Eli Bridge Company
Eli Bridge Company is a family-owned amusement ride manufacturer headquartered in Jacksonville, Illinois, U.S.
Type | Private company |
---|---|
Founded | U.S. |
Founder | W. E. Sullivan |
Headquarters | , |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | W. E. Sullivan Lee Sullivan Patty Sullivan |
Products | Amusement rides Family attractions |
Website | elibridge.com |
History
W. E. Sullivan, the owner of Eli Bridge Company in Illinois, rode the original 1893 Chicago Ferris Wheel at the World's Columbian Exposition. Inspired by this, he later collaborated with machinist James H. Clements and their first "Big Eli" wheel debuted in Central Park, Jacksonville, Illinois, on May 23, 1900. In 1955, Eli Bridge Co. produced its first non-wheel amusement ride, the Scrambler. Eli Bridge products can be found in amusement parks around the world. Today, Eli Bridge remains a family-owned company. Lee Sullivan, chairman of the board, is the grandson of company founder W. E. Sullivan, and President/CEO Patty Sullivan is the great granddaughter of W. E. Sullivan.[1]
Type | Private company |
---|---|
Founded | U.S. |
Founder | W. E. Sullivan |
Headquarters | Jacksonville, Illinois
, U.S. |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | W. E. Sullivan
Lee Sullivan Patty Sullivan |
Products | Amusement ridesFamily attractions |
Website | elibridge.com |
Ferris wheels
- Signature Series: 16 cars, 3 passengers per car; transportable
- Eagle Series: 16 cars, 3 passengers per car; transportable
- HY-5 Series: 12 cars, 3 passengers per car; transportable
- Aristocrat Series: 16 cars, fixed site
- Standard Series: 12 cars, fixed site
- Lil' Wheel: 6 cars, 3 passengers per car; transportable and fixed site models[2]
Scramblers
- Next Generation Series: mobile
- Standard Series: fixed site
- Lil' Scrambler: 12 seat mobile or fixed site[3]
Family rides
- Construction Zone: mobile & fixed site
- SpiderMania: mobile and fixed site[4]
Further reading
- "Eli Bridge Co. Rides High Thanks to Wheels of Fortune," Jessy Yancey, Illinois Farm Bureau Partners
- "Big Eli, The First Portable Ferris Wheel (May 23, 1900)," Clint Cargile, 24 May 2021, Northern Public Radio
- "Points of Interest: Eli Bridge Company... Manufacturing fun," Jeff Mondlock, 8 July 2013, KHQA
References
- "Eli Bridge Company history". Retrieved 20 January 2012.
- "Eli Bridge Company :: Jacksonville, IL :: Wheels". www.elibridge.com. Retrieved 2021-11-20.
- "Eli Bridge Company :: Jacksonville, IL :: Scramblers". www.elibridge.com. Retrieved 2021-11-20.
- "Eli Bridge Company :: Jacksonville, IL :: Family Rides". elibridge.com. Retrieved 2021-11-20.