Gillians Wonderland Pier closing after 94 years

Always sad to see, curious if this is a by-product of all the investment that has gone into Playland's Castaway Cove just around the corner.

There’s the 1926 PTC #75 Carousel that I’m going to worry about now.

There is already a group within the National Carousel Association that is trying to find out exactly what is going on, and what the status of PTC #75 actually is.

I took a look at archive photos and it seemed to be in pretty good shape. Their concentration is on the figures, naturally, but to me they aren’t always the most interesting part of the machine. (I like the structure, rounding boards, etc.) The structure looks a little less elaborate than a lot of PTC’s from what I can see.
Our Ohio Expo Center is planning a permanent installation of some sort for around ‘26 and I’m on the lookout. This piece, if available, would be awesome but also ultra expensive. Plus a PTC from New Jersey says nothing about Ohio and I have a feeling their ride will be themed to Ohioana. Modern carousels are creative if not cartoonish and maybe Mansfield’s Carousel Works (are they All Around Carousels now?) would be a likely source for a small installation. They make a cardinal figure, so there’s a start.
And so I still worry about #75.

Waldameer? If I recall they have a modern carousel. This would be a much nicer fit.

Carousel Works went bankrupt. All Around Carousels is a group of former employees from what I have observed are doing mostly figure work, not building new rides. Waldameer has a fifty foot four abreast Chance ride.

Those Chance rides are beautiful… if you like plastic carousels…

Which apparently there a lot of people that don't know any better, judging by the posts on the FB National Carousel Association page.

Plastic carousels need love too.

Of the parks I regularly visit, Waldameer is the one I most wish had a proper wooden carousel. They famously sold their carousel (which had some very rare figures) in the 1980s in order to build the water park. This was obviously the sensible thing to do and probably saved the park, but it's still sad. Plus, given how well they're doing now, it seems like they could afford a better carousel.

Dutchman, you're not wrong, but I actually kind of appreciate that posts about fiberglass carousels are treated kindly in the NCA group. It avoids alienating people who like carousels but don't yet have the discriminating eye that a carousel enthusiast develops. Hopefully the people who excitedly post a picture of a Chance carousel with replica figures will eventually stick around in the group long enough to learn more about historic carousels.

Oh, absolutely. And in every hobby there are experts (we prefer the term “enthusiasts”) that can be found casting judgements down from their high horses. (Pun intended) A kinder approach encourages new members to participate, which in turn helps the hobby survive into the next generation.

Add to it the latest news for the family

Roy Gillian has passed away. Such a hard time for this family.

https://www.nbcphiladelphia...4/3947803/

Life can be awfully cruel at times.

I hope Knoebels buys the Dark Ride…

Or maybe Clementon.

I was thinking maybe the folks at Playland would be interested in buying the whole operation. But if I were the Gillians, that’s the first call I would have made, so maybe they tried and there was no interest.

It sounds like there’s pressure for a hotel. Seems nobody wants a little ole seasonal amusement park anymore…