May 4, 2008 8:46 am US/Pacific
Say Goodbye To Ferris Wheel -- And Ride For Free!
SANTA MONICA
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Time to say goodbye to the Pacific Wheel Ferris Wheel at Santa Monica Pier. All riders ride for free Sunday. The ride is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
AP
If it's true that the best things in life are free, the Pacific Wheel Ferris wheel at the Santa Monica Pier is one of the best things in life today.
Sunday, as a way to say "goodbye" to the wheel which has just been sold to make way for a new model, all riders will ride for free.
The ride will be open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The popular ferris wheel, which was installed in 1996 was upgraded to become the world's first solar-powered model, will be dismantled starting Monday to make way for a new $1.5 million wheel that is expected to begin operating May 22.
In addition to the free rides being offered Sunday, operators of Pacific Park will donate $1 for every rider to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Los Angeles.
The Pacific Wheel was recently sold at auction on eBay for $132,000, with half of the proceeds going to Special Olympics Southern California.
The winning bid was submitted by real estate developer Grant Humphreys, CEO of Humphreys Real Estate Investments in Oklahoma City, put in the top bid. His company is likely to incorporate the wheel into one of its developments.
Over the last 12 years, more than 3 million people have taken a ride on
the wheel.
The Pacific Wheel has been one of the busiest "actors" in town: it's been in 105 photo shoots, 71 television commercials, 69 television shows, 28 films and 13 music videos, according to Pacific Park.
At night, the wheel is illuminated with 5,392 light bulbs.
(© 2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)
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