Historic Ferris wheel returns to Phoenixville as dedicated landmark

PHOENIXVILLE, Pa. (WPVI) -- A piece of history is now towering over a Chester County town, drawing admiration from residents and visitors alike.

A 78-foot-tall, 68-foot-wide Ferris wheel - described as the oldest in the world - has been officially dedicated in Phoenixville, where it was originally constructed in 1893. The structure, known as the Phoenix Wheel, now stands as both a landmark and symbol of the borough's industrial past.

"This wheel stands before us because people believed in what was possible," said Mayor Peter Urscheler.

The 133-year-old wheel stood for nearly a century in Asbury Park, New Jersey, where it became a recognizable fixture - even appearing on the cover of a well-known album.

"Bruce Springsteen was in front of it!" said resident Carla McKeon, laughing.

The Ferris wheel was disassembled in the 1990s. It returned to Phoenixville in 2008, launching a long-term reconstruction effort led by local officials and supporters.

"The Phoenix wheel is bold, it is creative, and it is unexpected," said Phoenixville Council President Jonathan Ewald.

That effort culminated in an official dedication ceremony attended by local leaders and community members. Residents expressed pride in the project and its significance.

"Just a really, really proud feeling," said resident Cynyth Peter Sheim.

Local tourism officials say the wheel adds to the borough's historic identity, rooted in iron and steel manufacturing.

"It's icing on a cake of this long, beautiful history of iron and steel here in Phoenix," said Nina Kelly, director of marketing and communications for Chester County Tourism.

The structure is not currently operational, but it is already serving as a focal point for visitors and residents, many of whom stopped to take photos during the dedication.

"This rich history comes to life and this gorgeous piece of art really that we get to look at here," Kelly said.

Some community members believe the attraction could draw new visitors.

"I was thinking that maybe like people who go around and visit the biggest ball of string, that will bring some of those people here," Sheim said.

Others say it will enhance the town's appeal.

"Definitely a conversation piece, I think when people come in...they like to walk around town and now they'll come down and probably see the Ferris wheel," McKeon said.

For now, the Phoenix Wheel serves as a static attraction - a visual centerpiece meant to draw people into the heart of the borough. But supporters say its future could hold even more.

"Not yet it's going to be running, but if I know the people in this town, someday, it will run," Kelly said.