My favorite carousels as a child lived at Euclid Beach Park about eight miles West of Cleveland, Ohio.
Euclid Beach Park was built in 1895, and even in the 1950’s it had the feel of amusement parks from old movies. Cedar Point, which opened in 1870 in Sandusky, Ohio, still had some remnants of the original, and is the second-oldest amusement park in the country. After Disneyland opened in 1955, Cedar Point started to become a ‘modern’ park, with all the latest bells and whistles. Always fun, but not the same as Euclid Beach. A visit to Euclid Beach was like stepping into another time, with the best wooden roller coaster ever, a real ‘penny arcade’ (think Zoltar from the movie “Big,” ) and the most wonderful carousels. It was magical.
The traditional carousel, Philadelphia Toboggan Company Number 19, officially; has through the years, resided in Orchard Beach, Maine, then returned to Cleveland for restoration. Hopefully, it will be up and running again by 2013.
A beautiful carousel it was, but the ride of my dreams was The Great American Racing Derby.
A huge (90 ft. In diameter) carousel with racing horses that looked like horses. As much as I love the beauty and artistry of the fantasy carousel horses, it was the realism of the Derby that had me dreaming. The four-abreast horses, with no poles, moved back and forth along a short track as the carousel rotated. The ‘winner’ received a prize, I believe it was a free ride. This was not a ride for the smallest of children who waited every year to be tall enough, it was fast. The outside horses were said to reach 25 mph.
Euclid Beach was closed in 1969. The arched entrance to the park still remains and is a Cleveland landmark. The Derby? It was moved to Cedar Point in 1967 and is known as Cedar Downs. The Cedar Point news releases say that the carousel is in it’s original housing and travels 15 mph. The photos of the carousel today are pretty, and so are the horses with brightly colored saddles. My memories will always be of the browns and blacks on the horses of my childhood that led me to believe I was ‘National Velvet.’
Penelope Noll writes for the blog: Another Blogging Artist Journal
Article Source: http://www.cedarpoint.com
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Wonderful memories of Euclid Beach.
One small detail tho? Euclid Beach is EAST of Cleveland . . .
And PTC 19 is hardly a “fantasy” carrousel. While the outside row has some elaborate decorations, there’s nary a dragon or fairy anywhere on it! All the horses wear realistic saddles etc.
Far as the Derby goes, no that’s not the original building, but an exact replica. Or not — the story changes, but have talked with the people that say they replicated it. You’re right on the speed tho – this thing is fast, if it’s operated properly.
You are correct EB. I grew up WEST of Cleveland, and even though my head was seeing EAST, my digits typed West.
The word fantasy is in the mind of the individual, and doesn’t necessarily have to include fairies and dragons. As a child, it was pretty and fantastical to me, compared to the Derby.
According to the current owners of the Derby (Cedar Point,) “It is still housed in its original structure.” They do not specify in detail how much of the original structure is original.
Rider wellbeing data:
A high-velocity roundabout ride to some degree looks like a merry-go-round. It creates an elevated degree of diffusive power because of the speed and size of the side table.
Visitors should ride the ride unit, clutch the pony, and grasp the pony with the two legs.
Visitors should have at least three working limits; one working arm and two working legs.
Visitors with a cervical collar, neck support, broken collar bone, propped arm cast, or any Leg Cast (foot, lower, full, and so on) are not allowed to ride.
Substitute access is accessible at the ride exit. Riders should make a few strides, all alone or with the help of a friend, and be fit for raising themselves up onto a pony.