FILE: The SkyStar Observation Wheel at the Golden Gate Park Music Concourse in San Francisco, on Oct. 20, 2020.
Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE
People who bought but haven’t used tickets for the ride can redeem them at the new Fisherman’s Wharf location once it’s open.
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The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department did not respond to request for comment by publication time.
Sept. 21, 4:20 p.m. The controversial Ferris wheel that’s revolved riders in Golden Gate Park since late 2020 could potentially move to Fisherman’s Wharf within the next two months.
The San Francisco Port has received a short-term special event application to explore the possibility of relocating the ride before the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in mid-November, according to The San Francisco Standard.
The port’s Northern Advisory Committee discussed preliminary plans for the ride’s move on Wednesday, acknowledging that it will need to overcome timeline and logistical hurdles to make the transfer happen before APEC begins on Nov. 14.
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“It’s an aggressive schedule, but with the cooperation of other agencies, we think we can make it,” said the port’s deputy director of planning and environment, David Beaupre, according to The Standard.
The 150-foot ride — officially dubbed the SkyStar Observation Wheel — had to delay its original opening because of COVID-19 and has faced various controversy and criticisms since. Residents and environmental groups have described the ride as a waste of money, light and diesel fuel, and have accused its brightness of disrupting local wildlife.
Peskin, for his part, told SFGATE he’s been thrilled about the plans since he first heard about them several months ago, and supports the ride’s move.
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“I never thought it belonged in Golden Gate Park, but it is a perfect fit at Fisherman’s Wharf, where there are oodles of tourists, visitors and a bit of a Coney Island sort of feel,” he said. “I think it’s a great fit, I’m psyched, and now we’ve just got some i’s to dot and some t’s to cross.”
Peskin said that he’s heard a proposal where the new iteration of the ride will be electrically powered — instead of using diesel — and added that he believes the revenue arrangement with the port will be more straightforward (and financially beneficial) than the one in Golden Gate Park.
“They’re still working out the details of what the lease arrangement is, but I guarantee you that [the port] is not going to leave any money on the table,” he said. “There will be a fair deal for everybody involved.”
City agencies and SkyStar are still sorting out details of the potential move, but it could end up in a triangle parking lot by the waterfront known as Lot 301, Beaupre told the Standard. Neither Peskin nor the SF Recreation and Parks Department could confirm how long the Ferris wheel could remain at Fisherman’s Wharf if the move does happen.
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Rec and Parks representative Daniel Montes told SFGATE that discussions are ongoing and that a move to the waterfront would offer “a new and spectacular view of the city.”
