A close-up view of a colorful carousel with intricately painted horses and decorative details, set outdoors with trees visible in the background.

HISTORIC CAROUSEL

Enjoy rides on the Historic Carousel with classic, hand-carved wooden carousel horses

Ride the Historic Carousel

Carousel Closure

Closed January 20 through March 20, 2026

All our creatures need care, and our carousel horses are no different. From January 20 through March 20, 2026 the carousel will undergo some major maintenance to make sure everything is running smoothly for your visit when it reopens in the Spring! 

Woodland Park Zoo’s Historic Carousel has been at the zoo for nearly 20 years! It contains 48 hand-carved wooden carousel horses and 2 chariots for riders to enjoy. We love that this grand piece of cultural history has been part of so many special moments for our guests, and we hope it will be part of many more to come. 

Fun Fact!

Carousels in the USA move in a counter-clockwise direction and carousels in the United Kingdom move in a clockwise direction! 

Hours and Operations  

9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Daily
Cost: $3 (+ tax) a ride (cash or card) in addition to zoo admission 

Riders that are not 42 inches or taller need an adult to hold them for safety. Adults can only hold one rider at a time. Adults can ride with two children under 42 inches if one of the children is carried in a child carrier that allows both the adult’s hands to be free, or they can all sit together in one of the chariots. Either way the adult holder rides for free.

A Carousel For All

One of the carousel’s chariot benches has been retrofitted to accommodate riders in wheelchairs. The front bench seat lifts up so wheelchairs can be backed into the chariot and a seatbelt is available to strap riders in for added safety. 

A Colorful History

Over 100 Years Old

The Historic Carousel at Woodland Park Zoo opened to the public in 2006—but its history dates to more than a century ago!

It was originally built in 1918 by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company and was only the 45th of its kind to be made. It moved around the country a few times, operating for years at the Cincinnati Zoo and the Great America Theme Park in Santa Clara, California. In the year 2000 Linda and Tom Allen, Candy Allen-Whitney and Thomas Allen and the Alleniana Foundation purchased the carousel and generously donated it to the zoo in the hope that generations of families would have the opportunity to experience a celebrated piece of American history.  

That dream finally came to fruition with a grand opening celebration in 2006 after a pavilion was built adjacent to the zoo’s North Meadow to house and protect the Historic Carousel. 

We are so grateful for this wonderful gift that keeps on giving from the Allen family and the Alleniana Foundation! Thanks to them, this grand piece of cultural history has been part of so many special moments for our guests over the last 20 years, and we hope it will be part of many more to come. 

People walk across a grassy field toward a pavilion with solar panels on its roof, surrounded by trees on a sunny day. Some push strollers, and the area appears peaceful and green.

Powered by the Sun

The Historic Carousel may be more than a century old, but it has some very modern features too. In 2011, Seattle City Light helped us to install solar panels on the pavilion roof. The panels produce the 9,000 annual kilowatt-hours required to power the carousel, making it an important part of Woodland Park Zoo’s commitment to sustainability! 

Ride On!

Each of the carousel horses has its own name and combination of colors and decorations! Some of the horses are stationary and stand still as the carousel goes around while others are attached to bars that move up and down as the carousel turns. 

A brightly painted carousel horse with a blue saddle, decorative ornaments, and flowing blonde mane stands on a wooden floor among other carousel horses.

Sleipner

Sleipner is a fiery colored horse standing in the outer row. Sleipner has jewels on their shoulder and in the strap on their hind- quarters.

A brightly painted carousel horse with blue and gold saddle, pink flowers, and a golden mane stands indoors among other decorated carousel horses.

Princess Sophia

Princess Sophia stands proudly in the outer row of the carousel. This royal horse is white with a golden mane and tail. Princess Sophia has elaborate ribbons and flowers on their riding gear and a fierce lion holding a chain strap in its mouth.

A brightly painted black carousel horse with a colorful saddle, harness, and shield stands on a wooden platform, surrounded by other carousel horses and mirrors in the background.

Gidakgal

Gidakgal is a dark colored horse with a dark mane and tail. They have animal prints decorating their cantle and fun flower designs on their riding gear. Gidakgal jumps around in the middle row.

A close-up of a colorful carousel horse, decorated with flowers and a bright blue, red, and gold saddle. The horse is white with a golden mane and tail, set on a shiny wooden platform.

Miss McGillicutty

Miss McGillicutty is a white horse with a golden mane and tail. Wearing colorful flowers in front of and behind their saddle. The colors on the riding gear are bright and vibrant.

A brightly painted carousel horse with a blue, red, and orange saddle and bridle, mounted on a classic indoor carousel surrounded by other colorful horses and lights.

Rain

Rain is a brown horse with yellow mane and tail. Rain has vibrant blue and red riding gear. Rain jumps up and down in the middle row.

A colorful carousel horse with a painted blue, gold, and red saddle and a lion’s head detail stands on a wooden platform among other carousel animals.

Griffin

Griffin is a dark brown horse jumping in the middle row. Griffin has many details, including two sphinxes, a dog, and a scabbard tucked in their riding gear.