Texas Star

For other uses, see Texas Star (disambiguation).
Texas Star
Texas Star Ferris wheel
Height 216 feet (65.8 m)[1][2]
Weight 678,554 lb (307,787 kg)[citation needed]
Cost $2.2 million[3]

Texas Star is a Ferris wheel at Fair Park in Dallas, Texas, where it operates during the annual State Fair of Texas[2] as its most popular ride.[4]

With an overall height of 216 feet (65.8 m), it was the tallest Ferris wheel in North America[1][4] from 1985 until the opening of the 250-foot (76 m) Star of Puebla in Mexico, on 22 July 2013.[5]

It can carry up to 264 passengers in its 44 gondolas.[6]

Texas Star illuminated at night

Built by SDC Corp. in Reggio Emilia, Italy, at a cost of $2.2 million,[3] it was shipped to Dallas for its debut at the 1985 State Fair of Texas.[7] It is owned by Barbara Brown and her brother Mike Sandefur.[8][9]

From 1985 to 2007 it was illuminated at night by 16,000 incandescent red, white, and blue turbolites.[10] In 2008, this system was replaced with a longer-lasting, more energy-efficient LED system.[11]

  1. ^ a b Heingartner, Douglas (July 28, 2007). "The Bigger Ferris Wheels Get, the More Cash Flows". The New York Times.
  2. ^ a b "General Information". BigTex.com.
  3. ^ a b "State Fair Fact". Dallas Morning News. September 30, 2005.
  4. ^ a b Weiss, Jeffrey (October 6, 1994). "Riding high; At 216 feet, Texas Star Ferris wheel remains a top thrill for fairgoers". Dallas Morning News.
  5. ^ Puebla, Mexico becomes first site of Bussink R80XL Wheel
  6. ^ McLeese, Don (October 5, 1996). "Sights, sounds and smells of 110-year-old Texas tradition marvel for all ages Texas State". Austin American-Statesman.
  7. ^ Halford, Bob (August 2, 1985). "Giant Ferris wheel called Texas Star to rise at Fair Park". Dallas Morning News.
  8. ^ "Barbara Brown, co-owner of the Texas Star". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. September 25, 1998.
  9. ^ Wertheimer, Linda K. (October 20, 2002). "The 'Star' of the State Fair; Popular Ferris wheel has been a family attraction since 1985". Dallas Morning News.
  10. ^ Wilson, Janet (September 15, 2002). "Happy Birthday, Big Tex". Austin American-Statesman.
  11. ^ "The lights just got brighter at Dallas landmark, the Texas Star" (Press release). State Fair of Texas. September 18, 2008.