Panorama Wheel

[darkridedan]

Since panorama means a wide view, I would think that the cars did spin to give a 360 degree view, much like the panorama or stitch feature on digital cameras. It looks like the people in the red gondola on the left are spinning.

[29yrswithaGApass]

Does anyone know what the object is behind the Panorama Wheel? It looks to be temporary and nothing shaped like that was ever on any of the maps (although those aren't always the most accurate resource). I'm assuming Fender Bender Bumper Cars is pictured on the left.

[Daved Thomson]

Does anyone know what the object is behind the Panorama Wheel? It looks to be temporary and nothing shaped like that was ever on any of the maps (although those aren't always the most accurate resource). I'm assuming Fender Bender Bumper Cars is pictured on the left.

I believe what you see behind the Panorama Wheel is the Shooting Galary that stood there for some time. I believe it was called the "Safari Shootout." That is definitely the Fender Bender bumper cars to the left and the rotor would have been to the right of the shooting galary. Actually, the "Super Cat" was to the right of the shooting gallery and the rotor was to the right of the Super Cat... See the 1977 park map.

Edited August 15, 2008 by Daved Thomson

[29yrswithaGApass]

The Safari Shootout was the only thing I could think of too but I am not sure that was in the park in 1975. It was a temporary structure so I guess they could have dropped it in anywhere anytime. The Jumbo Jet coaster would have also been back in that area too.

 

 

[GAcoaster]

I wonder if it's some kind of covering over the queue for the Little Wheel. It looks like two peeked roofs, and they appear to be fairly close to the wheel.

[29yrswithaGApass]

Here is some new information we recently learned about the Panorama Wheel:

 

- The manufacturer of the ride was in fact Soli of Italy.

- When the ride was first installed the cars DID spin.

- The ride was 82 feet tall.

 

Some mysteries solved!

[Railer]

Spinning Cars = Deadly!!!

[Yoshi]

I'd be nervous enough riding in those cars without the cages but to spin in those cars without the cages would be very scary especially since I am tall.

[The Master]

I don't remember riding it with spinning cars.

Edited April 14, 2009 by The Master

[GAcoaster]

The spinning cars only lasted a season or two, then they the welded into place.

[gafreak]

Only good thing about that ride was watching freefall go

[GAcoaster]

I remember the last time I rode it I got a contact high from the next car over. As the wheel spun we were down wind.

[29yrswithaGApass]

Just like the Big Wheel, the Little Wheel was great for taking aerial photos of all the rides and attractions in this section of the park especially when Movietown was been remodeled.

[Yankees99]

The Little Wheel, from what I could remember, was maybe about 100 feet. The gondola's would rock back and forth just enough that the ride operator would issue warnings when the ride stopped to let people on/off. It wasn't too dangerous, but I can still remember that "small chain" that was the security at the time.

 

I always thought you could get a pretty good view of most of the park, especially of Lightning Loops and Roaring Rapids. That part of the park and the Best of the West section were always my favorites.

 

One of these days, I'm going to head back there and visit the park, while also comparing today's version of it to my days of going there when it was brand new.

[29yrswithaGApass]

Below is a photo of the Panorama Wheel being installed at Great Adventure (crane still on site). This proves that the cars use to spin - note the various postions of the car openings.

 

[Yankees99]

Nice photo taken from the Little Wheel in 1979. Brings back good memories. Also, who is the little kid in the photo standing near the small garden in front of the Little Wheel?

[29yrswithaGApass]

This just in - the cars on the Panorama Wheel only spun during its first season at the park (1975). The cars were all fixed in place by 1976.

[FlumeOp1974]

Great info....I do remember them spinning, but boy were they heavy. I've been digging around trying to find info about Soli and all I've got is they make bumper cars. But no info about their days at making Ferris Wheels. Could well be ours was from Marco Polo Park here in Florida? It closed right after Walt Disney World openned which would have been 72-73 that the park closed.

Edited May 5, 2014 by 29yrswithaGApass

[GAcoaster]

Apparently Kennywood had the same model: https://www.facebook.com/KennywoodPark/posts/10153566062204865:0

[29yrswithaGApass]

^ If you closely, they didn't allow their cars to spin either!

[29yrswithaGApass]

OVER 50 NEW PHOTOS ADDED!

Click here to view the whole

Spotlight!

Here are some sample photos:

 

 

 

 

[Yankees99]

Are there any pictures out there from when they first began construction on the Little Wheel?

[29yrswithaGApass]

Oddly, I have found early photos of the Fun Fair section to be few and far between. My theory is there were so many rides so close to each other that guests must have stashed away their cameras while there and concentrated on riding the rides.

[Yankees99]

Interesting theory and one I agree with you on. Here's why. If you look at all of the videos and still photos that you have imported to the site, most of them are from Dream Street and Rootin' Tootin' Rip Roarin'. (Best of the West). Even the parking lot. There were so many great rides tucked away in Fun Fair.

 

If I went back there today, I could remember exactly where all of those once-great rides once stood.

[GAcoaster]

Fun Fair also was one of those places that it was difficult to get good photos of because of all the trees. For many years Yum Yum Palace was the same way unless you had a decent camera with a wide angle lens.