 The Panorama Wheel was a standard production Ferris Wheel found in many amusement and theme parks throughout the United States in the late 1960's and early 1970's. It's graceful lattice structure fit in with classic amusement park architecture, and offered a mild thrill the whole family could enjoy. |
 |
 |
 The Panorama Wheel was the second ferris wheel added to the park, and was introduced as part of the Fun Fair expansion for the 1975 season. This smaller ferris wheel was originally fitted with a floral pattern light set designed to match the Giant Wheel. The floral design also matched the design of the cabins which had a flower shape molded into the fiberglass bottoms. |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 Originally the Little Wheel cars were very open, with low seats and the openings for passenger loading and unloading simply closed off with a small chain. In 1988 as part of the park's safety improvements, the cars were retrofit with aluminum cages. The new enclosures featured doors that pivoted from the center of the bottom of the car.  With the addition of the extra weight to the cars, the Little Wheel suffered many problems with the drive motors being taxed each time the ride would start or stop. If the cars were not balanced, the wheel would often overshoot the loading platform, especially on rainy days or hot days when the rubber wheels would lose traction on the metal outer ring. When loading for the first time in the morning, the weight of the loaded cars versus the weight of the empty cars would cause the motors to struggle to rotate the wheel, often with screeching noises as the tires struggled to move the unbalanced ride. In several off seasons, the ride was rehabbed in an effort to improve its operations. The cars were removed and reinstalled during the winter of 1992 as part of those efforts.  With the purchase of Six Flags by Time Warner and the effort to add theme to the rides and areas, the Little Wheel was renamed Phileas Fogg's Balloon Ride in an effort to give it an "Around The World in 80 Days" movie tie-in.  |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
||
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
||
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
||
 |
In the fall of 1996, disassembly of the Little Wheel
began as preparations for Batman & Robin: The Chiller were taking place.
The ride was dismantled and moved in pieces to the park's boneyard,
eventually being sent off either sold to another park or as scrap metal. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
