Plans for second Niagara Falls ferris wheel scrapped following pledge to upgrade the existing Niagara SkyWheel

The Ford government’s plans to develop a second ferris wheel overlooking Niagara Falls, a key pillar of its Destination Niagara strategy, have been scrapped after the owner of the existing Niagara SkyWheel in Clifton Hill promised to upgrade the attraction.  

Niagara Parks put out a request for proposals last December to build the Ford government’s desired second ferris wheel, which would have been situated in Queen Victoria Park, following the release of Premier Doug Ford’s Destination Niagara strategy. 

But Niagara Parks announced this week that the request for proposals has since been cancelled. 

The rationale Niagara Parks is giving for cancelling the request for proposals is that a letter of intent was received earlier this summer from HOCO Entertainment President and CEO Harry Oakes outlining plans to redevelop the Niagara SkyWheel. Those plans have since been solidified, with a detailed business case and financing now in place. Because Niagara Parks says this represents a “viable alternative” to a secondary ferris wheel, the Queen Victoria Park ferris wheel project has been scrapped. 

Niagara Parks is spinning this as a positive development, noting that the overall process has encouraged greater private sector investment in the region. 

“The Niagara SkyWheel attraction is a cherished part of the Niagara Falls experience and we commend Harry Oakes and HOCO Entertainment for investing in its future as a truly world-class attraction,” said Niagara Parks CEO David Adames. 

The redeveloped Niagara SkyWheel is expected to be the largest observation wheel in Canada. 

“The major expansion of the Niagara SkyWheel represents an exciting investment in the future of Niagara Falls and Clifton Hill and a big step toward realizing the full potential of the Region, in alignment with the Destination Niagara Strategy,” said Oakes. “As the future largest observation wheel in Canada, it will create a landmark attraction that draws new visitors, supports local businesses and strengthens Niagara’s position as a world-class tourism designation.”

“I look forward to this exciting new chapter and want to thank all our partners and the residents of Niagara for their support,” Oakes added. 

Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati says he was privately opposed to the initiative as well, using his influence with the Ford government to help persuade Queen’s Park that the redevelopment of the Niagara SkyWheel was a viable and, in fact, preferable alternative.