Opinions vary on Tampa WOW! Ferris wheel proposal

TAMPA, Fla. – Tampa residents got their first chance to respond to the proposed 250-foot Tampa WOW! Ferris wheel for the Channel district Thursday night.

And there were plenty of opinions about the idea.

“It is a cluster down there,” said Bob Harrington, who was against the idea. “People looking for parking. Living in a condo across the street, we frequently have people coming in from the ships looking for parking spaces. This is going to add more problems for us.”

The proposed site for the “Tampa WOW!” Ferris wheel is next door to the Florida Aquarium.

The $20 million wheel will take visitors up 250-feet and show views of Downtown Tampa. The wheel would have 27 gondolas.

The project is privately funded, but the city would receive a portion of profits once a certain amount of money is made for the year.

Developer Tony Miller said he’d like to have the project completed by fall of 2026. Miller also told city council members that the wheel would not be intrusive in the community, not cause traffic issues and would be “whisper quiet.”  

While there were positive responses, multiple residents speaking at the meeting suggested otherwise.

“The thing about this is that it creates a destination,” said resident Joe Robinson. “You got all of these people down there; you got families that are coming down.

“This is not your carnival Ferris wheel at the Florida State Fair. This is a major engineered wheel.”

The city council will hold a second public hearing on the Ferris wheel proposal on Oct. 23 at 10:30 a.m.

Watch the City meeting on the wheel: