Colorado

There are 6 classic, pre-1930 carousels in Colorado. We have visited 5 of these carousels.

Burlington

Kit Carson Co. Fairgrounds

Kit Carson County Fairgrounds is home to Philadelphia Toboggan Company (PTC) #6 carousel. The carousel, built in 1905, is a 3-row, stationary, park model populated with 26 standers, 4 chariots, and several menagerie figures including 2 burros, 3 zebras, one lion, one tiger, 3 camels, one dog, 3 deer, 3 goats, 3 giraffes, and one hippocampus on a 46-foot platform. Apparently, some of the figures were destined for PTC #7 and #8 as some are stamped so on the bottom. Some of the figures on the carousel were probably those of the Muller brothers who were carving for PTC as early as 1902 or 1903 and continued carving for PTC until about 1907 although they had opened their own carousel business (D. C. Muller and Brother Carousel Manufacturing Company). Some of the figures on the carousel are from the E. Joy Morris Company which closed in 1903 and sold its entire inventory including about 200 horses to PTC. PTC used many of the E. Joy Morris figures on their carousels until 1907.

The scroll work on the sweeps is beautiful and intricate. The figures and scenery panels still have the original factory paint and is the only carousel in America to have its original paint. The original paint adds to its beauty, charm, and historic value and significance of the carousel. The carousel is powered by the original General Electric motor. The carousel is on the National Register of Historic Places. Three horses and a donkey were stolen in 1981 but were recovered from a warehouse in Salina, Kansas a few months later and returned to the carousel. These figures are indicated by ribbons mounted high on the poles.

The carousel was originally built for Elitch Gardens and remained there until 1928 when it moved to Kit Carson Fairgrounds when Elitch Gardens purchased a new PTC carousel (#51).

The band organ is a 1909 Wurlitzer Monster Military Style 155. The band organ was originally advertised by Wurlitzer in 1909 as “The Twentieth Century Wonder”. The band organ is in excellent condition and is meticulously maintained.

There is a small museum associated with the carousel on site.

For operating hours, call 719-346-7666 or access their website at www.kitcarsoncountycarousel.org.

For additional information:

The National Carousel Association

http://carousels.org/USACensus/stdqueries/census-CLA.html

Kit Carson Carousel

www.kitcarsoncountycarousel.org

This website has some great music from the band organ.

A PTC Signature Camel

PTC Signature Dog

PTC Signature Dog

A PTC Signature Lion

A PTC Signature Lion

Secondary Carvings Detail

Note the PTC Signature

Scenery Panels

Note ribbons over the stolen and recovered horses

The Monster!!

Colorado Springs

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

The carousel with a view!! The carousel at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is a beautifully and excellently maintained 36-foot diameter 1925-1926 Allan Herschell Ideal Two-Abreast. The portable, two-row carousel is populated by 20 country fair style jumpers with metal legs and two chariots. It was originally powered by a gasoline engine, but it is now powered by electricity. The original location is unknown, but the carousel was at the Century of Progress Fair in Chicago in 1933. Spencer Penrose, founder of Cheyenne Mountain Zoo purchased the carousel from the Allen Herschell Company in 1937 and installed it at the zoo where it has remained since 1937. The carousel was last restored to its original paint scheme in 2015.

What we like about this carousel is that it is a simple portable without large inside panels so one can easily see how the carousel operates. The small scenery panels are beautiful.

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is located on 146 picturesque acres and has been rated the 4^th best zoo in the United States. There are special exhibits, events, programs, and activities daily. The zoo has an extensive on-going conservation program. The personnel at the zoo were very welcoming and friendly. We would especially like to thank Rachel Wright for arranging our visit.

For operating hours, call the zoo at 303-477-1621 or access their website at www.cmzoo.org.

For additional information:

The National Carousel Association

http://carousels.org/USACensus/stdqueries/census-CLA.html

Rounding Boards

Scenery Panels

Band Organ

Denver

Elitch Gardens

There is a classic carousel at Elitch Gardens, but our many emails to arrange a visit with the park have not been answered.

