The Stewart Park Carousel is open Memorial Day to Labor Day,
11am-7pm Tuesday-Sunday, as well as on holidays that fall on Mondays.
Rides are $1.
About the Carousel
The historic Herschell Carousel is a unique park attraction. Opened in the park in 1952, the carousel ownership and management have changed over the years, but is now owned and operated by the City of Ithaca.
FSP has spearheaded efforts to restore the classic merry-go-round while providing enhancements to both preserve it and make it more accessible to visitors.
The Carousel in 1952
Volunteers building wheelchair-accessible ramp
Horses repainted in 2015
Carousel History
Friends of Stewart Park has been researching Carousel ownership through the years. The merry-go-round was installed under the ownership of Robert L. Cochran. Walter W. Willis bought the carousel from the Cochran estate in 1965. Ellie and Montgomery May owned and ran the ride from 1983-1998 During this time, he made many improvements, including having artist Annie Campbell repaint the horses in 1986. Thanks to an anonymous 1998 donation that allowed the City of Ithaca to buy the Carousel.
The whimsical horses were hand-painted by local artists Christi Sobel and Julia John in 2015, with a nicer fence added the following year. With the help of Play By Design and volunteers, FSP adapted the merry-go-round for users with mobility aids by adding a ramp and adaptive chariot where a wheelchair can be secured next to a seated caregiver. 2020 brought the installation of a permanent open pavilion style cover for the carousel, which allows the structure to remain in place year-round while protecting it from the elements.
See a video presentation of the history of the Stewart Park Carousel here.
