High Winds Temporarily Shut Down Navy Pier Ferris Wheel
CHICAGO (CBS) -- High winds along the Chicago lakefront forced Navy Pier to shut down its famous Ferris wheel for about an hour on Wednesday.
Navy Pier spokesman Nick Shields said the Ferris wheel was down for about an hour Wednesday afternoon when winds were blowing at 40 to 50 miles per hour. It was up and running again by 3:45 p.m.
The 150-foot Ferris wheel was modeled after the first Ferris wheel built for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. A ride in one of its 40 gondolas takes about 7 minutes.
Rides on the Ferris wheel were being offered for free on Wednesday for Leap Day. Parking was also free at Navy Pier for the occasion and many shops and restaurants at Navy Pier were offering special deals for the occasion.
