Columbia Carousel
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Columbia Carousel | |
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![]() The Columbia Carousel at Six Flags Great America in 2005. | |
California's Great America | |
Area | Celebration Plaza |
Status | Operating |
Cost | $1,500,000 |
Opening date | 1976 |
Six Flags Great America | |
Area | Carousel Plaza |
Status | Operating |
Cost | $1,500,000 |
Opening date | 1976 |
General statistics | |
Attraction type | Carousel |
Manufacturer | Chance Rides |
Model | Double Deck Carousel |
Height | 100–100 ft (30–30 m) |
Vehicles | Over 100 |
Riders per vehicle | 1 per animal; 6 per bench |
Columbia Carousel (known as Carousel Columbia at California's Great America) is a pair of double-decked carousels at Six Flags Great America and California's Great America. Both parks were originally built by the Marriott hotel chain as sister properties but they were later sold off and are presently owned by Six Flags and Cedar Fair, respectively. To this date, Carousel Columbia (the California counterpart) is the world's tallest carousel.
History[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/00/Columbia_Carousel_flowers_6FGrAmIL_2006_Jr.jpg/150px-Columbia_Carousel_flowers_6FGrAmIL_2006_Jr.jpg)
The first Columbia opened in the Santa Clara park in 1976 and the Gurnee Columbia opened later that year. The carousel is known as Carousel Columbia at California's Great America[1] and Columbia Carousel at Six Flags Great America.[2] [1]
In 1994, Santa Clara's Columbia received some minor renovations for its appearance in the movie Beverly Hills Cop III, filmed at the theme park.[3]
In the early 2000s both carousels received touches of red and blue paint. The original paint scheme was white with gold trim, however, some of the gold trim still remains.
In the 2011/2012 off-season, Carousel Columbia at California's Great America was re-painted.
In the 2015 season for the "40 Seasons of Thrills" event at Six Flags Great America, Columbia Carousel was re-painted.
Background Music[]
While the Gurnee carousel now plays a collection of popular songs from recent artists, the following can still be heard playing from the Santa Clara carousel.
- Carousel Waltz
- Al Jolson Medley
- Bozo's Song
- Chinatown My Chinatown
- Danny Boy
- Entry of the Gladiators
- Florida Fight Song
- Give My Regards to Broadway
- His Honor
- Illinois Loyalty
- Jay Jay the Jet Plane
- King Kong March
- Liberty Bell March
- Mickey & Friends Medley
- Nellie the Elephant
- Onward and Upward
- Paddington Bear
- California, Here I Come
- The Carousel Song
Design[]
The original design of the carousel, then named "The Columbia", was carried out by Randall Duell Associates. Additional scrollwork and decorations were designed by Chris Mueller.[4]
Each of the 103 horses and animals on the carousels is a replica of one of the world's most famous carved carousel animals.[2] A large reflecting pond was installed in front of each carousel with historic replicas of American flags flying along the sides of the pond. Today, the flags still fly.
Sixteen original oil paintings by George Gibson are installed on each carousel, depicting scenes from American history.[2] Kris Rowberry publicized the fact, originally from the press release, that elements from Carousel Columbia were originally used on the sets of the films Marie Antoinette (1938) and The Swan (1956).[4][5]
At 101 ft (31 m) tall, the Carousel Columbia in Santa Clara is the tallest carousel in the world. The sister Columbia Carousel in Gurnee stands just one foot shorter at 100 ft (30 m).[5] The two sister carousels may be distinguished by the color of the roof – the Carousel Columbia in California is painted gold, while the Columbia Carousel in Illinois is green – and the flooring – Gurnee's carousel has carpet, while Santa Clara's has a wood floor.
The Columbia is often associated with the Carousel Song, written especially for the Marriott's Great America theme parks by Gene Patrick. The Carousel Song plays at the Santa Clara park periodically throughout the day and plays at the Gurnee park when the park closes.
Animals[]
Seating on the carousel consists of the following 106 fiberglass replicas:[4]
- 88 horses (82 jumping and 6 standing)
- 3 chariots
- 1 camel
- 1 giraffe
- 1 lion
- 1 tiger
- 1 dragon
- 1 deer
- 1 seahorse
- 2 jumping ostriches
- 2 jumping pigs
- 2 jumping cats
- 2 jumping rabbits
The horses include cavalry-style horses, Parker horses, Dentzel horses, and the 1928 "Silver Anniversary Horse" originally carved for the 25th anniversary of the Philadelphia Toboggan Company (found on the Gurnee carousel only). The original 1928 armored horse is displayed in the Circus Hall of Fame. The chariots are replicas of chariots originally carved in 1918 by Daniel Carl Muller.[4]
Gallery[]
Carousel Columbia at California's Great America
Columbia Carousel at Six Flags Great America
Carousel Columbia (2014)
Columbia Carousel (2011)
Carousel Columbia at night (2016)
Columbia Carousel at night (2014)
Jumping horses on Carousel Columbia
Columbia Carousel during Holiday in the Park (2020)
References[]
- ^ a b "Carousel Columbia". California's Great America. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
- ^ a b c "Columbia Carousel". Six Flags Great America. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
- ^ Rowberry, Kris (3 March 2014). "Beverly Hills Cop 3 Filmed at Great America 20 Years Ago". Great American Thrills. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
- ^ a b c d Pomiriroo, John (1976). "The World's Grandest Carousel" (Press release). Santa Clara, California: Marriott's Great America. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
- ^ a b Rowberry, Kris (6 August 2014). "Carousel Columbia at California's Great America is a part of Hollywood". Great American Thrills. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
External links[]
![]() |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Columbia Carousel. |
![]() |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Carousel Columbia. |
- Columbia page on GREAT AMERICA parks
- The Unofficial Columbia Carousel site
- 37°23′50″N 121°58′28″W / 37.39731°N 121.97445°W at California's Great America
- 42°22′10″N 87°56′07″W / 42.36942°N 87.93533°W at Six Flags Great America
Media[]
- Operating amusement attractions
- Amusement rides introduced in 1976
- Carousels in California
- California's Great America
- Six Flags Great America
- Six Flags attractions
- Cedar Fair attractions
- Amusement rides manufactured by Chance Rides