High Roller (Ferris wheel)

High Roller was announced in August 2011{{cite news|url=http://sg.news.yahoo.com/moscow-plans-observation-wheel-beat-las-vegas-high-170428984.html|title=Moscow plans an observation wheel to beat Las Vegas 'High Roller' project|date=November 28, 2011|work=Yahoo News}} as the centerpiece{{cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/business/travel/high-roller-worlds-tallest-wheel-offers-new-spin-vegas-n68066|title=High Roller: World's Tallest Wheel Offers New Spin on Vegas|work=NBC News|date=March 31, 2014}} of Caesars Entertainment Corporation's $550 million The LINQ.{{cite web|url=http://blog.vegas.com/las-vegas-hotels/a-vital-linq-for-las-vegas-20841/|title=A vital Linq for Las Vegas|access-date=May 1, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305053848/https://blog.vegas.com/las-vegas-hotels/a-vital-linq-for-las-vegas-20841/|archive-date=March 5, 2016|url-status=dead}} Arup Engineering, which previously consulted on the Singapore Flyer, acted as the structural engineer.

The wheel rotates on a pair of custom-designed spherical roller bearings, each weighing approximately {{Convert|19400|lbs|kg|0|abbr=on|adj=on}}. Each bearing has an outer diameter of {{Convert|7.55|ft}}, an inner bore of {{Convert|5.25|ft}}, and a width of {{Convert|2.07|ft}}.{{cite news|url=http://showcase.designnews.com/content/skf-wins-contract-caesars-las-vegas-high-roller-wheel|title=SKF Wins Contract for Caesars Las Vegas High Roller Wheel|work=Design News|access-date=August 27, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150521235141/http://showcase.designnews.com/content/skf-wins-contract-caesars-las-vegas-high-roller-wheel|archive-date=May 21, 2015|url-status=dead}}

The outer rim comprises 28 sections, each {{Convert|56|ft|m}} long, which were temporarily held in place during construction by a pair of {{Convert|275|ft|m|adj=on}} radial struts, prior to being permanently secured by four cables.{{cite web|url=http://www.caesars.com/thelinq/pdf/LINQ_TenantsProgress_Release_090313.pdf|title=The LINQ Hotel & Casino- Las Vegas Strip Hotel & Casino|website=www.caesars.com|access-date=September 10, 2013|archive-date=October 21, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021072533/http://www.caesars.com/thelinq/pdf/LINQ_TenantsProgress_Release_090313.pdf|url-status=dead}}

The passenger cabins (or capsules) are mounted on the wheel's outboard rim and are individually rotated by electric motors to smoothly maintain a horizontal cabin floor throughout each full rotation.{{cite news|url=http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/29787973/detail.html|title=Colorado Company To Build Las Vegas Observation Wheel|date=November 16, 2011|access-date=November 17, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120628134949/http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/29787973/detail.html|archive-date=June 28, 2012|url-status=dead}} Preliminary designs anticipated 32 passenger cabins, each with a 40-passenger capacity —with the final design accommodating 28 40-person cabins and a total capacity of 1,120 passengers.{{cite news|url=http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/highflying_deal_for_leitnerpom/|title=High-flying deal for Leitner-Poma|work=Grand Junction Sentinel|first=Charles|last=Ashby|date=November 15, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120604094522/http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/highflying_deal_for_leitnerpom/|archive-date=June 4, 2012}}

Each {{Convert|225|sqft|m2|adj=on}} cabin weighs approximately {{Convert|44,000|lb|kg}}, has a diameter of {{Convert|22|ft}}, includes {{Convert|300|sqft|m2}} of glass, and is equipped with eight flat-screen televisions.{{cite web|url=http://www.caesars.com/thelinq/images/High+Roller+Fact+Sheet+July+2013.pdf|title=The LINQ Hotel & Casino- Las Vegas Strip Hotel & Casino|website=www.caesars.com|access-date=October 28, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021072536/http://www.caesars.com/thelinq/images/High%20Roller%20Fact%20Sheet%20July%202013.pdf|archive-date=October 21, 2013|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=http://www.jrn.com/ktnv/news/Las-Vegas-High-Roller-Observation-Wheel-reaches-new-heights-230866461.html|title=Las Vegas High Roller Observation Wheel reaches new heights|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109061753/http://www.jrn.com/ktnv/news/Las-Vegas-High-Roller-Observation-Wheel-reaches-new-heights-230866461.html|archive-date=November 9, 2013}}

At night the wheel is illuminated by a 2,000-LED system which can display a single solid color, differently colored sections, multiple colors moving around the rim,{{cite news|url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/celebrity-news/high-roller-testing-features-colored-sections|title=HIGH ROLLER TESTING FEATURES COLORED SECTIONS|work=Las Vegas Review-Journal|date=February 12, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140225015911/http://www.reviewjournal.com/celebrity-news/high-roller-testing-features-colored-sections|archive-date=February 25, 2014}} and custom displays for special events and holidays.

