ElvisLuv Posted February 2, 2015 Share Posted February 2, 2015 (edited) Possible home may be the Children's Museum: Libertyland Carousel to be Uncrated When the Memphis City Council on Tuesday, Feb. 3, gets its second briefing in as many weeks on the proposed overhaul of the Mid-South Fairgrounds, they will hear from Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr.’s administration that the mothballed Grand Carousel from the old Libertyland amusement park is about to be uncrated and reassembled as part of the Children’s Museum of Memphis. No one involved was talking on the record Monday, Feb. 2, about the announcement, but the carousel has long been a part of the administration’s tentative plans for the Children’s Museum, which is on the southwest corner of the fairgrounds property – at Central Avenue and Hollywood Street. The Grand Carousel was dismantled in 2009, approximately 100 years after it was created. Its first stop in Memphis in the 1920s was the old East End Amusement Park in Midtown. After its move from the East End, it became part of a set of rides at the fairgrounds long before Libertyland opened in 1976. The carousel’s hand-carved and painted wooden creatures and bright and elaborate foundation were crated as Libertyland, which had closed four years earlier, was demolished in the development of Tiger Lane from the East Parkway entrance of the fairgrounds to the western side of Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. https://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2015/feb/3/southwest-airlines-adds-memphis-dallas-flights/#94031 Edited February 2, 2015 by cfc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElvisLuv Posted February 5, 2015 Author Share Posted February 5, 2015 CITY OF MEMPHIS TO LOAN GRAND CAROUSEL TO CHILDREN’S MUSEUM Museum Plans $1Million Refurbishment, $3Million Glass Building to House Carousel Memphis, TN – Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr. signed an agreement with the Children’s Museum of Memphis for the use and care of the Grand Carousel formerly located at the now closed Libertyland amusement park. The Children’s Museum has raised the money needed to refurbish the more than 100-year-old- carousel. The restoration work is to be done over the next two years by Carousels and Carvings of Marion, Ohio. The museum has a capital campaign underway to raise funds to build a glass building on the museum’s front lawn to house the Carousel once the restoration is complete. School groups will be able to ride the carousel free. Also, low income families have access to the museum free of charge through the “Yes to Every Child” program. “I am excited that the City of Memphis is able to partner with the Children’s Museum to make this treasured piece of our city’s history available to all of the children of Memphis,” said Councilwoman Wanda Halbert, who represents District 4 where the museum is located at 2525 Central Ave. Libertyland closed in 2005 and the carousel was carefully dismantled in October 2009 and is currently housed at the now closed Mid-south Coliseum inside secured and sealed semi-trailers ready for transport to Ohio where the restoration is to take place. If all goes according to plan the Children’s Museums expects the Grand Carousel to be up and running again in 2017 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElvisLuv Posted September 6, 2017 Author Share Posted September 6, 2017 Update, the 1909 Dentzel will once again be enjoyed come November. Some of Libertyland will actually live again in Memphis https://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2017/sep/7/historic-grand-carousel-expected-to-be-unveiled-in-november/ Sure wish Memphis had kept the rights to the Zippin Pippin as Elvis Presley Enterprises may have come around for it considering their continued growth of Graceland which now offer a 7,000 performance venue for up to 50 events a year Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
palmerleeberry Posted April 18, 2019 Share Posted April 18, 2019 Whenever there's an old ride that once was closed down and then it comes back to life and restored in a new site is always wonderful news to all riders and amusement park flyers. Think of all the past riders that once enjoyed that carousel, then think about the future riders that will a chance to ride it. You Gotta Love It! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElvisLuv Posted April 22, 2019 Author Share Posted April 22, 2019 https://images.app.goo.gl/67gPi6w6ZgnSp5hD6 New home Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taylor Finn Posted April 22, 2019 Share Posted April 22, 2019 Always LOVE to see rides like this get a new life. It'll do great in the museum, I'm sure and they'll easily recoup the money they invested in it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
palmerleeberry Posted April 24, 2019 Share Posted April 24, 2019 I was able to see the images of Libertyland's Grand Carousel in its new home and it looks fantastic! Something that cool and amazing should not have to be locked away for eternity. I can imagine all the kiddies running on board and climbing on their favorite horse. But I do have one thought: will the carousel organ be grinding out Elvis songs? I bet that would be too sweet!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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