In 2023, Carowinds is celebrating ‘50 years of Carolina fun’ with a limited-time special event that will bring exciting entertainment, enhanced food and beverage offerings, nighttime spectaculars, and other immersive experiences to the park. In addition to the 50th anniversary celebration, there is another milestone for the park this year, as The Grand Carousel celebrates 100 years.

Though The Grand Carousel has been a guest-favorite at the park for forty-four years, there is a rich history of the ride that exists prior to its arrival to Carowinds.

From Conception to Production

The Carowinds Grand Carousel (P.T.C. #67) was produced by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company (P.T.C.) in 1923 in Germantown, Pennsylvania, during the “golden age of carousels.” At this time, about four thousand carousels were hand-produced, and in that time a prominent manufacturer arose, the Philadelphia Toboggan Company.

Known for their solid-wood horses and chariots, ornate designs, and impressive craftsmanship, the Philadelphia Toboggan Company employed many renowned craftsmen and carvers, including master carver John Zalar, who was said to have worked on the P.T.C. #67. Each carousel was made unique by their individual intricate designs. The horses were hand-carved from solid wood, hand-painted, and finished with glass eyes. Also made of solid wood, the chariots were exceptionally unique – no two chariots made for the Philadelphia Toboggan Company carousels were alike.

Due to their dedication to producing quality pieces, the Philadelphia Toboggan Company only made 87 carousels. The carousels were numbered according to their order of production. The #67 carousel featured a unique design, consisting of four rows of horses and chariots across a diameter of 68 feet, which is large compared to other designs. The outside three rows include 48 jumping horses and two sedentary chariots, while the inside row has 20 small standing horses. Only five carousels made by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company followed this design, which makes the #67 incredibly rare. Of the five produced, three were destroyed in fires and one is dismantled and in storage, making the #67 carousel the only one of its kind in operation.

The Early Years

The #67 carousel first operated at Pleasure Park from 1923 to 1936 in Evansville, Indiana. The same year, Pleasure Park closed due to the Great Depression, and the #67 moved to Mesker Park. From 1936 to 1973, the carousel remained in Mesker Park, but changed ownership through the property’s various owners, all belonging to the same extended family.

In 1973, the #67 carousel was sold to Family Leisure Centers, a joint venture of Taft Broadcasting, who later became the parent company of Carowinds in 1975. After being in storage for a few years, The Grand Carousel received a gentle facelift, and made its’ way to Carowinds.

The Grand Carousel Finds a New Home

In 1979, Carowinds welcomed the #67 carousel to replace a previous double-decker carousel produced by a German company. The #67 was placed in the Happy Land of Hanna Barbera, now Camp Snoopy, named the “Carrousel,” and welcomed guests of all ages through several rethemings. 1995 brought the introduction of Animation Station and the “Antique Carousel”, and in 2003 Nickelodeon Central and the “Nick-O-Round.” Then opened in 2010 with the name “Character Carousel” in Planet Snoopy. The carousel resided in the same location at Carowinds for 39 years until it was moved to the current home in Carousel Park in 2018 and was renamed “The Grand Carousel.”

The Grand Carousel is the oldest ride at Carowinds. This year, multiple horses are being rethemed to commemorate Carowinds' 50th anniversary and 100 years of The Grand Carousel. Stay tuned for more updates throughout the season.

Of the 87 carousels produced by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company, only 29 of them are still in operation. This includes the #44 at Kings Dominion, the #76 at Valleyfair, the #79 at Kings Island, and the #87 at Canada’s Wonderland.

Celebrate ‘50 years of Carolina fun’ at Carowinds with a 2023 Silver Season Pass, which includes unlimited visits to Carowinds and the Carolina Harbor Waterpark through this summer, fall daytime visits, and free parking.