I have SO missed this park. I grew up going to Pullen Park, and can remember my dad taking me there and riding in the little boats on the turnstile and ringing the bell. According to WRAL.com, even a now Raleigh City Councilman, Russ Stephens, remembers those:
"The boats would just go round and round and round," he said. "You got to steer, and there was a string to a big bell on the front of the boat, so you got to make a big racket."
And I remember riding the merry-go-round (one of the oldest in the US!). According to Raleigh's website:
"The circa 1900, intricately hand carved machine, was made by master carver Salvatore Cernigliaro and his apprentices in Germantown, Pennsylvania for the Dentzel Carousel Company. According to the National Carousel Association Census, this is one of 23 remaining historic Dentzel carousels and one of 14 Dentzel menageries still operating in Northern America."
But I remember especially riding the train around the entire park! Fun times! The train is a 1/3 size replica of an 1863 locomotive, and even adults can ride.
But the last two summers I haven't been able to go! It's been a bummer, but I think it will be worth it with all the improvements and repairs they did there.
We've taken our kids there each summer, so that I can relive my childhood. Oh, and so the kids can enjoy the place, too. We've been able to have everyone ride the merry-go-round and the train, and get the kids on the boats. Yes, I'm too big to get into them now. Sigh...
But the exciting news is that Pullen Park reopens in less than 2 months! The official re-grand opening is set for Nov. 19th. You can read more about it at this article by WRAL.
From what I understand, when they dug up the ground to work on the underground utilities, there were some, uh, surprises. I'd bet with over 100 years of stuff down there. Yipes!
Anyway, should be fun to get back there and ride the train again! I can't wait! Oh, and the kids are probably excited, too.
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