Love the panorama of the Myrtle Beach shoreline from your beach chair? Try sitting 15 stories up.
SkyWheel Myrtle Beach, one of the tallest Ferris wheels on the East Coast, offers passengers a breathtaking view of the Grand Strand without the hair-raising, stomach-churning sensation of an amusement park ride. The trip is so tame, even babies are welcome aboard.
It takes eight to 10 minutes to make three revolutions, offering riders plenty of time to enjoy the scenery and take selfies with the beach in the background. Non-reflective glass on all four sides of the gondola ensure you'll get the best possible shot.
Located in downtown Myrtle Beach next to Plyer Park, the SkyWheel is built on a 20-foot-high deck overlooking the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk & Promenade. From one side of the gondola, you can see up and down the beach.
The other side offers views of North Ocean Boulevard and its many attractions. As you enjoy the slow-moving, gentle ride of the Ferris wheel, you can watch passengers on the Slingshot reverse bungee attraction across the street get catapulted more than 300 feet into the air at 100 mph.
Standing 187 feet tall, the SkyWheel has become a landmark on the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk. It's even more impressive at night, when the steel wheel and its spokes are lit up with more than one million computer-controlled LED lights. The nightly show starts after sunset.
All 42 of the Swiss-made gondolas are climate-controlled and wheelchair accessible. They seat six, but even if there are just two of you riding, you get a car to yourself. Pets are not allowed unless they are service animals.
One of the gondolas is reserved for VIP flights. The specially made car features a glass floor and four leather bucket seats. The ride is twice as long, and includes a souvenir photo and other goodies.
Tickets for a ride on the SkyWheel are $14 for passengers 12 and older, $9 for kids 3 to 11 and free for children younger than 2. VIP rides are $50 for adults and $35 for children.
For more information on SkyWheel Myrtle Beach, call 843.839.9200. Click here to purchase tickets.
