CINCINNATI — The SkyStar Observation Wheel will keep on turning at The Banks, at least until the end of June.
"It's just very much loved in the community," said Phil Beck, the executive director of The Banks Project. "There really is no downside to it."
The 150-foot-tall, mobile Ferris wheel was scheduled to roll out of Cincinnati on Sunday after an already extended stay.
The developers of The Banks brought the SkyStar to the Queen City last August to commemorate the riverfront project's 10th anniversary. At the time, those developers said the wheel would move on to another city on Dec. 3.
The St. Louis-based SkyStar Wheel company announced on Dec. 2 that the wheel would continue to operate at 55 E. Freedom Way through Father's Day.
Then on Friday, a SkyStar representative responded to someone on SkyStar's Facebook page who asked if the wheel really was leaving The Banks after the weekend.
"We will be in Cincinnati at least until the end of June," SkyStar responded. "We will release more information as it becomes available."
When asked through Facebook's Instant Messenger when people might learn more, the company stated, "Hopefully we will have more information by the end of this month."
Beck said the details of SkyStar's extended-extended stay are currently being negotiated between The Banks Project, SkyStar's owners and the Hamilton County Commission.
SkyStar sits on an empty parcel of land owned by Hamilton County.
Beck added he hopes to share as early as next week how much longer people will be able to ride the big wheel on the Riverfront.
"It won't be indefinite," he added.
