Ferris Wheel

Ferris Wheel was a traditional Ferris wheel at both Great America parks which opened for the 1980 season. Built by the Eli Bridge Company, it operated in County Fair next to the Fairgrounds Junction railroad station. It was removed at the end of the 1982 season in Santa Clara to make way for The Edge and removed at the end of the 1985 in Gurnee to make way for Z-Force.

History
The Ferris Wheel debuted as a new ride for the 1980 season at both Great America parks in the County Fair section of the parks alongside the newly converted Demon roller coaster. Featuring a traditional design, this wheel was designed to provide a classical experience.

The placement of the Ferris Wheel in both parks differed a bit due to Gurnee having a ride Santa Clara never received, Whirligig. Both Ferris Wheels were next to the Fairgrounds Junction railroad station but Santa Clara's Ferris Wheel was placed to the left of the station (where Whirligig resided in Gurnee) while Gurnee's Ferris Wheel was placed to the right of the station, next to Eagle's Flight.

In 1982, Great America officials announced a new ride, The Edge, which would debut the following year in both Great America's. In Gurnee, The Edge was placed in a vacant plot of land in Orleans Place, next to the railroad tracks and in front of the Orleans Bandstand. In Santa Clara however, The Edge was placed in front of the Fairgrounds Junction railroad station. This resulted in the Ferris Wheel having to be removed just 2 years after it was installed.

In 1984, the new owners of Gurnee's Great America, Six Flags, announced a new roller coaster for the 1985 season, Z-Force. It was decided that the best place for the new roller coaster would be in Whirligig's spot. As a result, Whirligig was moved to Yankee Harbor to its current spot and the Fairgrounds Junction railroad station was moved several feet to the right, closer to the former Eagle's Flight station, to make room for the big roller coaster. With the railroad station now occupying its land, Gurnee's Ferris Wheel was effectively squeezed out of its current location and was removed.