Beloved Ohio Ferris wheel collapses following storms

A beloved piece of Northeast Ohio history was brought down by severe weather over the weekend.

The historic Ferris wheel at the lakefront Old Firehouse Winery in Geneva-on-the-Lake toppled during powerful storms that swept across the Lake Erie shoreline Sunday, leaving the nearly 70-year-old attraction crumpled on the ground. No injuries were reported.

Known as No. 5 Big Eli, the Ferris wheel was originally built in 1956 and operated at the former Erieview Park amusement park before finding a second life at the winery after the park closed in the mid-2000s. The ride became one of Geneva-on-the-Lake’s most recognizable landmarks, offering riders sweeping views of Lake Erie.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

Old Firehouse Winery General Manager Joleen Anderson told Spectrum News 1 that the storm “picked up the Ferris wheel and kind of just threw it forward,” describing the damage as something nobody could have anticipated.

While the attraction’s future remains uncertain, winery officials say they are hopeful it can be rebuilt. Anderson told Spectrum News 1 that the business plans to explore reconstruction efforts, adding that the iconic wheel has long been an important part of the Geneva-on-the-Lake landscape.

The storms caused widespread damage throughout the area, knocking down trees, damaging utility poles and leaving many businesses temporarily without power.

Want to read more? Check out our print publications, (614) Magazine and Stock & Barrel. Learn where you can find free copies of our newest issues here!

BROUGHT TO YOU BY