It was looking, for a minute, like an epic battle between two competing Las Vegas observation wheels, the High Roller in The Linq and another called SkyVue at the south end of The Strip.

Now, it’s looking like the battle might be on hold.

SkyVue has taken some hits in the media in recent weeks, and this blog is nothing if not completely objective in its sharing of news related to giant Las Vegas observations wheels that may or may not come into existence. Read more here and here.

On a happier note, the High Roller, currently being erected (yes, we said it) behind Flamingo Las Vegas and The Quad (formerly the Imperial Palace), is moving along, right on schedule.

Massive structural pieces of the High Roller are being constructed at several factories around the world at the moment, and rest assured this blog will be sharing photos as they arrive.

As a small sampling, the wheel’s platform steel is coming from Utah, the cabins are being made in Colorado and Arizona, the wheel’s drive system is coming from Holland, glass for the cabins is being made in Italy, the cables are coming from France, the wheel fabrication is being done in China and more work is being done in Japan.

A slew of geniuses are working diligently to make the High Roller a reality.

The General Contractor is W.A. Richardson Builders (they’re doing the foundations, platform, electrical and wheel building), the wheel contractor is American Bridge Company (handling the legs, hub and spindle, rim and cables), the cabin contractor is Leitner Poma of America, the wheel’s drive systems are in the capable hands of Schwager Davis, Inc. and the control system is to be the work of Heywood Engineering.

To build the world’s largest wheel, it takes a community. Of really, really smart people who use words that require an industrial-strength dictionary.

Ultimately, we wish our friends at the south end of The Strip well, of course, because a rising tide raises all boats. The trick is to try and stay afloat.