With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Say, Who Wants to Buy This Here Ferris Wheel?
()
Photo by Jonathan Alcorn (sundogg) via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr
You can find all kinds of stuff on eBay, from trash to treasure, and so long as you are the highest bidder and can cough up the shipping fee, it's yours.
How'd you like to be the proud new owner of a piece of local history, in the form of the nine-story ferris wheel from Santa Monica's Pacific Park? And, hey, cool factor: It was the first solar-powered contraption of its type! C'mon, your backyard is begging for it!
Support for LAist comes from
A ten-day auction for the current Pacific Park ferris wheel opens tomorrow on eBay, and anyone is welcome to bid. The reserve price is a mere $50k, and half the proceeds will go to Special Olympics Southern California, reports KNBC. That's a steal, considering the amusement park ride originally cost $800, 000.
If you do win the wheel, however, you're taking on quite a prize...and an obligation.
The thing tips the scales at 122,000 pounds, is 90 feet tall and 30 feet wide. And in case you were hoping to get that dazzling lit-up effect at night, you're going to have to keep lots of lightbulbs handy--the wheel needs 5,392 to keep it at full illumination. (Hint: Get the eco-friendly, energy efficient ones!)
Sounds great, right? Well, there's a bit more of catch besides your electric bill going sky high. The winner needs to move the wheel off the Pier in order to make way for the new one that's being installed early next month. The base isn't part of the auction, "but Kansas-based Chance Morgan Inc. -- the original manufacturer -- will offer the winning bidder a base for about $135,000, with 10 percent of that amount going to Special Olympics Kansas." You're also going to be shy one "Pacific Wheel" signs on the hubs, since one is being donated to the Santa Monica Historical Society.
Happy bidding! Now, let's see, shipping charges on 122, 000 pounds would be...
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
What do stairs have to do with California’s housing crisis? More than you might think, says this Culver City councilmember. -
Yes, it's controversial, but let me explain. -
Doctors say administrator directives allow immigration agents to interfere in medical decisions and compromise medical care. -
The Palisades Fire erupted on Jan. 7 and went on to kill 12 people and destroy more than 6,800 homes and buildings. -
People moving to Los Angeles are regularly baffled by the region’s refrigerator-less apartments. They’ll soon be a thing of the past. -
Experts say students shouldn't readily forgo federal aid. But a California-only program may be a good alternative in some cases.
Best of LAist