Pod Porn From the World’s Tallest Ferris Wheel, High Roller Las Vegas at The Linq

By Scott Roeben, on November 08 2013

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The world’s tallest Ferris wheel, the High Roller Las Vegas, has officially entered its next phase of construction: The Passenger Pod Phase. That’s right, the High Roller wheel is finally getting its balls.

We caught the first passenger cabin being attached to the wheel’s rim on Nov. 5, 2013, and now the pods appear to be multiplying.

These feats of engineering cost $1 million a pop.

Two passenger capsules have been installed on the High Roller so far (see below), with three more in the queue.

We say “queue” because that’s sort of a British thing, and now the London Eye has been bumped out of the top three tallest observation wheels in the world. The Singapore Flyer is the former tallest (in, you know, Singapore), followed by the Star of Nanchang (in China) and then the London Eye. Here’s the full list. Sorry, also-rans!

The 28 passenger cabins are being attached in the same way you’d tighten lug nuts on a car tire. Each cabin will be added across from the one attached before it, ensuring the weight distribution is even during the installation process.

The weight distribution thing is important because each pod weighs 44,000 pounds.

The passenger cabins are decked out with a number of amenities, including eight flat screen TVs.

If you look closely, there are comfy red seats inside, too.

We'd call "dibs," but we have a heights thing. — We’d call “dibs,” but we have a heights thing.

We spent the afternoon taking photos from every possible angle, other than overhead. We don’t have access to a helicopter or weather balloon, sorry.

The top level of the Harrah's parking garage is already a coveted spot for High Roller viewing. — The top level of the Harrah’s parking garage is already a coveted spot for High Roller viewing.

Various parts of the High Roller’s balls (is that getting awkward yet?) have been made in factories around the world.

For example, the cabin door assemblies were made by a company called Sigma, in France. The cabin window glazing was done by Sunglass, in Italy. The cabin slew bearings were made by LXQL in China. Confidentially, we would not know a slew bearing if we tripped over one.

Oh, slew bearing, we love you even though we don't know what you are. — Oh, slew bearing, we love you even though we don’t know what you are.

It’s starting to become evident we have a serious crush on the High Roller Las Vegas, and we don’t care who knows it. This attraction has already altered the Las Vegas skyline, and is quickly becoming a stop-and-gawk mecca for locals and visitors alike.

The High Roller will be the centerpiece of The Linq, a new dining and entertainment district between Flamingo Las Vegas and The Quad.

Yes, you can rent an entire cabin, in case you'd like to join the 550-Foot High Club. — Yes, you can rent an entire cabin, in case you’d like to join the “550-Feet High Club.” All right, now we might call “dibs.”

The world’s tallest observation wheel will officially open in mid-2014, and you can bet your sweet passenger pods we’ll chronicling the High Roller Ferris wheel’s progress every step of the way.