Maryland

Ocean City

Trimper’s Rides and Amusements

Trimper’s amusements was established on the boardwalk of Ocean City in 1893 by Daniel and Margaret Trimper. It was originally called Windsor Resort. Trimper’s Rides and Amusements is still owned and operated by Daniel’s and Margaret’s descendants. Trimper’s is the oldest family owned amusement park in the United States and perhaps the world.

The carousel at Trimper’s is a 1910-1912, fifty-foot diameter, 3-row, two-level, all wood Herschell-Spillman. The carousel is in its original location. The carousel is well maintained and preserved and consists of twelve jumpers and eleven standers along with 25 menagerie animals including one camel, two cats, one deer, two dogs, one dragon, two frogs, two giraffes, one goat, one lion, two mules, two ostriches, two pigs, two roosters, one stork, one tiger, and two zebras. There are four chariots on the platform. The carousel is one of the most beautiful on the East Coast.

The carousel was originally steam driven, but it is now electrified.

Rides are $2.00.

Trimper’s Rides and Amusements is also home to other antique rides including a 1920s Mangels children’s carousel, a 1920s Mangels children’s Ferris wheel, an antique kiddie whip and fire engines. Trimper’s offers a variety of indoor and outdoor children’s and adult rides.

For information on opening times call 410-289-861 or access their web site at www.trimpersrides.com.

For further information:

The National Carousel Association

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

Soper, Shawn. 2016. Trimpers Rides Confirmed as Country’s Oldest Family-Owned Amusement Park (Likely Even The World’s). The Dispatch (Ocean City). July 19, 2016.https://mdcoastdispatch.com/2016/07/19/trimpers-rides-confirmed-as-countrys-oldest-family-owned-amusement-park-likely-even-the-worlds/

Links to Youtube videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=be1ylU5OryU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vchsiCyt1Lc

The Grand Carousel

Kiddie Carousel

Mangels Kiddie Ferris Wheel

Mangels Kiddie Whip

Classic Fire Trucks

Glen Echo Park

Glen Echo

The 1921 Dentzel carousel is still in its original location and has been beautifully and meticulously restored by Rosa Ragan (now Rosa Victoria Patton). “In 2003, the 20-year restoration project to restore the Carousel was completed. The restoration exposed designs long-hidden under layers of paint, and all of the animals were repainted to match their original colors” (www.glenechopark.org). In 1984, the carousel and park were listed in the National Register of Historic Places. When Glen Echo Park closed in 1968, the carousel was eventually purchased by local citizens and given to the National Park Service.

The carousel is a three-row consisting of 28 jumpers, twelve standers, twelve menagerie animals (one giraffe, one lion, four ostriches, four rabbits, one tiger, one deer) and two chariots.

The band organ is a 1926 Wurlitzer 165 #3779.

The building housing the carousel was designed and built by Dentzel.

Rides are $1.25.

Glen Echo Park is on the site of a famous, former amusement park that operated from about 1900 to 1968. There are many events that take place in Glen Echo Park including theater and various classes and events in the visual arts, music, dance and theatre for all ages. The Park also offers “a variety of social dances Thursday through Sunday each week. Styles include Swing, Blues, Contra, Tango, Waltz, Ballroom, and Balboa” (www.glenechopark.org). There is an aquarium, picnic grounds and playground on site.

For information on opening times access their web site: www.glenechopark.org.

For additional information:

The National Carousel Association

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

The National Park Service

https://www.nps.gov/glec/index.htm

Links to Youtube videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cp_vz9xzWxo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yULaYJjsjwI

Wheaton Regional Park

Wheaton

Ovid Hazen Wells Carousel

The 1915 Herschell-Spillman carousel at Wheaton Regional Park has 3 rows with 33 jumpers, 3 menagerie animals (3 zebras) and 2 chariots. The carvings are a mixture of Herschell-Spillman and Spillman Engineering carvings. The carousel has been at Wheaton Regional Park since 1981. Previously it was at the Washington Mall from 1960 to 1980. Its location before 1960 is unknown.

For information on the operating schedule www.montgomeryparks.org/enterprise/park_facilities/trains/wheaton.shtm or call 301-942-6703.

For additional information:

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

Link to Youtube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGcEQ1R8Ny8

Watkins Regional Park

Upper Marlboro

The Chesapeake Carousel

Watkins Regional Park is home to a three-row, circa 1905 classic Dentzel carousel consisting of fifteen jumpers, sixteen standers, thirteen menagerie animals (one goat, one deer, one hippocampus, two lions, one ostrich, one kangaroo, two burros, two bison, two tigers and one rabbit) and two chariots. Although in very good condition, restoration is ongoing.

The carousel has been at its current location since 1972 and was previously at Chesapeake Beach from 1929 to 1972. Its location before Chesapeake Beach is unknown. Apparently, the original carousel at Chesapeake Beach was damaged by fire on October 31, 1926. Reports indicate that a new carousel was constructed on the site primarily from Dentzel figures and some from the Philadelphia Toboggan Company and Herschell.

There is a non-operational ring machine. The music is recorded.

For information on operating times call 301-218-6700 or access their website:

http://outdoors.pgparks.com/Sites/Watkins_Regional_Park/Watkins_Antique_Carousel__Train___Miniature_Golf.htm

For additional information:

The National Carousel Association

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

The Calvert Recorder (October 21, 2016)

http://www.somdnews.com/recorder/spotlight/a-carousel-of-memories/article_9edbda43-8b64-545f-a2b5-b53280a1c166.html