ST. GEORGE — Bottoms up on the way up.
The 625-foot high New York Wheel, set to be the largest in the world when it opens in the first quarter of 2017, will feature four mobile bar cars where riders can take a drink as they take in the view — as well as a 20-seat restaurant, organizers said.
Speaking to a group of tour operators on Wednesday, developer Rich Marin revealed more details about the massive Ferris wheel complex alongside the Staten Island Yankee Stadium, which overlooks the New York Harbor.
"We are a harbor attraction, everything we're going to be doing is emphasizing the harbor," Marin told the group.
The wheel will also feature a "4-D Theater" ride on the ground that simulates taking a subway from Staten Island to Manhattan, a route that doesn't currently exist.
"Our whole concept is going to be based on a subway no one realized existed under this harbor, connecting us to Manhattan," Marin said about the fantasy ride. "We're calling it a 'Time Train.'"
The wheel's estimated opening date has been pushed back from their original estimate of 2016 — but developers are already preparing to break ground, planning to take control of the St. George Ferry Terminal parking lot this week, Marin said.
Marin said developers will provide alternative parking for the nearly 820 spaces in the lot that will no longer be available when crews bring in their equipment on Friday to get ready to break ground in January.
"These 820 cars have to go somewhere and we have to provide for that," he said. He did not provide details about the location of the temporary parking.
The project, along with the accompanying mall Empire Outlets, is expected to pump $580 million into St. George, organizers said.
The group also plans to add a webcam to the top of the lighthouse on Robins Reef where online users can watch the wheel take shape and start spinning in 2017.
Marin also said the wheel will be equipped with LED lights facing Manhattan, and plan to have a light show every night for tourist. He said the wheel will be open daily from 9 a.m. to midnight.
