Cedar Downs

Cedar Downs made Travel+Leisures list of America's Best Carousels. Its nice to see Cedar Point represented.

http://travel.yahoo.com/ideas/america-s-best-carousels-20120511.html

Especially since it is not actually a carousel. :)

Correctamundo, it's a Prior and Church Racing Derby, one of only two surviving examples of what was once a fairly common ride.

What happened to the 3rd?

There is actually 2 ohio carousels on the list. Jane's carousel is the ride that was at Idora park in Youngstown.

I'm fairly positive that there are still 3 Prior and Church Racing Derby rides left. Cedar Point (run considerably slower than it's capable speed), Playland in Rye NY (25mph fast, but missing the forward and back motion of the horses), and Blackpool Pleasure Beach all have functioning Derby rides.

Yes there is one at Blackpool, installed in 1959. It was built in house from P&C plans. The CP and Playland rides were built by Prior & Church, the latter is original to Playland, built for the park in 1927. Cedar Point's came from Cleveland's Euclid Beach Park.

I didn't know that Blackpool made their ride in house. That's awesome! Thanks for sharing.