American Dream’s observation wheel is open and we got a peek at 300 feet

Views of the New York City skyline and the Meadowlands from 300 feet above ground.

Sounds like a good time — unless you suffer from acrophobia, like me. My fear of heights is real. Heart-pounding, legs weakening real. But I survived. And you will too.

The Dream Wheel at American Dream opened Wednesday to the public after a media preview before the complex’s 11 a.m. opening.

Built by Breman Mega Wheels of The Netherlands and designed by BUSSINK, the Dream Wheel is owned and operated by Skyviews of America, which also operates the Skyviews Miami. Breman has built similar but smaller wheels that are in Miami, Seattle, Myrtle Beach and Niagara Falls.

The one at American Dream is the largest on the East Coast.

“The Dream Wheel is not just about the views, it’s about the experience,” said Ben Pickett, vice president of Skyviews of America. “To go over 300 feet in the air and take in the views of New York City and the surrounding New Jersey area in climate-controlled gondolas with up to 16 people, that’s unique.”

This is the 11th entertainment offering to open at the 3.5 million square foot venue in the Meadowlands. But it’s not the last. The Game Room powered by Hasbro, Skip Barber Karting Academy and more yet to be announced entertainment options are planned, representatives for American Dream said. Additional food and retail, including a flagship Apple Store are also coming, they said.

American Dream is bouncing back from its pandemic slump, said Paul Ghermezian, whose family owns Triple Five the developer of American Dream.

“We’re seeing, week-to-week, big upticks in attendance and that’s with our parks and retailers,” he said. “So we’re really, really excited. And the Dream Wheel is another one of those things that’s going to add to that.”

Triple Five, and American Dream specifically, struggled financially during the pandemic. It had to hand over the 49% stake in Mall of America and West Edmonton Mall that it used as collateral on a $1.2 billion construction loan for the East Rutherford development last year. And in February, it made its most recent bond payment using $9.3 million from its reserves, nearly depleting that account.

“Post pandemic we had an incredible rate of lease-up,” said Ghermezian. “We were well past the threshold that any center needs to open and even stabilize centers. Over the pandemic it just was what it was ... that’s the reality of not just us but the entire world. From getting supplies to labor to getting commitments. People were struggling to survive.”

The Dream Wheel is located on the third level of American Dream, within the Coca Cola Eats food court. Carnival-style lighting calls visitors to the back corner where tickets, snacks and a gift shop are located in front of the doors to board the wheel.

Deep Fried Love sells fried sweets — Oreos, Twinkies, Snickers, funnel cakes with toppings and — that riders can bring on the 30-minute trip on the Dream Wheel.

Riders head outside onto a covered platform to line up to board the wheel, where they already get a taste of the views to come. While boarding one of the 27 fully-enclosed temperature-controlled gondolas, the wheel keeps moving but there is a platform below so there’s no fear of falling to the ground from the third level platform.

Up to 16 riders can fit inside one of the regular gondolas. There is a coffee-table height table in the center and riders must stand or sit on the table during the ride. Two V.I.P. gondolas carry only six passengers and have plush chairs and a table in the middle.

Once the gondola starts rising with the rotation of the wheel, the first view is of the roof and utility equipment on the building. Once you cross the roof line, MetLife Stadium, the Meadowlands and New York City are on full panoramic display.

The Dream Wheel moves very slowly — it almost doesn’t feel like it’s moving at all except for the view changes — and being inside the enclosed vehicle makes the soaring 300 foot height seem less daunting. The gondola did sway slightly at some points but there were only two of us in it.

A video screen inside the gondola that was supposed to deliver a safety message and other information was not broadcasting during our media preview.

The Dream Wheel is open seven days a week for general admission, VIP experience and private events. Tickets can be purchased at AmericanDream.com/venue/dreamwheel. They are $29 for adults and $20 for children. There is a military discount and a discount for Bergen County and Hudson County residents.

See more photos below.

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Allison Pries may be reached at apries@njadvancemedia.com.