Dallas One Step Closer to Building 'Texas Odyssey'

This past May it was announced that the Dallas skyline would be receiving an update in the form of a 500-foot tall observation wheel called the 'Texas Odyssey'. A recent zoning request to the city of Dallas by the developers has brought the project one step closer to becoming a reality.

Hailed as a great opportunity to generate more tourist activity in the area, the Texas Odyssey developers have submitted a zoning request to build the wheel in a 7-acre site just south of Interstate 35E and downtown Dallas on the banks of the Trinity River. The developers are currently awaiting approval from the Dallas Planning Commission for the chosen site, a decision likely to be in their favor.

The developers claim that the Texas Odyssey will feature a 38-minute ride with “multimedia and multisensory” elements added to enhance the experience. The gondolas within which riders will experience the journey are said to be similar to those of the London Eye, with a similar housing capacity.

Should the approval be given by the Dallas Planning Commission and the necessary permitting provided by local governing agencies, the Texas Odyssey could start being built as early as Fall of 2019. Outside of the wheel itself, restaurants, retail space, an outdoor performance venue, and a large car park are also planned to be built on the site. The development of the observation wheel would also allow for greater public access to the Trinity River in the form of footpaths and recreational areas.

Dallas government officials are on board with the project, positioning it as part of a larger effort to development and revitalize southern portions of downtown along the Trinity River. The Texas Odyssey project comes alongside plans for a proposed high-speed “bullet” train that would link Dallas and Houston. Once these two projects are completed, city officials are optimistic that further growth will follow, much in the same way that the London Eye spurred development along the Thames River.

Once construction on the Texas Odyssey begins, it is expected to be completed in approximately 27 months.