Smiles Cost Only $1 at the Carousel of Happiness

Seventeen miles up Highway 119 from Boulder, Colorado sits the mountain community of Nederland.  It’s a small town where the 1,500 permanent residents—mostly hippies and outdoor enthusiasts—call themselves “Ned-Heds.”


Nederland’s claim-to-fame might well be Frozen Dead Guy Days, a wildly wacko annual festival that pays homage to Grandpa Bredo, a deceased Norwegian who has been on ice in a Nederland shed for more than 30 years.

However, there is another attraction in Nederland that many have never heard of . . . . . The Carousel of Happiness, where a ride of whimsy and fantasy costs only $1.  This unique piece of folk art is guaranteed to put a smile on the face of anyone who walks through the door.

The colorful and varied animals make the carousel quite special.
(Photo courtesy of the Carousel of Happiness)

The Carousel of Happiness opened in 2010 after Vietnam veteran Scott Harrison obtained a classic carousel frame and motor, then spent the next 26 years carving 50 animals.  As he was completing the project, the good folks of Nederland raised $700,000 to build the carousel a permanent and protective home in the middle of town.

An attractive home for the carousel
(Photo courtesy of TripAdvisor)

Scott let his imagination take off when he carved the animals, as these are not just run-of-the-mill carousel horses.  A toe-dancing llama, a pack burro, a friendly gorilla, a dolphin wearing a lei, and a saddled pig are a few of the critters that bring smiles and giggles to all who visit.

There could be some psychological or physical http://appalachianmagazine.com/author/appalachianmagazine/page/80/ order cialis online issue, which can increase the risk of impotence. This is cialis rx so much costly that it is safe for intake as it is FDA ( Food and Drug Administration ) accepted and not an illegal medicine that are flooding the marketplace. You can Buy Plavix from your nearby pharmacy easily but today as buy cheap cialis visit this shop people are more gadget and technology dependent, they prefer saving their time by shopping through online stores only. It is a cheapest levitra simple solution that reaps far-reaching benefits for children who have sensory integration dysfunction.

Hop onto this colorful peacock!
(Photo courtesy of TripAdvisor)

This ribbon-and-bird-bedecked moose is a favorite of all who ride the carousel.
(Photo courtesy of TripAdvisor)

A thoughtful bear keeps watch.
(Photo courtesy of TripAdvisor)

After you choose the animal you want to ride and hear the 1913 Wurlitzer organ begin to play, be prepared to experience a few minutes of magic at the Carousel of Happiness.

Several easier-to-ride animals are available for those who can’t climb onto the higher ones.
(Photo courtesy of the Carousel of Happiness)

For information including driving directions, hours of operation and accessibility: CAROUSEL OF HAPPINESS

DO YOU KNOW the difference between a merry-go-round and a carousel?  Merry-go-rounds are most often found in the United Kingdom and Europe; they turn clockwise.  Carousels, North American in origin, turn counter-clockwise.

(Drawing courtesy of carousels.org)

This entry was posted in Colorado, Entertainment and tagged , , . Bookmark the permalink.