Texas Star

{{Short description|Ferris wheel at Fair Park in Dallas}}

{{Other uses}}

align=right align="right" border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 0 1em 1em 1em; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse;" !colspan=2|Texas Star
colspan=2|File:Texas Star.jpg
Height	{{Convert|216|ft|m|1}}
Weight	{{Convert|678554|lb|abbr=on}}{{Citation needed|date=November 2013}}
Cost	$2.2 million

Texas Star is a Ferris wheel at Fair Park in Dallas, Texas, where it operates during the annual State Fair of Texas{{Cite web |url=http://www.bigtex.com/generalinfo/facts/ |work=BigTex.com |title=General Information}} as its most popular ride.

With an overall height of {{Convert|216|ft|m|1}}, it was the tallest Ferris wheel in North America{{Cite news |work=The New York Times |title=The Bigger Ferris Wheels Get, the More Cash Flows |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/28/business/28wheels.html |first=Douglas |last=Heingartner |date=July 28, 2007}}{{Cite news |work=Dallas Morning News |title=Riding high; At 216 feet, Texas Star Ferris wheel remains a top thrill for fairgoers |date=October 6, 1994 |first=Jeffrey |last=Weiss}} from 1985 until the opening of the {{Convert|250|ft|m|adj=on}} Star of Puebla in Mexico, on 22 July 2013.[http://www.amusementtoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/AT-Sept-2013-All.pdf Puebla, Mexico becomes first site of Bussink R80XL Wheel]

It can carry up to 264 passengers in its 44 gondolas.{{Cite news |work=Austin American-Statesman |title=Sights, sounds and smells of 110-year-old Texas tradition marvel for all ages Texas State |date=October 5, 1996 |first=Don |last=McLeese }}

File:Texas Star Spinning at the Texas State Fair 2007.jpg

Built by SDC Corp. in Reggio Emilia, Italy, at a cost of $2.2 million,{{Cite news |work=Dallas Morning News |title=State Fair Fact |date=September 30, 2005}} it was shipped to Dallas for its debut at the 1985 State Fair of Texas.{{Cite news |work=Dallas Morning News |title=Giant Ferris wheel called Texas Star to rise at Fair Park |date=August 2, 1985 |first=Bob |last=Halford}} The Texas Star was owned by Buster Brown and his wife, Barbara. After Buster died in an automobile accident in 1990, Barbara’s brother, Mike Sandefur, bought a 50% stake in the Ferris wheel. Mike died in March of 2018, followed by Barbara who died shortly after

Easter Sunday in 2025.{{Cite news |work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram |title=Barbara Brown, co-owner of the Texas Star |date=September 25, 1998}}{{Cite news |work=Dallas Morning News |title=The 'Star' of the State Fair; Popular Ferris wheel has been a family attraction since 1985 |date=October 20, 2002 |first=Linda K. |last=Wertheimer}} As of 2024, The Texas Star has been owned and operated by Talley Amusements, a company started by Barbara’s eldest daughter Mary and her husband.

From 1985 to 2007 it was illuminated at night by 16,000 incandescent red, white, and blue turbolites.{{Cite news |work=Austin American-Statesman |title=Happy Birthday, Big Tex |date=September 15, 2002 |first=Janet |last=Wilson}} In 2008, this system was replaced with a longer-lasting, more energy-efficient LED system.{{Cite press release |publisher=State Fair of Texas |title=The lights just got brighter at Dallas landmark, the Texas Star |url=http://216.197.122.150/ns/PressRelease/ViewPressRelease.asp?PRelId=87 |date=September 18, 2008}}