NYC’s Carousels

Jane's Carousel

NYC offers carousels in all five boroughs—each with a different spin on the ride. From the aquatic-themed SeaGlass Carousel at Battery Park, to the Bug Carousel at the Bronx Zoo, endless family fun awaits this fall in NYC. Below, a look at our eleven favourites around NYC. Please find an accompanying GIF here, and corresponding images can be downloadedhere.

There has never been a better time for your family to see a new side of the City! For more information on NYC’s carousels and other great family activities, visit NYC & Company online at nycgo.com/family and tag us on Instagram at @NYCGo.

BROOKYLN

- Jane’s Carousel; Brooklyn Bridge Park, DUMBO: No child's visit to DUMBO would be complete without a visit to Jane's Carousel, in Brooklyn Bridge Park. This 1922 merry-go-round was moved from Ohio, painstakingly restored and added to the neighborhood landscape in 2011. Its 48 horses prance near the East River year-round, protected from the elements by a jewel-box structure designed by architect Jean Nouvel. Rides are just US$2.

- Prospect Park Carousel; Prospect Park: This carousel has resided in Prospect Park since 1952, after being hand-carved in 1912, and first assembled in Coney Island. Riders can choose from 53 different horses, as well as a lion, a giraffe, a deer and a dragon-pulled chariot—each crafted with expressive faces and detailed bodies. One of the world’s only wheelchair-accessible carousels, it can also be rented out for birthday parties.

- B&B Carousell;

B&B Carousel

Luna Park; Coney Island: First built in 1906 and a fixture of Brooklyn amusement park culture dating to the 1930s, the B&B Carousell has the power to transport riders back to simpler times. Painstakingly restored to its original charm and beauty as the last of the great Coney Island carousels, this magical amusement is the centerpiece of the Steeplechase Plaza and a signature ride at Luna Park.

BRONX

- Bug Carousel; Bronx Zoo: Our favorite insects are all here — a long-legged praying mantis, a bright green grasshopper, even a dung beetle. A spin on the carousel is a great stop in the middle of the park. Open year-round.

MANHATTAN

- Friedsam Memorial Carousel; Central Park, Midtown: Located in the center of Central Park, near 64th Street, this famous, historic carousel is ridden by nearly 250,000 people each year. The current ride, which features more than 57 horses, is actually the fourth carousel to inhabit the space, since the first one (which was powered by a real horse!) was retired in 1924 and the next two were destroyed by fires. Created by Brooklyn's own firm Stein & Goldstein in 1908, the current carousel is a favorite for birthday parties and special children's events.

- Le Carrousel; Bryant Park, Midtown: Le Carrousel in Bryant Park, specially created to complement the park’s French classical style, is a homage to both European and American carousel traditions. Its 14 delightful animals, replicas of classical carousel creatures, revolve to the sounds of French cabaret music. The rounding boards, inspired by Bryant Park’s elegant barouque-stylet orchères along 40th Street, blend into the leafy canopy of the park’s London Plane trees.

- Pier 62 Carousel; Hudson River Park, Chelsea: Take a ride on Hudson River Park’s custom-designed Hudson River Animals carousel. This signature 36 ft carousel has been created using 33 hand-carved wood figures of Hudson River Valley animals and one chariot, allowing for up to 36 passengers, per ride. The carousel building has been designed with a green roof and opens out to a large sprawling lawn and tree-lined pathways.

- SeaGlass Carousel; Battery Park, The Battery: This new addition to The Battery Conservancy aims to entertain, inspire and educate adults and children alike. Built to recall 1896, when the Battery was home to the famous, since-closed New York Aquarium at the Castle, the carousel will showcase magical sea and fish creatures that are also available for sponsorship. Sixty SmartGlass panels will transform the carousel's walls from clear to blue, simulating a realistic trip to the ocean's floor.

QUEENS

- Forest Park Carousel; Forest Park: Nestled within the 544 acres of Forest Park is the crown jewel of Queens: The Forest Park Carousel. Carved in 1903 by Daniel Carl Muller, it is a rare work of art and has been an anchor of the park since 1973.

- Flushing Meadows Carousel; Flushing Meadows-Corona Park: Anchored by the historic Flushing Meadows Carousel, our park features an incredible mix of rides and attractions for kids of all ages.

STATEN ISLAND

- The Carousel for All Children; Willowbrook Park: The Carousel For All Children in Willowbrook Park is a turn-of-the-century Victorian style merry-go-round that opened in 1999. The carousel boasts 51 carved wooden figures of mythical beasts, endangered species and traditional carousel horses. It also showcases twenty hand-painted renderings of Staten Island landmarks, past and present. The Carousel For All Children is maintained by the Greenbelt Conservancy.