The Ferris wheel you see by Trimper’s in Ocean City, MD, often referred to as the “OC Big Wheel,” is currently being deconstructed as it prepares to make its rounds to state fair across the country. This is different from the Ferris wheel that’s located on the boardwalk as a permanent fixture.
This particular wheel, sometimes called the “Midway Sky Eye” or “Big Wheel,” is owned by Michael Wood and Wade Shows/Biggest Wheel LLC, not Trimper’s directly. Trimper’s rents the wheel from them. The “traveling” aspect comes from the fact that this giant Ferris wheel has contractual obligations to other fairs, like the Wisconsin and Minnesota State Fairs. This means it often leaves Ocean City for parts of the summer season before potentially returning.
Trimper’s is a historic amusement park at the south end of the Ocean City Boardwalk, founded in 1893 by Daniel and Margaret Trimper. It’s one of America’s longest-running family-owned amusement parks, blending classic, even antique, rides with modern attractions. They have had a Ferris wheel as part of their attractions for decades, with a “kiddie Ferris wheel from the 1920s” still operating. The specific “traveling” Ferris wheel is a more modern one that has been brought in by Trimper’s in recent years.