Big Sky Carousels That Make Perfect Road Trip
Montana Is Home To At Least 6 Working Carousels
When I was a kid, we didn't really go to any carousels in the state because there weren't any. The only time I'd see them were at the fair or if we went to another state and there was one there.
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There were working carousels in Montana until 1973. They were located at:
- Wonderland which was a theme park outside of Billings. Wonderland closed in 1960
- Columbia Gardens just outside of Butte. It closed in 1973
It would be over 20 years before Montana would see carousels in permanent homes around the state.
montana carousel at night
Where Are Montana's Carousels?
- Missoula: A Carousel For Missoula: In 1991 Chuck Kaparich went to the Missoula city counsel about building the carousel. The council and citizens love the idea. Opening in 1995, the Carousel for Missoula sits in it's own building in Caras Park, downtown Missoula
- Somers: The Dream Maker: Bob Cherot built the carousel on his own property for his young granddaughter. The small carousel has 14 horses, is open May through September every year. The rides are free but they ask for a donation for the food bank
- Shelby: Carousel Rest Area: The carousel herself is from 1936 and was housed on the Marias Fairgrounds. Harry Benjamin and the entire community of Shelby, even inmates at the Crossroads Correction Center got in on the project. The carousel opened in May of 2018. Read all about the Carousel Rest Area Here
- Helena: Great Northern Carousel: In the 1990's Alan Nicholson approached the City of Helena about putting a carousel in the old Great Northern Railyard. By 2002, the carousel was open to the public
- Boulder: Jefferson County Recreation Park: In 1958 the employees and clients of Boulder River School used molds to create a carousel at the school. In 1995 the Boulder Volunteer Fire Department got permission to move it to the Jefferson County Fairgrounds Recreation Park. It took years to get it running, and it's still running to this day.
- Butte: Spirit of Columbia Gardens Carousel: The original carousel that was in Columbia Gardens was destroyed in a fire in 1973. In 1996 The Spirit of Columbia Gardens Foundation was formed to rebuild the carousel. Ground was broken for the building to house the carousel in 2015.
Sources: KVVR, Distinctly Montana, National Carousel Association
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These Are Awesome!! 13 of the Most Dazzling and Historic Carousels in New York State
Who doesn't like a ride on an old-fashion carousel or merry-go-round? All ages, from the youngest to the most senior love going round and around while sitting on top of a gaily painted hand-carved horse or other animal. They are nostalgic for the older folks, and an exciting new adventure for the little ones. New York State can be considered the "Birthplace of the Carousels" because of the Herschell Carrousel Museum and Factory in North Tonawanda, N.Y., where they made hundreds of them over a century.
We are so lucky to have 46 historic, working carousels in the Empire State. Here is a list of 13 of the best!
Gallery Credit: Chuck D'Imperio