An amusement ride apparatus (10) of Ferris wheel type with suspended gondola cars (C) comprises a fixed central structure (11) erected on the ground (12) and having a closed contour supporting a running track (14) in the form of a mainly vertical frame for movement of carriages securedly attached to the gondola cars (C). The carriages are secured to one another by mechanical securing means and move due to the running action of a closed-loop linear drive means arranged parallel to at least a part of the running track by guidance means to constitute a noria of mobile gondola cars (C) with a substantially fixed interval. The linear drive means operate in conjunction with a device for moving in translation (18) arranged along the running track (14). The securing means are formed by a plurality of rigid junction bars where each junction bar couples two successive carriages via ends. The end of a junction bar is mounted on the corresponding carriage by a mechanical joining link ensuring free swivelling and free translation o f the bar with respect to the carriage, independently from one another.