In Phoenixville, Pa., a Historic 78-Foot Ferris Wheel Will Rise Again

The Schuylkill River Heritage Center (SRHC) is bringing a piece of its history back to town:

The Phoenix Wheel, the oldest Ferris wheel in existence.

The 78-foot-high Ferris wheel which delighted visitors to the Jersey Shore for nearly a century will rise again as a permanent sculpture in the center of Phoenixville.
Re-assembly of the Wheel’s original steel components began in fall 2025, with projected launch of the full-scale Wheel in early spring 2026. Ground has been cleared at the Wheel’s planned site, adjacent to the town’s Borough Hall.

“The Phoenix Wheel’s revival is more than just restoring an artifact,” said SRHC President Barbara Cohen. “It’s about community, heritage, resilience, and the power of preserving Phoenixville’s unique history for future generations.”

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History of the Phoenix Wheel

In 1893, the Phoenix Bridge Company, a subsidiary of Phoenix Iron & Steel Company in Phoenixville, manufactured four extraordinary Phoenix Wheels —large, round steel marvels emblematic of the industrial era and a testament to the skilled craftsmanship of the times.

One of these four grand structures was delivered to Asbury Park, N.J., a popular beach venue where decades of Philadelphia-area beachgoers enjoyed summers and where a young Bruce Springsteen began his musical career at the fabled Stone Pony music spot.

The Asbury Park Wheel remained in operation until 1988, completing an incredible 93 years as a beacon of entertainment and a widely recognized local landmark.

In its final years, the Wheel was moved briefly to an amusement area in Mississippi, then disassembled and its components returned to Asbury Park in 1998.

Rebuilding the Phoenix Wheel

The decommissioned Asbury Park Wheel is a labor of love for the members of the Schuylkill River Heritage Center in Phoenixville, who recognized its historic and cultural significance as the world’s oldest Ferris wheel, the only Phoenix Wheel remaining of the original four.

In 2008, with widespread community support, the SRHC reacquired the Wheel’s original components. The museum initially sponsored restoration of all 16 of the Wheel’s eight-foot-tall blue seating baskets, several of which were displayed across Phoenixville.

After considering several locations in town for a full installation of the Phoenix Wheel, the SRHC chose a site adjacent to Phoenixville’s Borough Hall and the popular multi-use French Creek Trail.

At 78 feet tall with a diameter of 68 feet, the Phoenix Wheel will be erected as an extraordinary outdoor sculpture in spring 2026. The SRHC is accepting donations here to help raise $1 million of the $2 million effort.

Phoenixville Borough will oversee the site improvements, while the SRHC — led by engineer Tom Zeigler and team member Gern Jaeger, owner of Specialty Metals — will manage the Wheel’s restoration, reassembly, and installation.

The Wheel will be illuminated and its base surrounded by glass fencing. Interpretive signage will detail the Wheel’s history and recognize the support of donors.

For more information on the Phoenix Wheel or the Schuylkill River Heritage Center, contact the center at (610) 783-0645

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