Branson, MO, United States
In the summer of 2016, the Track Family Fun Parks in Branson, MO welcomed the addition of an iconic Ferris wheel. This 15 story Ferris wheel was a main attraction at Chicago’s Navy Pier, where it had resided for over two decades. This Ferris wheel helped make the Chicago Navy Pier a top tourist attraction and is expected to do the same for the city of Branson. The Ferris wheel was modeled after the first Ferris wheel built for the 1893 Chicago World’s Columbian Exposition. This Ferris wheel stands 150 feet tall and has 40 gondolas, which can hold up to 240 passengers. Its new home, The Track Family Fun Parks, made the $2.5 million investment as a way of celebrating their 35th anniversary.
With any structure, anchor bolts are needed to keep the base fastened to the ground. The base of this massive Ferris wheel is no exception, which required 132 pieces of 1-1/4” diameter anchor bolts at 53” in length. The anchor bolt grade required was ASTM F1554 Grade 55 and was threaded on each end. Portland Bolt has a local steel mill roll Grade 55 round bar, so that there is never a shortage of material and is always ready to go on our warehouse floor. We also perform all of the required manufacturing processes here in house, so it was no problem to get the required anchor rods produced and shipped direct to the jobsite in time for the Ferris wheel to be installed.
