North Carolina Zoo's Endangered Species Carousel

Endangered Species Carousel Ride at the North Carolina Zoo

The zoo's 36 foot Endangered Species Carousel is open to the public Saturday, April 1, 2006. It has operational lights and sound that will play the traditional old-time organ music. Our unique ride figure is the polar bear which was fabricated specifically for the NC Zoo. The carousel figures are fiberglass and each animal is hand painted and hand laminated with glass eyes. Our carousel was manufactured by The Chance Morgan Ride Company in Wichita, Kansas. This is the same company that developed all of Walt Disney's original rides. The carousel is located at the Junction Plaza and rides are $2 per person. Parents can stand and hold a small child at no cost. Ride figures include zebras, bears, sea lions, elephants, gorillas and other animals. It also includes a spinning tub for small children that looks like a bird's nest. The ride is ADA compliant and includes a swan bench seat that accommodates wheelchairs. The weight limit per animal is 170 lbs.

Trivia: Do you know the difference between a merry-go-round and a carousel?

Answer: Merry-go-rounds only have horses, carousels have a mixture of animals.

Brief history of carousels