The Venetian Carousel,
Maplewood Mall, Minnesota

Okay. I know I said, "no horses", but I put this one on my site because I think it's a pretty cool looking double-decker carousel anyhow, primarily because it's a Venetian-style carousel, meaning it doesn't just have horses that go up and down, but horses that rock forward and back! I'm told there aren't a great many of this kind of carousel around anymore. I visited this one with Rapid T. Rabbit when he was vitting me in March of 2004.

Here is a site with more information on the carousel.


One of the two main BFR's (Big Friggin' Rocking horse) on the carousel

A couple of other horse. Notice the hanging flower baskets. Lots of detail went into making this carousel look very nice.

Rapid T. Rabbit enjoying a ride

Some horse behinds, but gives you an idea of the carousel design. Note the spinning teacups also present on the carousel (and were generally more popular to shoppers than any of the horses)

The horses on the upper level are generally smaller, and there are several benches as well.

And there's me on the BFR, and even though it was a horse, I thought it was pretty fun to ride.


The Americana Carousel,
Mall of America, Minnesota

This carousel sort-of popped up on me in my own home city without me knowing. It was put I think in 2000. It's a comtemporary fiberglass portable by Chance Rides. And, it has rabbits!!! But I was deterred from hopping on for a ride the first time I saw it after reading the "170 lb. limit per figure" sign, and watching the carousel operators circle and pluck parents off of animals who looked too big. Months later when I went with Rapid T. Rabbit I got on, and to my joy was not given a second glance (well, not too much of one anyhow). I considered my rides on there an early Birthday gift. Pretty sad state of affairs when you can't ride a carousel because you're not a kid.

Here's a site with some more information and pictures on the carousel.


My favorite animal on the carousel :-)

The row featuring the other nice rabbit on the carousel

Izza goat!

Yes it's a menagerie. There's a rooster!.

And yes there I am enjoying a ride on my new white furry friend.



Kidway Carousel
Minnesota State Fair

The Minnesota State Fair hosts two carousels: one permanent, all-horse (and therefor uninteresting to me), and one portable Chance Rides fiberglass menagerie which has been appearing since 2004. So.... guess which one I ride multiple times every year? :-)

The carousel itself isn't that unique at all as it is one of those standard Chance ones. It really has taken a beating though, and every year I find a new chip or a couple more jewels gone, the paint on the saddles a little more worn, and the pole cams really need to be tightened up, but it's still fun to ride! Oddly, the goat is my favorite animal on this carousel. It's also the most comfortable out of all the menagerie animals to ride.


Here it is!

The goat--my favoite animal to ride on it

Yes, I actually ride the zebra, too

The bunny looks a bit girly

The deer

Another pic of the deer

Some guy riding the bunny :-)



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