Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Fun Facts About the Myrtle Beach SkyWheel
Fun Facts About the Myrtle Beach SkyWheel

Tourism News
Fun Facts About the Myrtle Beach SkyWheel

By MyrtleBeach.com
January 30, 2023

If you’re looking for things to do in Myrtle Beach for an upcoming vacation, the SkyWheel has likely appeared on every best-of list you’ve found. That’s because the massive observation wheel is one of the top attractions in the Grand Strand. This colorful landmark on the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk towers over the shoreline, entertaining visitors and locals with endless views from comfy, private gondolas.

If you’ve seen the SkyWheel’s bright glow from your Myrtle Beach hotel, you know its light show gives the area a celebratory feel, but there’s a lot more to it than meets the eye. Its Swiss design offered a one-of-a-kind experience when it opened, and it continues to dazzle beachgoers with every revolution. If you’re wondering more about its start or you’re looking for information before you ride, including how tall the SkyWheel is, how long the rides are, or how many times you go around the wheel, we have the answers.

See why this Myrtle Beach Instagram spot continues to fill social feeds of vacationers and locals year after year, and impress your friends or family with these fun facts about the Myrtle Beach SkyWheel:

  1. The R60 Giant Wheel is designed by Ronald Bussink Professional Rides in Switzerland.

  2. Don’t call it a Ferris Wheel—the SkyWheel is officially considered an “observation wheel,” because each private capsule is fully enclosed and temperature controlled for year-round enjoyment.

  3. When it was constructed in 2011, the Myrtle Beach SkyWheel was the first observation wheel of its kind in the United States. There are now at least 10 other observation wheels across the country, though the SkyWheel is the 6th tallest.

  4. The Myrtle Beach SkyWheel stands exactly 187 feet tall, offering panoramic views of the coastline and beautiful Myrtle Beach region. 

  5. The SkyWheel includes 42 Swiss-manufactured, climate-controlled, fully enclosed gondolas, each with a six-passenger capacity. That’s a total capacity of 252 riders at a time!

  6. If you’re worried about glare interrupting your snapshots, fear not: Engineers specifically designed the gondolas with non-reflective glass to let passengers capture the best possible photos and videos. 

  7. Each SkyWheel ride, or “flight,” at Myrtle Beach includes three full revolutions, lasting 10 to 15 minutes. 

  8. The SkyWheel offers two upgraded experiences: The 20- to 30-minute VIP Flight, which features a gondola with a glass floor and Ferrari leather bucket seats, and the 30-minute Sunrise Flight, where early birds can watch the sun rising over the coast. 

  9. Every evening after sunset, you can enjoy a magical light show as the SkyWheel’s state-of-the-art computer-generated lighting system illuminates the wheel with more than one million LED lights. This light show is also used for gender reveal parties and to recognize special events.

  10. The SkyWheel is open every day, year-round (weather permitting), typically closing only for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Hours of operation are Sunday through Thursday, 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 8 p.m. 

The views from the SkyWheel in Myrtle Beach will be unlike any you’ve seen on any other trip to the beach. Stay at a hotel near the SkyWheel and include a ride on your next Myrtle Beach vacation itinerary!