Missouri

Although there are 5 classic carousels in Missouri, we have only visited one carousel.

Chesterfield

The Saint Louis Carousel

Faust County Park

This carousel is a 1921 Dentzel 4-row carousel that is beautifully maintained. There are 46 jumpers, 16 standers, 4 deer and 2 chariots. The carousel is housed in a beautiful building. There is no band organ.

The original location of the carousel is not known, but it was in Forest Park Highlands from 1929 to 1963. The Forest Park Highlands amusement park was destroyed by fire in 1963, but the carousel escaped major damage. After spending 2 years in storage, it was purchased by Howard C. Ohlendorf who donated it to the St. Louis County Department of Parks and Recreation. It opened in 1965 in Sylvan Springs County Park in St. Louis where it remained until 1979 at which time funds were raised to restore the carousel and place it in a beautiful climate-controlled building in Faust County Park in 1987.

When we visited, the music was recorded and barely discernible although there is a Stinson 165 on site.

For information on operating times, access their web site at www.stlouisco.com/parks/carousel or call 324-615-8345.

For further information:

The National Carousel Association

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

Scenery Panels

Rounding Boards

Stinson 165 Band Organ

Kansas City

Worlds of Fun

Six Flags Kansas City (now: Enchanted Parks)

Gold and jewels!!

This most beautiful 1926, four row, park model Marcus Illions carousel shines with all the gold, jewels, and mirrored panels. There are 64 jumpers and two chariots. The band organ is a Stinson-Wurlitzer with a façade carved by Illions. The carousel made its first appearance at the 1926 Sesquicentennial in Philadelphia where it remained for 2 years before moving to Birmingham, Alabama for another 2 years or so. In the 1930s. the carousel returned to the Illions shop in New York City where it remained until 1936 before moving to Geauga Lake in Aurora, Ohio where it made its home until 2007. The carousel was in storage from 2007 to 2011 before it found its current home at Worlds of Fun.

For operating times access their web site at www.worldsoffun.com or call 816-454-4545.

For further information:

The National Carousel Association

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

Rounding Boards

Perry

Friends of the Perry Carousel

In Perry, one will find a very rare 1898 Armitage Herschell Steam Riding Gallery. The track carousel is in excellent condition with 24 jumpers and 4 chariots. The original band organ and steam engine are on site.

Although the carousel was first set up in Randolph Springs in Clifton Hills, Missouri, its early travels included Hunnewell and New Florence, Missouri.

The carousel arrived in Perry in 1942 in time for its Fourth of July Celebration. As the carousel found it’s way to many fairs in 1948. Harry Truman would campaign from the carousel. In 1956, some members of the Mark Twain Amusement Company of Perry purchased the carousel and operated it in the local area. In 1966, the Mark Twain Amusement Company leased the carousel to the Agricultural Museum in Bonner Springs, Kansas. It was hoped that the carousel would be returned to Perry with some needed repairs. By 1969, the Steam Riding Gallery moved back to Perry only to move to Montgomery City, Missouri where it remained until 1985 when it was discovered stored on a farm in barns. The carousel was purchased by Carlos Sardina, a carousel enthusiast whose hobby was repairing, restoring, and preserving carousels. Sardina set the carousel up in St. Louis at Union Station (1985-1989) and at Faust Park (1989–2014) before returning it to Perry on a lease agreement with the Mark Twain Amusement Company. Friends of the Perry Carousel purchased the carousel in 2019. While in storage in Perry from 1914, Friends of the Perry Carousel, a non-profit organization, was formed to oversee the restoration of the carousel and construction of a pavilion to house the carousel. The organization now oversees the operation of the carousel.

The carousel operates on special occasions. For operating times, call 660-676-9908.

Consider donating to Friends of the Perry Carousel. Contributions to the Perry Carousel can be sent to 308 S. Palmyra St., Perry, MO 63462

Visit the Friends of the Perry Carousel Facebook Page: Friends of the Perry Carousel | Facebook

It was a pleasure meeting Brian Hodges and Shelby Hodges. They are a wealth of information regarding this carousel. Many thanks to Linda Hodges for arranging our meeting;

For further information

The National Carousel Association

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

Perry’s historical carousel finds a forever home

Published 3:29 pm Sunday, August 22, 2021

by Meg Duncan, Salt River Journal, Editor

Historic carousel gets new life

by Tim Bryant

June 24, 1986

UPI Archives

Note the outstretched legs on the horse to the far left. This indicates to us that this horse may not be original to the carousel. It resembles a horse that may have been on rockers.

St. Louis (Eureka)

Six Flags St. Louis (now: Enchanted Parks)

PTC #35 has resided at Six Flags Saint Louis since 1972. It is a 1915, 4-row park model with 58 jumpers, two standers, and 2 Roman chariots (as reported by the NCA, but there were no chariots when we visited in 2026.). From resided at m 1915 to 1929 the carousel was at Luna Park in Cleveland after which it moved to Puritas Springs in Cleveland where it remained until 1958. From 1959 to 1971 it was at Indian Lake Park in Russells Point, Ohio.

There is no band organ. The music is recorded.

For information on operating times, access their web site at www.sixflags.com/stlouis or call 636-938–5300.

For further information:

The National Carousel Association

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

Rounding Boards