Do carousels just feel like the holidays to anyone else? I know there’s nothing specifically holiday-ie about them, but whatever it is - the lights, the music, the magic - it always feels holiday-esque to me.
I think most people know about Pullen Park’s carousel, but did you know that there’s another historic carousel in Raleigh? You can also catch a ride on the historic Allan Herschell carousel located at John Chavis Memorial Park.
The carousel currently has limited hours: Tuesdays and Wednesdays 11:00am-6:00pm, and Sundays 1:00pm-5:00pm. I took Ruth recently on a weekday and we were the only ones there.
I very much appreciated that besides for the typical horses that go up and down, there was a row of little horses that stay in place, perfect for tiny tykes like Ruth (you can see this in photo 2).
While I normally share only free things on our page, the cost for a ride on the carousel is minimal - $2 per ride. (Adults accompanying kids also need to pay for a ride.) You can purchase these ride tickets online from Raleigh Parks.
And if you thought there was only a carousel on this post, I’ve got a Billy Mays voice here to tell you, “BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE!” Chavis recently got a completely new playground area on the same property. These playground structures are so unique and awesome, I can’t wait to come back with Peter, too.
A few logistics:
• Stroller friendly.
• The playground ground is a combo of squishy, mulch, and concrete.
• Bathrooms are available in the community center and in a separate building right next to the playground.
• There are 2 parking lots, one a bit closer to the carousel and one by the playground. The one closer to the carousel has rental bicycles that you can see in the last photo here.
Have you gotten the chance to ride this carousel? Which one is your favorite - this carousel or Pullen Park’s? Let us know in the comments!
(Note: We're currently working on updating our website with our reviews. This review was originally posted on Instagram and Facebook on December 16, 2022.)
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