Older than most of the people who ride it, this carousel was a popular attraction at the 1932 World’s Fair. A cherished feature of Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, it has been giving people of all ages a great ride since 1937. To ride the carousel, tickets are sold at $2 per ride, or a frequent rider card for $15 for 10 rides (a $5 savings!) History information provided by the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.
At the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, there is a carousel so special,only recently did I learn of it’s interesting history.
365 Things to Do in Colorado Springs ~ Day 44 Carousel Rides on a Mountain Side
The carousel at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo has a rich history. Oral history holds that Spencer Penrose, founder of The Broadmoor hotel and the Zoo, first became aware of this carousel after seeing it at the 1932 World’s Fair. Correspondence shows his determination to acquire the unit from the Allan Herschell Company in North Tonawanda, New York, and his enthusiasm at being able to bring it to the Zoo in 1937, shortly before the zoological park was officially established in 1938. The carousel is one of the few remaining structures of the “original” Zoo.
The carousel is historically significant for several other reasons. It represents a popular form of entertainment for an era dating from the late 19th century. Carousels were originally introduced as adult entertainment, being the fastest mechanical ride one could experience other than locomotive travel. Of the more than 6,000 carousels produced, the National Carousel Association lists fewer than 300 remaining in the United States. Colorado is unusual with five operating machines, the Zoo carousel being one of these; all are listed on the State Register of Historic Properties.
The Herschell portable half-and-half, double row unit acquired by Penrose also represents an historic engineering change in carousel production. After World War I, competition imposed financial challenges on this industry. Consequently, when the Zoo’s unit was produced, circa 1925, it was one of about 100 units produced in the “half-and-half” style; that is, half of the horse (the body and head) was carved while the legs were cast aluminum, allowing economies of scale. Further, the carousel was designed as a “county fair” unit that could be disassembled and assembled by two men in just eight hours, allowing a single carousel to move frequently, reaching a wider audience. This became the dominant form of production for the next 40 years.
Although the Herschell Museum believes as many as a dozen of this style may exist, the National Carousel Association identifies only three remaining, the Zoo’s being one of these three. The Zoo’s unit is also unique in that the paint on the center panels of the rounding board is original factory paint, which is rare.
Now, restored to its original beauty, this antique carousel is a permanent attraction.
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