Spinning dreams await at Griffith Park Carousel. This isn’t just any carousel it’s a portal to a bygone era. Walt Disney himself found inspiration here. He envisioned a place where parents and children could have fun together. The Griffith Park Carousel is located at 4730 Crystal Springs Drive in Los Angeles.
Step closer and let the music wash over you. The Stinson 165 Military Band Organ fills the air with over 1500 tunes. It is said to be the largest carousel band organ on the West Coast. Can you hear the echoes of “Columbia the Gem of the Ocean?” Perhaps even the “Beer Barrel Polka” drifts through the air.
The Griffith Park Carousel was built in 1926 by the Spillman Engineering Company. It first operated in San Diego’s Mission Beach. In 1937, the Davis family brought it to Griffith Park. They built the beautiful building nestled into the hillside.
Look around you at the sixty-eight horses. Each one is a jumper finely carved and jewel-encrusted. Sunflowers and lion heads adorn them. Some horses date back to the 1880s. Others are survivors of the 1976 Lincoln Park fire.
Notice the carousel’s speed. The Griffith Park Merry-Go-Round is one of the world’s fastest. It whirls at an impressive fourteen miles per hour. The ride costs two dollars. It is a modest fee for a magical experience. The ride lasts longer than expected.
Walt Disney often brought his daughters to the Griffith Park Carousel. He sat on a bench watching them go round and round. That bench and one of the restored horses are now displayed at Disneyland. They commemorate the carousel’s role in inspiring the Happiest Place on Earth.
The Griffith Park Zoo was once nearby. It housed animals from Lincoln Park. The zoo aimed to give the animals a more natural setting. The zoo closed in 1966 and the animals moved to the new LA Zoo two miles away.
Imagine Julio Gosdinski, a dedicated employee. He began working at the carousel as a teenager. He eventually became co-owner. His passion kept the carousel turning for decades.
The Griffith Park Carousel continues to enchant visitors. It is open weekends throughout the year. It is also open weekdays during the summer and over Christmas and Easter vacations from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.. This historic merry-go-round stands as a testament to dreams family fun and the power of simple pleasures. Take a ride and create your own memories at this Los Angeles treasure.