Kings Island's magnificent Grand Carousel turns 95

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Features

Kings Island's magnificent Grand Carousel turns 95

May 5, 2021

The oldest ride at Kings Island has been traveling in circles for 95 years.

The Grand Carousel was originally purchased by Cincinnati’s Coney Island in 1926 for $201,000 from the Philadelphia Toboggan Company in Philadelphia. It is one of 89 carousels built by the company from 1904 to 1934, and one of the last.

During the 1937 flood of the Ohio River, some of the horses were swept down the river from Coney Island. A reward was offered for them, or pieces of them, and parts were returned from as far away as Memphis. In 1968, the carousel was completely restored. It took one man seven months to hand paint the horses. The horses have been restored several times since then.

Originally labelled No. 79, the Grand Carousel was one of the first rides brought to Kings Island for its opening in 1972.

The ride is a three-abreast carousel, with 48 hand-carved horses and two chariots. The horses and chariots are made of wood. The outside row of horses is stationary, and there are two rows of jumpers that move up and down.

Entering its 95th anniversary season this spring, the Grand Carousel has given more than 42 million rides, including 24 million in 49 seasons at Kings Island.