Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Oklahoma Oklahoma City Wheeler Ferris Wheel

Wheeler Ferris Wheel

The surprising home of the iconic Santa Monica Pier Ferris Wheel.

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Added By
Dave
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Wheeler Ferris Wheel.   dc2az1 / Atlas Obscura User
Oklahoma City downtown skyline as seen from the Wheeler Ferris Wheel.   TheDoctorWho/cc by-sa 4.0
Classic shot of the iconic Santa Monica Pier.   Lonni Besançon/cc by-nd 2.0
  cait7911 / Atlas Obscura User
  cait7911 / Atlas Obscura User
  cait7911 / Atlas Obscura User
  cait7911 / Atlas Obscura User
  cait7911 / Atlas Obscura User
  cait7911 / Atlas Obscura User
  cait7911 / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
  cait7911 / Atlas Obscura User
  cait7911 / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

For years this classic Ferris wheel was the most recognizable feature of the iconic Santa Monica Pier. The famous amusement ride backdropped dozens of Hollywood movies including mega-blockbusters like "Titanic" and "Forrest Gump," before being transplanted and reassembled just south of the Oklahoma River. 

The historic Santa Monica Pier Ferris wheel now bridges the downtown area and Capitol Hill district of Oklahoma City. It sits on a riverfront plaza in the city's up-and-coming Wheeler district after being purchased in 2008—on eBay of all places—by an Oklahoma real estate developer. Over $1 million was poured into the ride to restore it to its former glory and kick off the revival of the not-so-coincidentally named neighborhood.

The Ferris wheel operated for 12 years on the California coast, from 1996 up until 2008, when it was replaced by a new wheel. Once stationed at the end of the trail for Route 66 travelers, the restored relic now carries Mother Road riders over 100 feet up in the air, with excellent views of the downtown skyline from the top. On the ground, it backdrops the giant white letters of the "OKC" sign, an icon once again.

Related Tags

Landmarks History Amusement Parks Americana Film Locations

Know Before You Go

The Ferris wheel is in the Wheeler Riverfront Plaza, which also has food, games, and other attractions. The ride is open evenings on Tuesday through Sunday starting at 4 p.m. It’s $6 per ride, or you can get a day pass or even season pass and ride it over and over again.

Community Contributors

Added By

dc2az1

Edited By

2emilyb, Meg, Collector of Experiences, cait7911

  • 2emilyb
  • Meg
  • Collector of Experiences
  • cait7911

Published

October 12, 2018

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://www.wheelerdistrict.com/ferris-wheel/
Wheeler Ferris Wheel
1701 S Western Ave
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
United States
35.447864, -97.531353
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Inasmuch Foundation Crystal Bridge Conservatory

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

miles away

Oklahoma City Underground

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

miles away

Oklahoma National Stockyards

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Oklahoma City

Oklahoma City

Oklahoma

Places 19
Stories 1

Nearby Places

Inasmuch Foundation Crystal Bridge Conservatory

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

miles away

Oklahoma City Underground

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

miles away

Oklahoma National Stockyards

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Oklahoma City

Oklahoma City

Oklahoma

Places 19
Stories 1

Related Stories and Lists

Dear Atlas: What Parts of Route 66 Are Worth the Drive?

route 66

By Danielle Hallock

Related Places

  • Walking into the Oxford is like stepping back in time.

    Denver, Colorado

    The Cruise Room Bar

    This swanky speakeasy is Denver’s oldest bar—and hasn’t changed a bit since 1933.

    Sponsored by Visit Denver
  • Living quarters

    Azrou, Morocco

    Tioumliline Monastery

    Set up in 1953, abandoned in 1978, and became a movie set in 2009.

  • The DeSoto House Hotel, opened in 1855, is the oldest operating hotel in Illinois.

    Galena, Illinois

    DeSoto House Hotel

    The oldest operating hotel in Illinois enjoys a historic (and some say haunted) past.

  • Built in 1848, Los Coches Adobe has seen its share of California history.

    Soledad, California

    Los Coches Adobe

    This historic home has survived wars, drought, and financial woes to become a California landmark.

  • An ornate yellow Italian home peaks out behind green foliage

    Turin, Italy

    Villa Scott (Villa del Bambino Urlante)

    This Art Nouveau mansion was used as the "House of the Screaming Child" in Dario Argento’s giallo classic.

  • Merry Go Round carousel

    Lakeside, Colorado

    Lakeside Amusement Park

    One of the oldest continuously operating amusement parks in the U.S. is an open-air museum of Art Deco and neon lights.

  • An aerial view of Inishtrahull lighthouse on Inishtrahull Island.

    County Donegal, Ireland

    Inishtrahull

    Ireland's most northerly island is hauntingly beautiful. Its lighthouse was the last glimpse of home for many Irish emigrants bound for the U.S.

  • Póstelek Back Facade A

    Békéscsaba, Hungary

    Széchenyi-Wenckheim Castle Ruins

    The ruins of an early 1900s neo-Baroque mansion sit nestled in a local park in the Hungarian plains.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.