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In Case You Missed It: Trimper’s Big Ferris Wheel Is Coming Down

Trimper’s will remove its Big Ferris Wheel starting on Monday, following a difficult situation resulting from a zoning violation. The attraction, which the park first unveiled for the season at the end of last week, sits ten feet into the public right-of-way on the Boardwalk. After a discussion with the Ocean City Mayor and Council Monday night, Trimper’s decided to remove the ride altogether.

Trimper’s Big Ferris Wheel

Along with Trimper’s, the town hoped to resolve the issue, but due to reconfiguration issues along with possible removal and reconstruction costs, the company elected to scrap the Big Wheel entirely. 

The giant wheel sits ten feet into the public right-of-way on the Boardwalk.

The Mayor and Council explained that it was in a less than ideal situation and did not wish to halt Trimper’s plans. Despite their pro-business approach, town officials insisted that rules are rules, and unless the amusement company could find a solution, then the wheel had to go.

10 feet of Boardwalk coned off under the ride.

Speaking exclusively with OceanCity.com this week, Mayor Rick Meehan made clear that while he wants to support businesses, he cannot set a precedent that violates the resort’s zoning laws. “This is not a position that we want to be in. We certainly support Trimper’s Rides and the amusement park. Last year, when the wheel was in a different location, I even went down for the ribbon-cutting ceremony. We are all there to help them because it’s a great attraction to Ocean City,” Meehan explained. “However, the Ferris wheel was erected, and it was ten feet over their property line and lies over the Boardwalk. That’s the public right-of-way, and we just can’t allow that. If we allowed Trimper’s to do this, then everyone would do it…We hope Trimper’s still has a successful summer, but this needs to be addressed.”

Looking north up the Boardwalk

The location of the Big Wheel was contrary to an agreement from October when the town did not give permission for the attraction to extend out over the Boardwalk.

The wheel was quite popular in the downtown area and first came to Ocean City last year when fairs across the state faced cancellations. It was expected to remain at the Boardwalk for a 40-day tour this summer but will soon hit the road after just a few days of operation.

The dismantling process has started Friday June 11th

For those still wanting a ride on a Ferris wheel this summer in Ocean City, have no fear, there is still the famous wheel at Jolly Roger’s on the Pier.

Jolly Roger’s Giant Wheel at Jolly Roger at the Pier will be open all summer.
Logan Dubel
Logan Dubel
Logan Dubel is a contributor for OceanCity.com and the host of "This Week in Ocean City." He is a Baltimore County native, Franklin High School graduate, and an undergraduate journalism and media student at the University of Texas at Austin. He joined the OceanCity.com team in June 2020. On the shore, he has also served as a writer at the Art League of Ocean City and the Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum. Logan has a strong passion for covering the news and its impact on Marylanders. Since arriving at OceanCity.com, he has covered the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, interviewed newsmakers including former First Lady Yumi Hogan, Mayor Rick Meehan, and members of the City Council, featured local businesses, and covered local events. As a collegiate journalist, Logan also works as a Life and Arts Reporter for The Daily Texan and an anchor/reporter for Texas Student Television. Most recently, he anchored live coverage of the 2022 Midterm Elections and reported from the CMT Music Awards Red Carpet. Have a story idea? Contact logan@oceancity.com.

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