The Giant Wheel at Maple Leaf Village Amusement Park

The Giant Wheel was opened at Maple Leaf Village in 1979. Built by J. Bakker Denies of Apeldoorn Holland, it was the tallest Ferris Wheel in the Western Hemisphere, up until its demise in 1992/93. When the MLVP Wheel was removed, the next tallest was at Darien Lake Park in New York State. The Wheel stood 53 meters high, and gave a great view of the Falls, and the City. Passengers rode in 40 8-passenger open gondolas. One ride was 5 times around and took approximately 12 minutes, including loading and unloading.

The ride was staffed by 2 people in the off season, one operator, and one attendant (although both traded off the operators position). At peak times, there were 3-5 workers one usually handling tickets, at least one person on each side for loading/unloading, and an operator. When the wheel first opened, the gondolas were painted different colors (blue, red, green and yellow). In later years, the colors were traded for straight red. The wheel had a giant red maple leaf in the center as well. The circumference of the wheel had clear light bulbs, which were traded for red and green in the wintertime during the Festival of Lights. The wheel itself was supported by 8 tubular steel legs.

During the early years of the Niagara Falls Winter Festival of Lights, the Giant Wheel was made to resemble a giant Christmas Wreath.
(Niagara Falls Ontario Library)

Similar to the Giant Wheel ticket below, this postcard was also used as a ticket, but is missing the ticket part. The Giant Wheel, all lit up, is the background for this postcard view of the park. The Lighthouse Slip slide is visible in the foreground, and the Fascination game building is at the left..
(APHAN Collection)

One of the ticket/postcards for the Giant Wheel.
(Collection of Ken Jones Jr.)