On Sunday, I took my last ride of the season (most likely) on my favorite carousel in both the park and the world (and I've been on many), the Kiddy Kingdom carousel. It is around 100 years old and features an unusually large variety of animals, which is why it has been my favorite since childhood. In fact, I would consider it one of the machines that originally sparked my love of carousels. A specific rabbit on that carousel, the one painted black and white, is my favorite figure of all time and the namesake of my frequent Internet handle.
Anyway, my backstory aside, I was getting off the carousel and my SO and I were the only riders for what was probably the last ride of the night. The ride op, an older guy, chatted us up about the carousel and hit us with this stunning bombshell: "You know, Cedar Point is considering selling this carousel." He then went on to say they were hoping to sell it to the state fairgrounds (!?).
The idea that my most beloved carousel might leave Cedar Point (or worse, get broken up) had never even occurred to me as a possibility. My immediate reaction was to say to my partner as soon as we were out of earshot... "So that's just some Lemon Chill Guy bull****, right?" I mean, remove it for what, to put in another ride the same size? It's not like it's taking up some huge piece of real estate. So my first reaction was that this was some laughable rumor. But then I started to worry, because I remembered how every time we're there I comment on how long it's been since Kiddy Kingdom/Kiddieland had a refresh. The current "kingdom" theming is from the 1980s and is now dated and scattershot, though nostalgic for me due to my age. So if they were planning to completely overhaul the area... maybe?
Anyway, I just wondered if anyone else had heard this rumor or had any thoughts about it. I would be absolutely gutted by its loss.
I have not heard anything about it but always take a ride or two on it a year. I actually enjoy it more than the Midway Carousel because of the different animal figures.
That said - it always makes me sad to see the abandoned and decaying band organ still visible on the ride. I always hoped they would eventually restore this one like they did on Midway Carousel.
I also prefer it to the Midway Carousel. For one thing, it is more or less complete, minus the famous armored horse, which was removed from the carousel and replaced with fiberglass. The Midway Carousel was probably a breathtaking carousel at one point when it had five abreast, but it lost the outermost row of standers it had prior to its installation at Cedar Point (I've never found much information about how and why that happened) and it just looks incomplete to me without that outer row.
To be honest, although I recognize that Muller was a great carver and the horses are very expressive with their wild eyes and "listening" ears, the carousel just feels a bit plain to me in its current state. I am very pleased they restored the band organ to service as that adds considerably to the interest and excitement of the carousel.
I would hate to see this leave. It's been there since 1968 I believe. BTW, you should really check out the Cleveland Zoo's carousel. It literally has a different animal for every seat and probably one of the most unique I've been on. There are koalas, ostriches, bumblebees, peacocks, hippos, and more. Tried posting the link from youtube but it's being blocked on my end. Hopefully this is just a rumor. If they WERE to replace this.... get a double decker carousel , haven't ever had one at CP in the past.
It’s true that the Ohio Expo Center has plans to add a permanent carousel to the grounds, and I believe that they are currently in the midst of a search. This machine would be a good choice, but I have concerns.
Cedar Point is known for their roller coasters, but should also be considered the Carousel Capital as well. I can’t think of another park that has the variety of rides or the sheer number that CP has. But why would they be eager to sell one of their famous antiques? We all know what happened to the Frontiertown Carousel but that seemed like a charity donation- at least it stayed in the family. In the meantime, have they grown weary of the maintenance and upkeep involved with these old relics? That would be a shame. Can it be they could use the money? That seems weird. Are there plans for that area that don’t include a carousel? That area of the park is in need of a refresh but I can’t believe a reimagining of Kiddie Kingdom, if that’s what’s to happen, wouldn’t include one of the star attractions.
Also, the Ohio Expo Center has a ride with an agriculture theme on their wish list, and they’d have it operate at many of their events throughout the year. The thought that they might acquire Kiddieland Carousel then plan to strip and re-theme it is frightening. I was led to the assumption that they’d go with a new, smaller ride rather than try to re-invent a costly, valuable antique, but in my life I have learned to never second guess the State of Ohio and some of their choices.
I’m glad Carousel Rabbit got to ride their favorite jumper again, and hopefully it’s not the last. Let’s hold on the thought that this is just a rumor and not something that would turn out to be a huge mistake.
There is no organ on the Kiddie Kingdom carousel, hasn't been one for a number of years. When Cedar Point had the auction where they sold most of what was in the Town Hall museum, they auctioned off the chassis of that organ. All that is left is the facade. This was the second chassis, came out of the Stinson Organ Co. The original organ was a Wurlitzer Style 105 that supposedly when it was in need of a complete restoration, someone convinced management that they could get a new chassis for less than the cost of rebuilding the Wurltizer.
CPfan1976, I haven't ridden the Cleveland Zoo carousel but I have been on quite a few similar Carousel Works machines. They are very nice work and the second best thing to an actual antique. Plus, now that Carousel Works has unfortunately gone out of business, they're eventually going to have some historical value in their own right.
Dutchman, out of curiosity, do you know when that band organ last functioned (with the 2nd chassis)? I have no clear memory of when it last had one, except that I know it did when I was a kid in the 80s. At this point I am extremely tired of hearing the 10 songs it ever plays – the same band organ recording they've used for probably 20 years. If I never hear a muddy speaker playing "How Ya Gonna Keep 'Em Down on the Farm" again it'll be too soon.
Probably at least fifteen years or so, maybe longer. The Stinson assembled chassis was installed in the early 1980's. I know that they kind of went lax on the maintenance on it by the mid 1980's. I was there for a National Carousel Association convention in the mid 1980's. It was playing then mainly because the brought Don Stinson in to make it play again for the convention (I actually found Don inside the motor room making adjustments on it while the ride was operating.)So knowing how long a Stinson will go before requiring a complete rebuild it probably gave up the ghost between 2000-2005. As far as the rumors concerning this machine, bear in mind that Cedar Point has always been the height of rumor generation. Never, ever believe anything coming from a front line employee. Nor should you believe someone who says that they know someone that is supposed to be the one interested. in buying it.
Thanks. I returned to regularly visiting the Point in 2000 after not having been in several years, and I don't think I remember the organ operating anytime since then. However, my memories of those early 2000s visits are a little fuzzy now, so I might be forgetting it. Certainly, I am confident I have not seen it operate in about 20 years.
Edited to add: it's definitely true that a lot of rumors happen surrounding CP, and I know better to take any of them at face value. What concerns me is that the rumors are usually about roller coasters. It seems unusual to see a rumor emerging about something that most people unfortunately dismiss as a "kiddie ride."
I ended up making an unplanned trip back to the park yesterday in order to get a bunch of rides in on the carousel, particularly on my favorite rabbit. The same ride op from last was there when I first showed up and he came up to us and commented what a nice carousel it is and "You know, it's my understanding it's already been sold."
I don't know what to think, but I did ride it 6 times yesterday: once each on the four rabbits, then again at the end of the night when I rode on its last two cycles, both times on my favorite rabbit.
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