Visitors see Chicago skyline, hear lions roar from Brookfield Zoo's new Ferris wheel

For the past two years, Laura Bradley has been visiting Brookfield Zoo Chicago every weekend.

She has participated in animal feedings and adoptions, and likely seen every inch of the 235-acre park.

But on Friday morning, she got a whole different view of the zoo.

Bradley was one of the first visitors to ride the new 110-foot Ferris wheel, which opened in celebration of the zoo’s 90th anniversary.

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“I must have a million pictures,” said Bradley, 61, of Homer Glen, who was wearing an old Brookfield Zoo shirt. “You see the whole entire zoo. That was my favorite part — to see the zoo from a different angle.”

Open through Dec. 31, the 125-ton Ferris wheel includes 24 gondolas that can seat up to six people each. The ride lasts approximately seven minutes, and riders must be at least 3 feet 6 inches tall to ride alone, or 3 feet tall to ride with an adult.

At nighttime, visitors will see the Ferris wheel glow with 350,000 multicolored LED lights.

From the top of the wheel, riders can look down on the animal habitats, catching glimpses of sloth bears, as well as African lions Brutus and Titus. On Friday, the lions’ roars were so loud and clear that they could be mistaken for a sound effect loaded into the ride.

Additionally, riders can see the dolphin center, reopening next week after a $10 million renovation, and the ongoing construction of the 2-acre, $66 million Tropical Forests habitat. Also visible are the surrounding forest preserves in Brookfield and — most impressive of all — a view of the Chicago skyline.

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When asked if she was scared at the top, young rider Emma Verde said no, “because I’m 6.”

She was there with Cindy Castle, 42, of Stickney, who said she found out about the Ferris wheel on Facebook.

“I loved it,” Castle said. “It’s so nice having it here. … I’m sure it’s going to look great at night, though.”

Both she and rider Jackie Baetzel said they hope the Ferris wheel will be a permanent attraction.

“We loved it,” said Baetzel, 43, of Plainfield, who rode with 3-year-old Peyton Reynolds. “I liked that we could see the lions from the top. We come here all the time and we have only heard the lions twice, so [hearing them] was really cool.”

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Built in the Netherlands, the Ferris wheel took a year to manufacture and then was shipped to the United States in seven 40-foot containers, a zoo spokesperson said. But once it arrived, it only took two days to assemble.

The Ferris wheel has opened amid a major transition for the zoo, which recently changed its name, logo and began a “Next Century Plan” of new initiatives.

“We’re envisioning a tremendous amount of change within the zoo’s campus with new habitats for animals and new facilities and buildings, and this was a great way to get people 110 feet in the air and be able to see the whole expanse of the zoo,” said zoo President and CEO Mike Adkesson. “We’re really just looking to celebrate the excitement of the anniversary and also give that vision of what our future for Chicagoland encompasses.”

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Ferris wheel riders can also gain insight into the zoo’s past. As they stand in line, a timeline of zoo milestones is spread across signs on the gates.

“When Brookfield zoo opened, it was one of the first zoos in the United States to feature open, grotto-style habitats for the animals,” Adkesson said. “Over the last 90 years, we’ve had a lot of first births of animals in the United States, a lot of first habitat construction designs, [including] Tropic World being a state-of-the-art indoor rain forest when it first opened. Those kind of firsts are really something that’s just a part of our history, and something that we’re very proud of.”

Adkesson said the zoo will evaluate visitor reception to the Ferris wheel to determine if it will stay beyond the end of the year.

What is certain is that the ride has a No. 1 fan in Bradley, who it rode seven times.

“I had to come the first day,” Bradley said. “I’m obsessed with the Brookfield Zoo. ... I love their new logo. I love this Ferris wheel. I wish it would be permanent.”

Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

Pat Nabong/Sun-Times