Six Flags Over Georgia is home to a historic carousel and when they say historic they mean it as it was actually added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1995 (NRHP reference number 94001639). The carousel is named the Riverview Carousel and takes its name from Riverview Park in Chicago, Illinois where it operated from 1908 to 1967. That makes the carousel over 100 years old! The carousel was built by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company (PTC) and is one of only four 5-row carousels built by the company. The Riverview Carousel is one of only two surviving carousels still operating in that “5-wide” original configuration with the other one being the Prince Charming Regal Carousel at Magic Kingdom. The carousel opened at Six Flags Over Georgia for the 1972 season and has been a park staple for over 50 years. It now sits on “Carousel Hill” which is visible from many areas of the park.
The Riverview Carousel is one of only two surviving carousels still operating in that “5-wide” original configuration with the other one being the Prince Charming Regal Carousel at Magic Kingdom.
The Riverview Carousel has some interesting quirks and facts associated with it. Six Flags acquired the carousel in 1971 (after Riverview Park closed in 1967) and spent over 26,000 hours and $250,000 restoring the carousel over a 6-month period. The carousel weights over 40 tons (80,000 pounds) and was carousel #17 made by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company. The carousel has a 26 foot central “ship’s mast” pole and is 165 feet in circumference. The building that shelters the Riverview Carousel is not historic, but was built to resemble the architecture of the original Victorian-era structure at Riverview Park and contains 59 glass mirrors along with 1,612 crystal lights.
The carousel has 69 wood-carved horses and 4 wood-carved chariots (there were originally 70 horses, but one is missing and has not been replaced), but only 55 are “jumpers” or moving horses. According to PTC records, the horses cost from $8.56 to $32.10 and the total cost for carving the 70 horses used for PTC #17 was $1,932.49 (gotta love inflation). The length of the carousel ride is two minutes and 25 seconds with automated “band organ” music playing during the ride. The carousel has a huge capacity, accommodating up to 1,000 passengers a ride per hour. With regard to famous riders, during the carousel’s time in Chicago it was ridden by William Randolph Hearst, President Harding, Clara Bow and Al Capone. If you want more facts the National Park Service has a 29 page document full of facts about the Riverview Carousel on its website.
The Riverview Carousel is a fascinating attraction full of history. Six Flags essentially rescued this from a closed park, restored it and has taken great care of it. Not many theme park rides are registered as a historic place or can count a former President or gangster as riders. Even if carousels aren’t normally your thing you’ll want to check out the Riverview Carousel. It’s simply beautiful and one of the last of its kind left.
