Phoenix Wheel Reassembly Begins on Bridge Street — A New Landmark Takes Shape in Phoenixville

Construction fencing now stands at the site adjacent to Borough Hall in Phoenixville, where the Phoenix Wheel is being reassembled. The project revives a historic landmark in a town that has surged forward with restaurants, breweries, and regional appeal.

The Phoenix Wheel is recognized as the oldest surviving Ferris wheel in the world. It was originally built in 1893 by the Phoenix Bridge Company, a subsidiary of the Phoenix Iron & Steel Company in Phoenixville. The company produced four such large steel wheels as engineering showcases of the industrial era, highlighting local craftsmanship. One of them—completed around 1895—operated for nearly a century at Palace Amusements in Asbury Park, New Jersey, entertaining visitors from 1895 until the park closed in 1988. After that, it briefly moved to Wonderland Entertainment Park in Mississippi through the 1990s, then sat disassembled for a time on a New Jersey golf course.

In 2008, the Schuylkill River Heritage Center acquired the wheel with community support, brought its components back to Phoenixville, and placed them in storage with the long-term goal of restoration and return. After years of planning, fundraising (with total costs estimated around $2 million), and preparation, the effort advanced significantly. Ground was cleared in October 2025 at the selected site near Borough Hall and the French Creek Trail. Reassembly of the original steel components began that fall, led by local engineer Tom Zeigler and Gern Jaeger of Specialty Metals. The 78-foot-high, 68-foot-wide structure is being rebuilt as a permanent outdoor sculpture—not an operating ride—complete with illumination, interpretive signage about its history, glass fencing, and trail connections. Reconstruction is underway at a dedicated warehouse, and a ribbon-cutting is planned for early June 2026, potentially as soon as June 6.

This return is more than nostalgia or a simple historic marker. Phoenixville has evolved far beyond its industrial roots, transitioning into a destination known for dining, craft beverages, and weekend crowds. At this redevelopment stage, adding a prominent visual anchor like the Phoenix Wheel, boosts evening foot traffic, and helps differentiate the borough from nearby towns.

Structurally, this marks Phoenixville's entry into a later phase of redevelopment. Early stages filled vacancies and spurred basic commerce; mid-stages built out dining and nightlife. Late stages introduce deliberate visual icons to cement a curated identity. The Phoenix Wheel is a sign that the borough has reached that point.

Let’s move Pennsylvania forward.