The Carousel building
have had a turbulent history. Paul Ruben toasts a
Carousel Gardens T
Just like the city itself, New Orleans' amusement parks
survivor, still going strong after 125 years
he Louisiana city has seen the closing of its popular Pontchartrain Beach Amusement Park in 1983. Its thirst for amusements was quenched in 2000 when Jazzland opened. That park morphed into Six Flags New Orleans in 2003, but was then washed away by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. One amusement park, however, has steadfastly served New Orleans since 1891: Carousel Gardens. Located within New Orleans City Park, it is the 13th oldest amusement park in America. New Orleans City Park is as unique as the city in which it
More than just
carousels Carousel Gardens is fun for all ages, with 17 rides including the park’s namesake antique wooden carousel. In addition to the carousel, rides include the Ladybug Roller Coaster from Zierer, a Chance miniature train, Sellner Tilt- a-Whirl, Bertazzon Musik Express, a Majestic bumper car pavilion, Frederiksens slide, Umbrella Cars from Hampton, Construction Zone, Scrambler and Ferris Wheel by Eli Bridge, Wacky Shack (fun house) from Owen Trailers and Rockin’ Tug, Red Baron, Slime Buckets, Coney Tower,and Monkey Jump, all courtesy of Zamperla.
resides. Operated by a Louisiana State agency, the 1,300 acre (526 hectare) outdoor oasis has enchanted New Orleanians since 1854. Each year, millions of visitors stroll under the same historic oaks and picturesque moss canopies that served as the backdrop for dances, concerts and even gentlemanly duels or “affaires d’honneur” for generations. The story of City Park was shaped by two catastrophic
events: the Great Depression and Hurricane Katrina. During the Depression of the 1930s, the Roosevelt Administration invested $12 million in developing the park as part of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), which employed 20,000 men and women to build roadways, fountains and the Tad Gormley Stadium. Much of the art found throughout the park originated in the WPA era. The failure of the federal levee system following Hurricane
Katrina in 2005 left 95% of City Park sitting in floodwaters for weeks, inflicting $43 million in damages. The public responded with an overwhelming outpouring of support that funded significant progress in not only repairing, but also improving City Park. Within City Park today is the Botanical Garden, Besthoff Sculpture Garden, green space, biking, jogging and
78
New Orleans' sole survivor
walking trails, together with 26 tennis courts and an 18-hole golf course. The crown jewel of City Park may be the world’s largest stand of mature live oaks. But for those seeking some family-friendly activities, City
Park is also the site of the oak-shaded Carousel Gardens Amusement Park. Here they will find a one-of-a-kind antique wooden carousel, a hand-carved marvel of flying horses that has been a family favourite since 1906. Some of the animal figures actually date back to 1885. The carousel was originally located on a tract of land along City Park Avenue, and was moved to its current location in 1928. It has had a few owners in its history, including Harry Batt Snr, founder of long-gone Pontchartrain Beach. William B Hines loaned Friends of City Park $300,000 in the late 1980s to purchase the ride from Harry Batt and an additional $50,000 to renovate it. He eventually forgave all loans. The Carousel animals were by famed carvers Charles
Looff and Charles Carmel. The older Looff animal figures even contain faux gem stones! The animals are loved so much by visitors they need repainting by hand every one to two years. The Carousel contains 56 animals including 53 horses plus a lion, giraffe and camel. There are also two chariots. Nearby Carousel Gardens is Storyland, featuring larger-
than-life storybook sculptures, including Captain Hook’s pirate ship, Pinocchio and Jack & Jill’s Hill. This themed playground is a child’s dream filled with 20 larger-than-life storybook sculptures featuring classic fairytale characters. But if it's rides families in New Orleans are after, they could do worse than head to Carousel Gardens – still turning after all these years.
NOVEMBER 2016
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118
