National Harbor's Capital Wheel to Open May 23rd

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md., May 12, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Capital Wheel at National Harbor is poised to become a must-see destination when it opens to the public on Friday, May 23^rd in time for Memorial Day Weekend. Soaring 180-feet above the Potomac River, The Capital Wheel will join a roster of large-scale observation wheels around the globe.

The Capital Wheel has 42 climate-controlled gondolas. The VIP gondola, National Harbor One, seats four passengers and features glass floors, wine chillers, a retracting monitor/DVD player and leather bucket seats. The remaining 41 gondolas accommodate up to eight passengers and feature glass exteriors to maximize the panoramic views of the National Mall, White House, U.S. Capitol, Arlington Cemetery and beyond.

To celebrate the iconic addition to the Washington, D.C., skyline, The Capital Wheel will have extended operating hours this summer. From May 2014 to August 2014 The Capital Wheel is open from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m. Please visit the newly debuted website to see year-round operating hours and pricing, www.TheCapitalWheel.com.

"The Capital Wheel is a tremendous addition to the National Harbor waterfront and will open on May 23, 2014," said Peterson Companies Principal and Chairman Milt Peterson. "With its spectacular views of the Potomac River and Nation's Capital, family-friendly appeal and first of its kind technology – including LED lighting with a stunning spectrum of 16 million colors – The Wheel solidifies National Harbor's reputation as a can't-miss destination for visitors of all ages and interests."

Creative seasonal concessions from Wolfgang Puck Catering will be available beside the 180-foot-tall observation wheel on National Harbor's pier. The Capital Wheel will host a variety of public, corporate and private events, with catering available by Wolfgang Puck Catering. The entire pier can be rented for a special private event.

For real-time updates, follow The Capital Wheel on Facebook and Twitter.

About National Harbor:
National Harbor is a community unlike any other in the D.C. region, designed to take full advantage of the most historic river in the nation. Rising from the banks of the Potomac River just south of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge in Prince George's County, MD, National Harbor is a 350-acre, resort destination that includes the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center, Tanger Outlets, National Children's Museum, thousands of hotel rooms, hundreds of residential and office units, tree-lined promenades with scores of popular shops and restaurants, and a marina.  Additionally, MGM Resorts International has plans to build a $925 million casino complex on 23 acres overlooking the Potomac River with an 18-story, 300-suite hotel. For more information visit www.nationalharbor.com.

About Peterson Companies
Peterson Companies is one of the largest privately owned real estate development companies in the Washington, DC region and offers fully integrated development services for commercial, office, residential and retail real estate. The company is responsible for some of the most prominent and successful mixed-use retail, residential and office developments in Northern Virginia and Maryland including National Harbor, Downtown Silver Spring, Washingtonian Center, Fairfax Corner, Virginia Gateway, Fair Lakes, Burke Centre and Tysons McLean Office Park. Founded by Milt Peterson over 30 years ago, the company has an extensive two million square foot development pipeline throughout the Washington, DC region. For more information about the company, please visit www.petersoncos.com.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140512/86416
Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140116/PH47559LOGO-b

SOURCE National Harbor