The carousel at Tuscora Park in New Philadelphia is a 1928 vintage ride. (Credit: Ken Drenten)

By Ken Drenten

Carousels, or merry-go-rounds, were first introduced sometime in the sixth century in Byzantium, now Turkey, when rotating devices that allowed horses to move around a pole were used to train horsemen for battle.

Over the centuries, the device evolved from training warriors for battle to a machine for entertainment. The first carousel in the United States was in 1799 in Salem, Mass., but the idea really took off in the 1860s when steam-powered carousels began to become available. Steam power not only moved the carousel but also created lively music via a calliope.

The “golden age of carousels” in America was from about 1880 to 1925; by the 1920s, carousels with ornately hand-carved animals and magnificent organs were at county and state fairs, carnivals, festivals and amusement parks. By this time, there were some 3,000 carousels in the U.S.

Today, there are some 120 carousels remaining in the country, with about 20 of those in Ohio.

The Akron Zoo, 505 Euclid Ave., features Conservation Carousel, where you can ride one of 33 animals from around the world.

Cedar Point Amusement Park, 1 Cedar Point Drive, Sandusky, has three carousels – the Midway Carousel, built circa 1912-1915, the park’s oldest ride; the Kiddy Kingdom Carousel, built about 1921; Cedar Downs, built in 1920, a unique racing derby carousel. Sandusky is also home to the Merry-Go-Round Museum, 301 Jackson St., which includes a 1939 vintage carousel along with dozens of restored carousel riding animals and other memorabilia.

The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, 3400 Vine St., Cincinnati, has Conservation Carousel, where riders can choose from among 60 animals. Cincinnati’s Smale Riverfront Park features Carol Ann’s Carousel, a carousel constructed by Carousel Works in Mansfield (in business from 1986 to 2021) that features 44 whimsical characters and artwork that tell the story of Cincinnati.

The Cleveland History Center, 10825 East Boulevard, Cleveland, is home to a 1910 vintage carousel that once whirled riders at Euclid Beach Park near Cleveland and Old Orchard Beach in Maine and includes hand-painted panels featuring local scenes.

Also in the Cleveland area, Memphis Kiddie Land Park, 30799 Pinetree Road #218, Pepper Pike, features 11 amusement park rides designed for kids under 50 inches tall, including a classic carousel ride.

The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium has a magnificently restored 1914 carousel with 53 carved horses and a Wurlitzer organ. The carousel was originally at Olentangy Park in Columbus from 1914 to 1946, then moved to Wyandot Lake until 1997, when it was acquired and restored by the zoo.

The carousel at Columbus Commons, 160 S. High St. in downtown Columbus, was built in 2011, with each animal made of hand-carved wood. The carousel’s canopy features scenes of Columbus landmarks.

Dayton’s Carrillon Historical Park, 1000 Carillon Blvd., features a carousel with riding figures that salute the city’s aviation heritage and other historic features. The carousel is located in the Heritage Center of Dayton Manufacturing and Entrepreneurship.

Geneva-on-the-Lake’s nostalgic beachside attractions include a restored 1957 carousel at Adventure Zone Family Fun Center, 5600 Lake Road E.

Kings Island in Mason, Ohio, is a huge amusement park that has hundreds of rides and attractions but its centerpiece is the Grand Carousel, built in 1926. The carousel originally resided at Coney Island in Cincinnati from 1926 to 1971.

Mansfield’s Richland Carrousel Park, 75 N. Main St., has a carousel built in the 1990s by Carousel Works that is carefully crafted in the classic style of earlier models.  

Put-in-Bay, on South Bass Island in Lake Erie, has Kimberly’s Carousel, 160 Delaware Ave., a restored 1917 carousel that is a beloved part of PIB’s downtown scene. Where else can you ride on Pete the Perch?

Schoepfle Garden, 11106 Market St., Wakeman, has a Children’s Garden carousel installed in 2007 that was carefully restored with involvement from the community.

Stricker’s Grove, 11490 Hamilton-Cleves Road, Hamilton, is a family-owned, private amusement park that is open to the public four times a year and available by reservation to large groups. The park, which originally opened in 1924, includes a 1950s-era carousel.

Toledo Zoo & Aquarium, 2 Hippo Way, Toledo, includes the African Carousel, a safari-themed carousel.

Tuscora Park in New Philadephia is a delightful city park with a collection of amusement rides especially for families with young children. Among the rides is a 1928 carousel that has been at Tuscora Park since 1941.

Ken Drenten is creator and editor of Dusty-Tires.com, a travel blog for out-of-the-ordinary places in Ohio.

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