Lemoore's Rick Shimmon builds a mini hand-operated Ferris wheel for grandkids

However, it caught on quickly and became an immediate sensation, spawning a Ferris wheel craze that continues to this day.

They continue to be extremely popular. Ferris wheels, large and small, continue to entertain people all over the world, including the London Eye on the River Thames, and the Las Vegas High Roller, currently the world’s largest.

And now, even in Lemoore.

Lemoore’s Rick Shimmon a 21-year veteran of the U.S. Navy, and the proud owner of a degree in aeronautical engineering, thought he’d take a stab at building a Ferris wheel, though not one quite as impressive as the Las Vegas High Roller or the London Eye. Maybe something a little less grand, he reasoned.

Over the course of the last year the 65-year-old former sailor has welded, shaped, configured and sweated over a small hand-powered Ferris wheel that looks and feels like the real thing. The device actually works, and with nothing more than the flick of a wrist.

Why a Ferris wheel?

“About eight years ago I was looking on Craig’s List on the internet and I saw these wheels … they were some sort of spools that could hold large lengths of hose, and so I looked at that and thought, what could I do with that? Since I have six grandchildren I thought a Ferris wheel is obviously in the plan.”

And what a plan.

Shimmon made the short drive to Merced, purchased the wheels and returned them to Lemoore, only to have them languish for another seven years. “About a year ago I decided I needed to get this done. It was going to by my opus,” he said. “I figured I better get this done before I can’t. I’ve been blessed to be able to do it for my grandkids.”

Shimmon’s wife, Cheryl, said at first she was hesitant but “he spent a lot of time working on this and nothing else, and the kids love it. Some of the other grandkids have been here too, and they use it.”

Even grandson Josh had a word of support for old granddad: “I was absolutely quite amazed at the concept. I heard a lot of stories about building one. He’s been talking about building this for a while, and to see him building this and to see my brother and sister and cousins all having so much fun, it’s just amazing.”