Santa Cruz carousel turns 100

Posted | Contributed by cpubradley

Click, thump, riiiiing! That's the sound of something you often hear about but rarely see: A carousel rider going for the brass ring. It happens on a daily basis on the Looff Carousel at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, where painted ponies have been spinning for a century, a triumph of tradition in a field dominated by the pursuit of new thrills.

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Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

Couldn't happen at a nicer park...that being said, I've still yet to find the ring machine operating on that carousel (and, I can't wait to try again). SCBB = <3

I was just there on Tuesday with a couple of friends and not only does the park provide an overdose of charm, but the Giant Dipper has to be one of the most fun roller coasters anywhere.

Bolliger/Mabillard for President in '08 NOT Dinn/Summers

How many parks still have carousels that dispense rings? Other than Knoebels and Santa Cruz, are there any?

My author website: mgrantroberts.com

The Balboa Park Herschell Spillman still has the ring game. Also, that information can be found here:

http://nationalcarousel.org/NCAcensus.html

Last edited by Dutchman,

rollergator said:
Couldn't happen at a nicer park...that being said, I've still yet to find the ring machine operating on that carousel (and, I can't wait to try again). SCBB = <3

Interesting that you found the ring machine not working. It does occasionally get jammed, but hang around the area - maintenance will generally come fix it within 10 minutes.

I find the Boardwalk's carousel far superior to any other ring carousel due to it having a ring machine as opposed to an employee manually filling the chute. Also, the lights and sounds on SCBB's really make the ride a better experience than Knoebel's carousel where you are basically throwing your rings into a sheet with a hole in it.

I wonder why Knoebel's carousel gets the golden ticket every year...

Also, I don't think they offer brass rings on the Santa Cruz model. However, my son has grabbed the brass ring in Balboa Park. :)

"I go out at 3 o' clock for a quart of milk and come home to my son treating his body like an amusement park!" - Estelle Costanza

Santa Cruz only brings out the brass rings on special occasions. The rest of the time it's an endless loop of steel rings. An interesting side note, not long ago when I was talking shop to the guys at Balboa Park I saw that the box that held their steel rings had come in had a label that said "Looff Amusements, Long Beach, California".

Scottt said:
Interesting that you found the ring machine not working. It does occasionally get jammed, but hang around the area - maintenance will generally come fix it within 10 minutes.
(snip)

I wonder why Knoebel's carousel gets the golden ticket every year...

I was there for SpringCon a couple years back. As I recall, there was a part or something they didn't have on hand, and the ring machine didn't operate that day. Absolutely beuatiful carousel, though. The only other trip I made there, the place had JUST closed for the season and nothing was running (they were kind enough to let us walk around and take pics, though).

As for why KG always wins the GT for carousel, remember that GTs are based on "counts", not percentages...more people who vote visit KG than do SCBB...

bill, mailed out his GT ballot for the first time in a few years earlier today...and as a side note, both KG and SCBB made my ballot (Phoenix and beachside park, respectively).... :)

edited for clarity... still new to the language... ;)

Last edited by rollergator,

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