Wildwood’s Giant Wheel Hub Removed As Major Refurbishment Continues
The iconic Giant Wheel on Morey’s Piers in Wildwood, New Jersey, has officially entered its most dramatic phase yet as the entire structure has now been disassembled.
Last Friday construction crews successfully removed the massive central hub, marking a major milestone in one of the largest maintenance projects in the pier’s history.
Wildwood’s Giant Wheel Hub Removed As Major Refurbishment Continues
For months, Morey’s Piers has been preparing for this extensive restoration, which will ensure the 156-foot-tall attraction remains a safe and enduring part of the Wildwood skyline for generations to come.
With the entire wheel now dismantled and the hub lifted off its supports, the project moves into a new and highly technical phase of refurbishment.
What the Hub Is and Why It Matters
At the center of every Ferris wheel is the hub, the massive axle that connects the wheel’s spokes and keeps the entire ride rotating smoothly. It serves as the core of the structure, bearing enormous weight and torque as the wheel spins. On our wheel, it is usually covered up by ‘The Sun’ the yellow round lighting feature in the front.
For nearly forty years, it has powered millions of rides through humid summers, salty ocean air, and seasonal storms.
Though the attraction has received regular maintenance over the decades, this is the first time the entire hub assembly has been removed from the pier for a complete overhaul.
This would be the first time it was removed since 1999.
After it was disconnected from its frame, the hub was lifted by crane and placed on a transport truck.
It will then be moved to the Philadelphia Navy Yard, where it will undergo a full mechanical and structural refurbishment.
Also See: Wildwoods Construction Update – November 2025
Technicians will carefully inspect, clean, and restore every connection and bearing, replacing worn or corroded parts with new, modernized components.
Once the work is completed, the hub will be returned to Wildwood in early 2026 for reinstallation. (yes it will be put back together in time for the May opening of Mariner’s Pier)
Work on the Remaining Structure
While the hub is away, significant work continues back on the beach behind Mariner’s Pier. Crews are refurbishing the remaining structural components, including the spokes, supports, and gondola arms.
To do the work, Morey’s Piers built a new workshop on the physical beach next to Morey’s Adventure Pier.
Once here, each section of the frame is being sandblasted, repainted, and fitted with new hardware.
The original lighting system, which once illuminated the night sky in Wildwood, has been removed and will be reinstalled for next season. The sun will also be rewired so that it will be operational next year.
Some of the gondolas will also receiving a makeover. This is something that is already done to about 10 per off-season.
What Happens Next
Morey’s Piers confirmed that the Giant Wheel restoration remains on schedule and is expected to be completed by spring 2026. Once the hub returns from Philadelphia, construction crews will begin reassembling the massive structure piece by piece, eventually restoring the landmark to its place on the Wildwood skyline.
The Wildwood Video Archive had been there all day to film the first pieces coming off the wheel. You can watch that video at the bottom of the article.
For now, the Giant Wheel may be missing from the Boardwalk view, but its absence represents progress.
The landmark is simply undergoing a transformation that will ensure it stands tall once again, brighter and stronger than ever before.
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