Lakeside Amusement Park

Lakeside Amusement Park is home to a 1908 C. W. Parker carousel. The carousel has four rows on three levels consisting of 16 jumpers, 16 standers, 40 menagerie animals (2 bears, 4 burros, 3 deer, 4 dogs, 5 goats, 2 lions, 4 pigs, 4 rabbits, 2 tigers, 2 zebras, 2 panthers, 1 cheetah, 2 monkeys, 3 cougars) and 4 chariots. Many of the figures are desperate for restoration as can be seen from the photos below.

Neither the original location nor how long it has been at Lakeside Amusement Park are known.

Lakeside Amusement Park, a trolley park that opened in 1908 and originally known as White City, is on the shores of Lake Rhoda. The park features several adult and kiddie rides.

There is no band organ

For information on opening times call 303-477-1621 or access their web site at www.lakesideamusementpark.com.

For additional information:

The National Carousel Association

http://carousels.org/USACensus/stdqueries/census-CLA.html

Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lakeside_Amusement_Park

Note the three levels

Cascade

North Pole

Santa’s Workshop

The carousel at Santa’s Workshop is a 1919, three-row, portable Herschell-Spillman There are 8 jumpers, several custom-made metal reindeer including Rudolph, and 2 chariots. Only 2 rows are in use.

The original location of the carousel is unknown, but it may have been at Crystal City Park, Oklahoma. It has been at Santa’s Workshop since 1966.

There is a Wurlitzer 125 Military band organ located in the park, but it is not with the carousel.

For further information on operating times call 719-684-9432 or access their web site at www.northpolecolorado.com.

For additional information:

The National Carousel Association

http://carousels.org/USACensus/stdqueries/census-CLA.html

Pueblo

Pueblo City Park

George R. Williams Memorial Carousel

C. W. Parker #72 Carry-Us-All, manufactured in Abilene, Kansas in 1911, resides in beautiful and well-groomed Pueblo City Park. The 3-row carousel with 36 jumpers, 1 chariot, and 1 tub is beautiful and excellently maintained. The inner 2 rows of horses are country style Parker horses, but the outside row horses are Stein and Goldstein Coney Island style. The Parker horses have bracket holes which indicate that these horses may have been carved as early as 1900 and used on an earlier Parker track carousel.

It is not known how the Stein and Goldstein horses made it to Parker #72, but two ideas have been suggested: (1) the Stein and Goldstein horses replaced an outside row of Parker horses circa 1914 when the carousel was returned to the Parker factory which was now in Leavenworth, Kansas, and (2) the horses were originally on the platform when it left the Parker factory in 1911.

The carousel was originally powered by steam but has been converted to electricity. The carousel is on the National Register of Historic Places.

The carousel was purchased by the Exposition & Amusement Company in 1911 and remained in its possession until 1914 when it moved to Lake Minnequa Amusement Park in Pueblo in 1940. The carousel has been in Pueblo City Park since 1940.

The band organ is a beautiful 1920 Wurlitzer 146.

Pueblo City Park also has several other vintage rides for children that were manufactured in the 1930s by Allan Herschell, W. F. Mangels, King Amusements, and San Antonio Roller Works. These rides were part of the Works Progress Administration. See photos after the carousel photos.

We appreciate the assistance of Ms. Debbie Acosta, Recreation Coordinator, for arranging for us to see the carousel during the time it was not yet open to the public. We also appreciate Alyssa and Kathryn for showing us the carousel and relating its history.

For additional information:

The National Carousel Association

National Carousel Association - Census of Classic Wood Carousels

City of Pueblo

George R. Williams' Memorial Carousel | Pueblo, CO - Official Website

Lover’s Tub

Secondary Carvings

Secondary Carvings

Rounding Boards and Scenery Panels

Band Organ

Other classic antique rides at Pueblo City Park