A new attraction in downtown St. Louis will open to the public in less than a week — the St. Louis Wheel.

The 200-foot-tall observation wheel at Union Station is part of a multimillion-dollar entertainment complex, which will include an aquarium, mini golf course and soda fountain.

Credit David Kovaluk | St. Louis Public Radio Attendants help riders board the St. Louis Wheel during a media preview event on Tuesday afternoon. The attraction opens to the public Sept. 30.

Speaking at a preview event Tuesday afternoon, Mayor Lyda Krewson called the project a “major investment” in the city of St. Louis.

“I consider it really a very iconic wheel which overlooks our area and which really sets in place the momentum that we have in the city of St. Louis,” Krewson said.

Credit David Kovaluk | St. Louis Public Radio Mayor Lyda Krewson offered brief remarks before riding the St. Louis Wheel on Tuesday afternoon.

The St. Louis Wheel has 42 climate-controlled gondolas that can hold up to eight riders each. The glass-enclosed gondolas offer a 360-degree view of the city.

The observation wheel will be open year-round beginning Monday.

Credit David Kovaluk | St. Louis Public Radio The glass-enclosed gondolas of the St. Louis Wheel will allow the attraction to remain open year-round.

The St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station is currently under construction. The 120,000-square-foot aquarium — which is set to open in December — will be located in the station’s former mall area.

Maryland-based entertainment company ICON Attractions — which also runs the Capital Wheel at National Harbor outside Washington, D.C. — will operate the St. Louis Wheel.

Credit David Kovaluk | St. Louis Public Radio A view from the top of the St. Louis Wheel.

Eli Stovall of ICON Attractions said the project is the “culmination of countless hours and planning and hard work.”

“We hope it will become part of the personal and citywide celebrations here in St. Louis,” Stovall said. “When the St. Louis Wheel opens, we get to share just how fabulous this city on the banks of the Mississippi River looks from 200 feet in the air.”

Follow Shahla on Twitter: @shahlafarzan

Send questions and comments about this story to feedback@stlpublicradio.org