back," said another.
The excitement was palpable when it was their turn to ride.
Before anyone had the chance to ride, our camera caught final safety checks underway - the sanding down of sharp edges..
"Times Square is back and we are looking for new and exciting things to do while we await the return of Broadway which is coming in September," said Tom Harris, president of the Times Square Alliance.
Harris says eight years ago, organizer Vito Bruno asked to put a Ferris wheel at the crossroads of the world.
"We said that's never going to happen," Harris said.
Last spring, a second ask.
"I called the mayor's office, and the rest is history," Harris said.
Already folks are lining up for their chance to see the view from 110 feet up.
Each day, the first 100 people who show proof of vaccination between August 1st and September 12th will be able to ride the Ferris wheel for free.
Otherwise, rides cost $20 for adults, $15 for children.
The limited time popup attraction ends on September 12.