Back to Nederland and The Carousel of Happiness

I, Zeb the Duck, went with mom and a friend to The Carousel of Happiness.   I love this place.   The Carousel of Happiness is in Nederland, Colorado.

Carousel of Happiness in Nederland Colorado

Carousel of Happiness in Nederland Colorado

A couple years ago I told you about this and showed you photos, but it is so great, I want to do it again.   It was a snowy day and the roads had more ice under the snow than we expected, but everything was fine and we had fun.   Let’s go inside!   Tickets to ride are only $1.

Donations are gratefully accepted

Donations are gratefully accepted

But donations are gratefully accepted.   We love this carousel, so we donate.   Entering the carousel area, we are greeted with a guest book.

Sign in

Sign in

Have you ever seen a moose on a carousel?   Or a flying pink pig?

I am on the moose, near a pink flying pig.

I am on the moose, near a pink flying pig.

Here they are.   When Scott Harrison was a young US Marine in Viet Nam, he received a music box from a friend.   Listening to the music, he visualized a carousel in the mountains.   He moved to Nederland, Colorado, a small town in the Colorado Rocky Mountains.   He learned how to carve, and look what he carved.

My first dolphin ride

My first dolphin ride

I, Zeb the Duck, am riding a dolphin, next to a mermaid.   Scott carved all of these animals.   The main carousel animals, the small birds and other animals, the carvings decorating the carousel, and this room, all carved by Scott.   The carousel came from Utah.   Here I am on a lion.

Riding on a lion

Riding on a lion

Don’t you love the rooster with pearls?   That giraffe has a snake riding on him.   Puff the Magic Dragon is also here.   The rides cost only $1 so all can ride.   See this gorilla?

Gorilla, waiting for a friend

Gorilla, waiting for a friend

The chair next to him can be removed.   Under the chair a ramp can be pulled out to allow wheelchairs on the carousel.   Anyone in a wheelchair can sit and ride next to the gorilla.    This carousel is suspended from the ceiling, it is not sitting on the floor.   When the animals were placed on the carousel, weight and balance factors were important.   Scott is still carving.

Scott keeps carving and we are happy!

Scott keeps carving and we are happy!

These animals are just for fun.   And I, Zeb the Duck, think they are all fun.  While riding the carousel, we enjoy the music from a fully restored 1913 Wurlitzer Organ.   This is the first kangaroo I have ever seen on a carousel.

Kangaroo and joey

Kangaroo and joey

And she has a baby, a joey, in her pouch.  The kangaroo is holding the world in her front feet, and she is showing her home, Australia, to us.  Every animal is my favorite.

Frog playing with a ball

Frog playing with a ball

A frog with a ball, a zebra and a cow are all together here.   This Carousel of Happiness is fabulous, but there is more.   John has been telling us about this carousel, and now he says we can see more.  We go upstairs.   On the stairs we are reminder of normal carousel horses.

Traditional carousel horse

Traditional carousel horse

I like the horse, but the other animals have my ducky heart.   Wow!

Puppet stage

Puppet stage

A puppet theater.   And inside is a place for human kids to play.

Play area behind the puppet stage

Play area behind the puppet stage

Humans can reserve this area for kids parties.   For more information visit http://www.CarouselOfHappiness.org    And, visit Nederland and The Carousel of Happiness, take a ride and have a marvelous time.

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2 thoughts on “Back to Nederland and The Carousel of Happiness

    • This carousel is fantastic, and the story behind it is wonderful. There is a nearby ski resort, so many skiers and families come here. The only place I can ride a giraffe with a snake on it. A little more than an hour drive each way, so an easy day trip and feels like a vacation. Thanks for reading and commenting.

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