Located on Las Vegas Boulevard, across from Caesars Palace, construction was originally scheduled to begin in September 2011 with a late 2013 completion;{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/travel/destinations/2011-08-17-las-vegas-london-eye_n.htm|title=Las Vegas plans to top London Eye with massive Ferris wheel|work=USA Today|date=August 17, 2011|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130105023710/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/travel/destinations/2011-08-17-las-vegas-london-eye_n.htm|archive-date=January 5, 2013}} subsequently revised to early 2014.{{cite web|url=http://www.vegasinc.com/news/2013/feb/25/hurricane-sandy-drives-quarterly-losses-caesars/|title=Hurricane Sandy drives quarterly losses for Caesars|date=February 25, 2013}}

The outer rim of the wheel was completed on September 9, 2013.{{cite news|url=http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/09/09/20407248-worlds-newest-largest-ferris-wheel-goes-up-on-vegas-strip|title=World's newest largest Ferris wheel goes up on Vegas strip|date=September 9, 2013|work=NBC News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130912040438/http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/09/09/20407248-worlds-newest-largest-ferris-wheel-goes-up-on-vegas-strip|archive-date=September 12, 2013}} The first passenger cabin was delivered and installed in November 2013 and the final cabin was installed the following month.{{cite web|url=http://www.vegasinc.com/business/2013/dec/03/final-passenger-cabin-affixed-high-roller-work-con/|title=Final passenger cabin affixed to High Roller, but work continues|date=December 3, 2013}} After preliminary testing, High Roller's lighting system was illuminated at sunset on February 28, 2014.{{cite web|title=Official lights-on for giant Vegas Ferris wheel|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/feb/28/official-lights-on-for-giant-vegas-ferris-wheel/|work=Associated Press (AP)|publisher=The Washington Times|access-date=April 20, 2014}}{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/larryolmsted/2014/03/04/las-vegas-strip-brand-new-half-billion-dollar-attraction-woos-tourists/|title=Las Vegas Strip: Brand New Half-Billion Dollar Attraction Woos Tourists|first=Larry|last=Olmsted|website=Forbes }} High Roller opened to the public at 4 p.m. EST on March 31, 2014.

Tickets were originally expected to cost less than $20 per ride, but estimates had risen to "about $25 per person" by mid-2012 then "about $30 per person" in September 2013 news reports.

When High Roller opened to the public in March 2014, tickets for a single 30-minute ride, the time taken for the entire wheel to rotate once, cost $24.95 (daytime) and $34.95 (nighttime). Other ticket options included a $59.95 Express Pass, allowing the holder to skip the line and ride any time.{{cite web|title=The LINQ|url=http://www.thelinq.com/high-roller.html|access-date=March 31, 2014}}

File:The High Roller - View From The Linq 2.jpg|View of High Roller from The Linq in 2014

File:The High Roller-Cabin.jpg|One of the 28 cabins in 2014

File:The High Roller - View of the Strip.jpg|High Roller view of the Las Vegas Strip in 2014

File:The High Roller-Peak View East.jpg|High Roller view looking east in 2014

File:Las Vegas High Roller (20216869960).jpg|Top of the High Roller from the base in 2015

• High Roller, a former roller coaster atop the Stratosphere Las Vegas tower
• Voyager, a giant Ferris wheel proposed several times for Las Vegas, but never built{{cite web|url=http://www.vegastodayandtomorrow.com/voyager.htm|title=Voyager Las Vegas|first=Mark E.|last=Adams|website=www.vegastodayandtomorrow.com}}
• List of tallest buildings and structures in the world

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• {{Official website}}
• [https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-03-03/caesars-sees-slow-climb-for-ferris-wheel-on-the-las-vegas-strip Caesars Sees Slow Climb for Ferris Wheel on the Las Vegas Strip]

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{{Succession box|before=Singapore Flyer|title={{Nowrap|World's tallest Ferris wheel}}|years=2014–2021|after=Ain Dubai}}

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{{Ferris wheel}}

{{Las Vegas Strip}}

{{Caesars Entertainment}}

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Category:2014 establishments in Nevada

Category:Amusement rides introduced in 2014

Category:Buildings and structures in Paradise, Nevada

Category:Ferris wheels in the United States

Category:Las Vegas Strip

Category:Tourist attractions in the Las Vegas Valley

Category:Amusement rides in Nevada