a Ferris wheel, and the excitement of the Chute-the-Chutes". According to a Science and Invention article, the Wonder Wheel provided a "real thrill like you have probably never had before—at least not at this great height." The wheel was later known as the "Eccentric Ferris Wheel" before being renamed the Wonder Wheel by 1940. To help with the Wonder Wheel's upkeep, the Garms family lived under the Wonder Wheel during the summers. By the 1960s, Herman Garms's son Alfred "Fred" Garms took over operation of the Wonder Wheel. Coney Island started to decline during the mid-20th century, and by 1964, it had seen its lowest number of visitors in 25 years. Despite subsequent failed attempts to redevelop the area as a casino area or theme park, the Wonder Wheel continued to operate. Furthermore, it had not had any significant incidents in its history, making it a relatively well-off ride when other Coney Island attractions were closing. To prevent against crime, the wheel and surrounding attractions were protected by two German Shepherds at night: one at the wheel's base and the other on an adjacent roof; during the day, the dogs rode around in one of the Wonder Wheel's cars, where the operator provided food and water for them. Off-duty security officers were also hired to avoid conflicts with the mafia. Vourderis ownership Fred Garms was looking to sell the wheel by 1983, as he was getting older and unable to manage the wheel. At the time, Deno D. Vourderis had been interested in buying the wheel whenever Garms was willing to sell. At the time, Vourderis was in a hospital recovering from a stabbing attack, but Garms approached Deno's son Dennis on the possibility of purchasing the ride. On June 7, 1983, Vourderis bought the Wonder Wheel from Garms and his cousin Walter Kerner Sr., and it became "Deno's Wonder Wheel". According to The New York Times, the only maintenance instructions given to the Vourderis family were the words "Good Luck" scribbled on a cardboard cigarette box. The Vourderis family restored the Wonder Wheel and made it the central attraction of Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park. They spent $250,000 to restore the wheel, in addition to the $250,000 cost of buying it. Vourderis stated that part of the wheel's allure had come from when he had proposed to his future wife Lula atop the wheel 36 years prior to the