This is my absolute FAVORITE carousel. I love it and all the menagerie animals on it. This is the home of Hazel, a carousel rabbit who has become very special to me. I first visited him in 2003, then went back in 2004, then 2007, then 2010....
The Bear Mountain Inn's carousel (it does have a real name for the people who contributed to its construction but I don't remember it), located in Bear Mountain State Park, New York, was the unexpected highlight of my Anthrocon / NYC trip in July of 2003. The carousel was made by Carousel Works and opened in 2000. It sports some of the most enchanting menagerie animals I have ever had the pleasure to ride and photograph: several different types of felines, raccoons, otters, a fox, a skunk, and others I never noticed until I looked at the pictures I took! This was my re-introduction to the world of carousels since I was a very young kid and had no idea what a carousel was.
The Bear Mountain carousel is truly a wonderful work of art! Otters! Weeeee!
 Bobcat |
 The biggest cat on the carousel: The Cougar |
 A Fox! Wooo! Check out this plump little guy! |
 Close-up of the fox's head. I love this guy! |
 Deer |
 Is goose! |
 Raccoon |
 Close-up of the raccoon |
 The other raccoon on the carousel. Identical except for having a RED saddle. |
 One of the two otters |
 This... is Hazel. He my rabbit. MINE! |
 Back of Hazel |
 Non-show side of Hazel |
 The other otter. If you look close you can see otter paw prints on the saddle. Same with the fox. |
 Back and non-show side of the second otter |
 A carousel skunk--who knew! |
 A better look at the skunk's tail |
 Wide shot of the carousel. Spot the fox! |
 The carousel building itself |
 Me riding the fox! Woooo! The first carousel animal I rode. |
 Even though I am not smiling, I am having a great time. |
 Me posing with Hazel. Yes he has a name. He is my rabbit. Understand? :-) |
 A turkey! Weird stuff here, man. |
 Animals going round and round. Can you tell I love this carousel? |
 Detail of the cat's saddle. This is why I love this carousel. Look at all the fun little details Carousel Works put into their animals. |
 More mice clinging to the saddle. |
 A pegasus adorns the saddle blanket of one of the horse--more examples of the detail on these aminals. |
 Some more of the animals |
