GAcoaster Posted March 20, 2009 Report Share Posted March 20, 2009 Here is one of the long-awaited announcements from the park: Six Flags Great Adventure recently began the three-year restoration of the 19th century, wood-carved carousel, one of the few remaining in the world. The 128 year old carousel was said to be a gift from a father, Mr. James Williams, to his daughter Patrina Williams, whose name still appears on the park icon. The carousel toured throughout the England’s circus and carnival circuit for nearly 93 years before moving to its home in Jackson, NJ. To mark the carousel’s 35th Anniversary at Six Flags Great Adventure, park staff will remove each of the 36 all-wood horses and cockerels, delicately sand and masterfully repaint by hand. The brass ‘jumping’ poles will also be replaced with 36 new bright and beautiful brass poles. These six pictures courtesy of Six Flags Great Adventure: We'll be adding a few more pictures from our tour later today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CycloneMan Posted March 20, 2009 Report Share Posted March 20, 2009 OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD! Yes =) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GAcoaster Posted March 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 20, 2009 OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD! Yes =) That was our reaction too...and it was REALLY hard not being able to tell anyone until now! So, I guess it's 3 of our wishes down (Safari Signs, Big Wheel and Carousel)...I wonder if there will be any more wishes granted this season... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CycloneMan Posted March 20, 2009 Report Share Posted March 20, 2009 I can't wait to see it in two weeks! I'm gonna be all up on that yo! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29yrswithaGApass Posted March 20, 2009 Report Share Posted March 20, 2009 Check out our Carousel Restoration album for additional photos of this exciting project! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CycloneMan Posted March 20, 2009 Report Share Posted March 20, 2009 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GAcoaster Posted March 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 20, 2009 And, the horses are supposed to be getting tails (no more butt holes!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29yrswithaGApass Posted March 20, 2009 Report Share Posted March 20, 2009 We were told that this restoration is a multi-year project. In addition to the horses and cockerels, the ride will be getting a complete refurbishment of the decorative, structural, and mechanical elements as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GAcoaster Posted March 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 20, 2009 The woman doing the restoration in this picture is the daughter of one of the original wood wrights who worked on the Carousel when it was restored back in 1974: I learned something new about the Carousel as well (and I thought I knew almost everything there is to know about the park ). One of the horses is different than the others, with an eagle on the side of it: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yoshi Posted March 20, 2009 Report Share Posted March 20, 2009 Great to see, the ride really needed it. I couldn't believe how bad the horses looked last season with the cracked and chip paint. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29yrswithaGApass Posted March 20, 2009 Report Share Posted March 20, 2009 I learned something new about the Carousel as well (and I thought I knew almost everything there is to know about the park ). One of the horses is different than the others, with an eagle on the side of it: Yep, that horse with the eagle is one of a kind. GA's "Declaration of Gifts" shop once sold a model collectible of the horse. The store's window in Dream Street was full of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Master Posted March 20, 2009 Report Share Posted March 20, 2009 Good to see them restoring the carousel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Railer Posted March 20, 2009 Report Share Posted March 20, 2009 Had a feeling this was it, just from the lack of pics. of it on the Off-Season Tours. Are they restoring the old Steam Engine on it? Not to make it run again, but for the look of it running again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bullets Posted March 20, 2009 Report Share Posted March 20, 2009 i said this weeks ago. i knew this last season. this isnt news, im really upset because i thought the announcement was something cool and new, not the regularly scheduled maintinence Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GAcoaster Posted March 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 20, 2009 This is not just regularly scheduled maintenance, and it's not the only announcement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Railer Posted March 20, 2009 Report Share Posted March 20, 2009 Well if it's not the only announcement left, my Money is on the Runaway Train. It's an original and they seem to be rehabbing all the Original Rides. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chiller Posted March 20, 2009 Report Share Posted March 20, 2009 i said this weeks ago. i knew this last season. this isnt news, im really upset because i thought the announcement was something cool and new, not the regularly scheduled maintinence This is definatly not regular maintinence. Have you seen it the past coupe of years. Anyway this is great news. For some it is not big news, but for the ones who pay attention to detail in parks, this is good news. Looking Forward to riding it!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Up_Up_and_Away Posted March 20, 2009 Report Share Posted March 20, 2009 i said this weeks ago. i knew this last season. this isnt news, im really upset because i thought the announcement was something cool and new, not the regularly scheduled maintinence It's beyond "cool" to quite a few of us... We were told that the carousel was included in the new lighting overhaul. didnt metion a paint job, but i think its due. they do it every two years and didnt do it before last season. I think was much longer than that; I've been coming to GA on a more regular basis since the 2005 season; I could be wrong here, but I don't believe the carousel had been repainted that year or any year since. And, FYI, according to the park the only thing receiving LEDs this year is the big wheel... Six Flags Great Adventure recently began the three-year restoration of the 19th century, wood-carved carousel, one of the few remaining in the world. The 128 year old carousel was said to be a gift from a father, Mr. James Williams, to his daughter Patrina Williams, whose name still appears on the park icon. The carousel toured throughout the England's circus and carnival circuit for nearly 93 years before moving to its home in Jackson, NJ. To mark the carousel's 35th Anniversary at Six Flags Great Adventure, park staff will remove each of the 36 all-wood horses and cockerels, delicately sand and masterfully repaint by hand. The brass 'jumping' poles will also be replaced with 36 new bright and beautiful brass poles. Note: "Three-year restoration" "36 new bright and beautiful brass poles" i.e. NOT "regularly scheduled maintinence [sic]" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoasterPete Posted March 20, 2009 Report Share Posted March 20, 2009 This is amazing! After the Big Wheel rehab was announced I don't think there wasn't a single person on here who said or thought to themselves "man, I hope the Carousel gets the same treatment soon." I don't think any of us expected it this year! Totally awesome! Thanks for the news, guys! Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobertDavid Posted March 21, 2009 Report Share Posted March 21, 2009 This is GREAT news! I wish they could get the organ back from the collector that has it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29yrswithaGApass Posted March 21, 2009 Report Share Posted March 21, 2009 I think was much longer than that; I've been coming to GA on a more regular basis since the 2005 season; I could be wrong here, but I don't believe the carousel had been repainted that year or any year since. According to my photos and notes, the last time the Carousel horses and cockerels were painted was 2002. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Up_Up_and_Away Posted March 21, 2009 Report Share Posted March 21, 2009 ^Thanks, Harry! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warnerleroy Posted March 21, 2009 Report Share Posted March 21, 2009 (edited) YES!!!!! :carouselhorse: :carouselhorse: I think the emoticons are appropiate. :carouselhorse: Edited March 21, 2009 by warnerleroy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29yrswithaGApass Posted March 21, 2009 Report Share Posted March 21, 2009 We don't have that many horses on the Carousel! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warnerleroy Posted March 21, 2009 Report Share Posted March 21, 2009 yeah there where no rooster emoticons Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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