carousel horse ride

Carousels are commonly populated with horses, called carousel horse ride, each horse weighing roughly 100 lbs. (45 kg), but may include diverse varieties of mounts, like pigs, zebras, tigers, or mythological creatures such as dragons or unicorns. Sometimes, chair like or bench like seats are used as well, and occasionally mounts can be shaped like airplanes or cars. As was the case with most industries during the Great Depression, carousel builders found it difficult to continue production. In addition to the depressed economy, the rise of the roller coaster in the early 20th century began to overshadow the carousel’s place in the amusement park industry. They became marked as a “children’s ride” because they lacked the excitement of the newer rides. This combination of factors spelled the end of an era for carousel builders. Although more would be built once the economy recovered, they were no longer hand-carved, but instead cast in aluminum and fiberglass. However, since the 1970s, there has been a growing interest in restoring many of the old hand-carved carousels and preserving them for future generations.

carousel kiddie ride