Riding a Ferris wheel that once belonged to Michael Jackson should be a real thriller attraction for Selma fairgoers this week.
The Central Alabama Fair features a ride that once was anchored at the late singer's Neverland Ranch, and it's drawing curious customers along with stares from those afraid of heights.
Ed Noerper's family bought the ride a year ago during an auction of Jackson's property at the California ranch that once was his pride and joy. Nine months later, it suddenly took on an unexpected aura.
"We haven't been promoting the fact that it was his, but word gets out wherever we set up and people want to know more about it," said Noerper, who helps manage Archway Amusements Corp.
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Deeply in debt to the tune of $25 million and troubled by other problems at the time of his death June 25, Jackson left behind a legacy of brilliance as an entertainer as well as strange personal behavior.
Noerper said the Ferris wheel cost $225,000 when it was built 20 years ago by Eli Bridge Co. of Illinois. He said his winning bid was $185,000.
He said he had been looking for an "Eli 16" for four years and not because it had a connection to the "King of Pop." When a broker called to tell him about the auction, he jumped at the chance to submit a bid.
There isn't anything quite like it in the country -- a slowly spinning, 16-seat attraction that includes 5,000 brightly colored lights as well as music from Jackson's catalog of hits, including "Thriller."
The huge ride, which fits into one trailer, can be assembled and disassembled at county fairs in about three hours. When it arrived in Selma earlier this week, it went up without fanfare because few were aware it once belonged to Jackson.
Ferris wheels aren't what they used to be and that's why Noerper doesn't view Jackson's ride as anything out of the ordinary -- unless the singer's name comes up in conversations.
"A lot of people just don't want to ride them anymore," he said. "Kids want something faster or they don't want to go up in something as high as this one."
Sponsored by the Selma Lions Club, the fair has helped provide eye examinations and glasses for the needy for decades. The addition of Jackson's three-minute Ferris wheel ride might help bring in even more money this year.
"We certainly hope more people will come out, if for no other reason than to just take a ride," said John Haskell, a loyal Lion for many years. "This is something you won't see every day."
Noerper said potential theft or vandalism are reasons he hasn't promoted the wheel as once having been owned by Jackson.
"It's not a high-profit ride because you have to stop and take people off all the time," said Noerper, whose attraction will be on display through Saturday. "But, we realize it's become special because of what's happened."
He said when he first heard of Jackson's death, he didn't associate it with the singer. He said he called two friends -- both named Michael Jackson -- "to see if they were still alive."
"They told me they were, and that was a relief," said Noerper, with a laugh.
He said one Michael Jackson lives in Arkansas and the other in Alabama, but is not Dallas County's district attorney of the same name.
Haskell said Jackson's Ferris wheel won't be the only "star" attraction this week because "Elvis" also will do his thing.
"We'll have two Elvis impersonators performing on Thursday night, so people can get close to Michael Jackson and Elvis Presley almost at the same time," said Haskell.
Two show biz "kings" -- one of pop and the other of rock -- should be worth the price of admission at least for one night this week.
Oh, by the way, Noerper said Jackson's favorite seat on his Ferris wheel was "No. 13."
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