“Up, up, and away,” could be your mantra. Today we will ascend into the sky on the Sky Wheel. The Sky Wheel in Buenos Aires offers views unlike any other.
The Parque de la Costa is home to the Sky Wheel. This amusement park opened on April 10, 1997. Santiago Soldati and Walter Álvarez developed the park. Their family holding company, SCP, benefited from strong earnings. This came from their energy sector distributor. It was named Compañía General de Combustibles or CGC.
The Tren de la Costa tourist light rail line preceded the park. It began in 1995. It connects Vicente López with the northern suburbs.
The Parque de la Costa required a US$400 million investment. Upon its debut, it featured several attractions. These included the Tronador rollercoaster and El Dragón water coaster. La Vuelta al Mundo ferris wheel also featured prominently. An amphitheater and a musical fountain entertained crowds.
The park hoped for 3 million annual visitors. Sadly, it only achieved about half that. The park added two larger rollercoasters to boost numbers. These were Boomerang and El Vigia. Live performances and reorganization into a theme park helped. Cost-cutting measures also played a vital role.
SCP faced debts of over US$750 million. A two-thirds share in the park went to creditors. This occurred after bankruptcy proceedings in 2000. A major water ride project was canceled. However, Vekoma, a Dutch firm, built other rollercoasters later.
The Parque de la Costa boasts over 30 attractions. Saltos del Delta is a popular flume ride. Boomerang reaches a height of 37.5 meters. It hits speeds of 75 kilometers per hour. El Desafío reaches speeds of 80 kilometers per hour. El Vigia is a family ride on an artificial lake.
Torbellino is a Spinning Wild Mouse Coaster. Vertigo Extremo is a skycoaster for thrill-seekers. Colectivo Loco is the “crazy bus.” Chiquitren provides a miniature railway experience. Aconcagua is a climbing wall. Baile de las Tazas spins riders in teacups. El Faro is a 35-meter tower. It offers panoramic views.
There is also a maze called Laberinto Encantado. Tour de las Naciones provides an educational experience. El Infierno is a terror tunnel ride. Laser-Shots offers interactive fun. Fuente de Aguas Danzantes is a musical fountain. The park features bumper cars and paddleboat rides. Catamaran rides are available.
The Parque de la Costa also has food options. These include Puerto de Comidas, Winners Pub, Wunderbar, and Come Prima. The Trilenium Casino is nearby.
As you rotate on the Sky Wheel, notice the scope of the Parque de la Costa. From up here, you can see the whole park. Take a look around. You will notice that you can see for miles. The Sky Wheel gives you a unique perspective on Buenos Aires. I hope you have your camera ready.