A few of the 27 gondolas on the new Irvine Spectrum SunWheel rise 132 feet above the outdoor shopping mall in Irvine on Thursday, September 24, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Irvine Spectrum visitors ride the new 132-foot-tall Spectrum SunWheel during sunset in Irvine on Thursday, September 24, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The new Spectrum SunWheel, replacing the original Spectrum Giant Wheel, which opened in 2002, offers visitors a chance to ride on one of 27 gondolas, reaching 132 feet above the outdoor shopping mall, in Irvine on Thursday, September 24, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Cars and trucks pass by on the 5 freeway in front of the Spectrum Center where the new, 132-foot-tall Spectrum SunWheel puts on a spinning light show in Irvine on Thursday, September 24, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Irvine Spectrum visitors walk through the Central Court while others ride the new 132-foot-tall Spectrum SunWheel in Irvine on Thursday, September 24, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
There is an even bigger landmark in place now to help visitors find the Irvine Spectrum.
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The outdoor shopping and entertainment venue recently celebrated its new Spectrum SunWheel, a 132-foot-tall Ferris wheel-style attraction that bests the previous Giant Wheel, which opened in 2002, by two dozen feet.
The SunWheel, manufactured by Italy-based Fabbri Group, features 27 gondolas that can comfortably seat up to six passengers with far-reaching views at the top of the wheel. At night, programmable LED lighting highlights the spokes and wheel in bright changing colors.
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“Both visitors and the local community have shared special memories of rides over the last 24 years, and our goal for this modern attraction is to cultivate new, treasured memories for generations to come,” Blake Windal, vice president and general manager, said in a statement.
The wheel is in operation from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays, and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. General admission is $10.
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