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.
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.
But donations are gratefully accepted. We love this carousel, so we donate. Entering the carousel area, we are greeted with a guest book.
Have you ever seen a moose on a carousel? Or a flying pink 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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
I like the horse, but the other animals have my ducky heart. Wow!
A puppet theater. And inside is a place for human kids to play.
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.
What fantastic work and all in the cause of fun and happiness. Much needed these days!
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.