What's Happening in Blue Ash, OH…

The SkyStar, a 150-foot tall Ferris wheel that first came to Cincinnati last August, is set to become a permanent part of the skyline.

According to a recent announcement from SkyStar, the attraction will remain at The Banks permanently. Originally, it was planned that the wheel would stay at The Banks for four months as part of the neighborhood's tenth anniversary. However, everyone enjoyed the ride so much the city kept extending the lease, and the SkyStar is still in place, almost a year after it first arrived.

The wheel was originally slated to be removed last December, but the lease on the attraction was extended to-mid June, and sources say another lease extension was recently approved by the Hamilton County Board of Commissioners. According to Jeff Alutotto, one of the county administrators, extending the lease gives the county time to plan for a much longer lease period – possibly as much as 10 years.

There are 36 enclosed gondolas on the brilliantly-illuminated SkyStar wheel, each of which can hold as many as six people. It takes about 12 minutes for the wheel to go around once, and the fee is $12.50 per rider. The SkyStar's summer hours are Mondays through Thursdays from 12.00 noon until 11.00 pm; Fridays and Saturdays from 10.00 am until midnight; and Sundays from 10.00 am until 10.00 pm. Poster printing can be used at attractions like this, as patrons might like to take souvenirs home with them.