Dentzel Carousel

A couple of weeks ago the kids and I were driving to MS with mom for a few days. When we stopped at the Mississippi Welcome center there was this amazing carousel horse in the lobby that Clara had a fit over (the child is quite obsessed with carousels these days) and we started talking to the lady at the desk. She told us about the Dentzel Carousel there in Meridian.

It was manufactured around 1895 and has been in operation since 1909. It is the world's only two row stationary Dentzel Menagerie Carousel and the building that houses is remains the only carousel house built by a Dentzel blueprint!! It was fully restored in the 80s and 90s and while the city of Meridian bought it for only a few thousand dollars it is now valued at over 1 million. WOW!

The really cool thing about it (from a Mom's perspective at least)-- it costs what a carousel should cost-- Just 50 cents to ride instead of $2 a person... at that price you could stay on this thing all day!

I should probably also mention the speed of this thing-- it's FAST! You can't look out at the surrounding area when you are on it or you will get super dizzy...

And the best photos you will take are when it's stopped...

Because even in sport mode-- it just moves way too fast...
It's hard to get a good picture of it without window glare.

Check out the great old music box... that still works! This is where all your sound comes from-- beautiful!

I feel like I should hum a little tune here-- but I don't know how to record sound on the blog...

WEEEEEEEEE.... Here we go....

Just check out those levers and the big belt that powers this thing-- so cool!

And then-- as if this excursion could get any better-- they have a little snack bar where you can get all your favorite carnival treats... Like made to order cotton candy-- for a buck! I'm in LOVE.

So Nana got each of the kids their own bag-- which mommy proceeded to "share" with them at regular intervals. It was still warm! And seriously-- they had these huge bags--- surely they didn't miss any of it?

If you are near the Meridian, MS area-- or if you are passing thru-- I highly recommend this as a pit stop. A little off the beaten path-- but so worth it to see the expressions of joy on your kids face. And a nice little stretch of the legs when you've been in the car a while.

Oh-- and they do private birthday parties too... which makes me jealous that we don't live there.