Asbury Park’s Famed Ferris Wheel Gets Reimagined

After watching the phenomenal feature film on our favorite hometown hero Bruce Springsteen, the subject matter might have been the creation of his landmark album Nebraska, but it was most certainly, a love letter to Asbury Park. Seeing the famed carousel recreated up close and personal, a darkened Empress Hotel (not open at the time), and the glittering ferris wheel off in the distance gave an authentic and true to life reimagining of Asbury Park in the late 1970’s/early 1980’s. After seeing so much of our famed city by the sea showcased in all its rich history on the big screen, I couldn’t help but wonder; what ever became of the ferris wheel that used to be part of Asbury Park’s beloved skyline?

It looks like the answer was quickly found about ninety minutes away from the City by the Sea, in another vibrant and bustling city that has had its own reinvention; Phoenixville, PA. In the Spring of 2027, the oldest amusement wheel in existence (the aptly titled Phoenix Wheel) will have a new home in the center of Phoenixville, PA, which is also the town that created the Wheel’s original steel parts.

The backstory of our beloved Ferris Wheel is filled with history and reinvention, much like the town it resided in for close to one hundred years. Four larger than life Phoenix Wheels were created in 1893 (courtesy of Phoenix Bridge Company, a subsidiary of Phoenix Iron & Steel Company in Phoenixville) and one of them was delivered directly to Asbury Park, remaining there until 1988. After a brief stop at an amusement area in Mississippi, the wheel was disassembled and its pieces sent back to Asbury Park in 1998.

In 2008, the original components were acquired by the Schuylkill River Heritage Center (SRHC), and it was determined that a full installation of the seventy-eight foot tall and sixty-eight feet in diameter Wheel would be erected as an outdoor sculpture in a site adjacent to Phoenixville Borough Hall. Ironically, the museum had initially sponsored restoration of all sixteen of the Wheel’s eight foot tall blue seating baskets, with several being showcased across Phoenixville already.

A little history about Phoenixville, PA; hidden close to the banks of the Schuylkill River, Phoenixville was not just crucial to the American Revolution, but was also a vibrant and crucial steel manufacturing center. Named by Travel + Leisure as the best small town to live in in America in 2025, the similarities between Asbury Park NJ and Phoenixville PA are instantly evident. There is history noted throughout the town, spectacular and global dining options, and diverse arts and cultural offerings. The Colonial Theatre (located in the heart of Phoenixville) has hosted famed film legend John Waters and consistently hosts drag shows like Colonial Queens.

With completion on the wheel scheduled for early spring 2026, ground has been cleared at the Wheel’s planned site, directly adjacent to the town’s Borough Hall. In a few short months, an entirely new generation will be able to define an historic piece of Asbury Park history in a fresh new East Coast locale.

For more information on The Phoenix Wheel, check out the SRHC website;
https://www.phoenixvillefoundry.org/phoenix-wheel-restoration/