The famed Wonder Wheel in Coney Island, NY. The Wonder Wheel in Coney Island is celebrating its 100th anniversary, having opened in 1920. It stands 100 feet tall. It was designed by Charles Herrmann, and created and built by Herman Garms in 1918-1920 by the Eccentric Ferris Wheel Company. The Wonder Wheel was designated as an official landmark by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission in 1989.