The Grande Carousel was one of Dorney Park’s most treasured icons—a hand-carved masterpiece of American amusement history that captivated riders for generations with its bold colors, spirited horses, and nostalgic melodies.
Built in 1915 by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company (PTC) in Lansdale, Pennsylvania, the carousel was originally installed at Shellpot Park in Delaware. When that park closed, the carousel found a new home at Dorney Park in 1932. From that moment, it became a centerpiece of the park’s charm, renowned among carousel enthusiasts as one of the largest and oldest still operating in its original form.
Measuring 45 feet in diameter and 14 feet high, with a 10-foot-wide rotating platform, the Grande boasted 46 hand-carved wooden horses—28 of them galloping, 18 stationary—and two ornately decorated chariots. Each figure was sculpted in the robust and regal Philadelphia Toboggan style, with medieval motifs such as coats of arms and weapons adorning the structure. Unlike modern fiberglass carousels, the Grande was entirely carved from solid wood and meticulously maintained to preserve its “mint condition.”
Music played a central role in the ride’s magic. Two Wurlitzer band organs provided a soundtrack of show tunes and Sousa marches via paper music rolls. One of the organs had originally belonged to an earlier carousel in the park—an 1901 Dentzel model—chosen for its superior sound and elegance.
The carousel’s history was not without drama. Originally housed in an open-sided pavilion, it lost one of its classic features—the brass ring game—after the enclosure was fitted with glass windows. Within just 30 minutes of operation, 28 windows were shattered by enthusiastic riders trying to catch rings, and the tradition was swiftly retired.
Tragically, in September 1983, a devastating fire swept through the carousel’s building, reducing the beloved Grande to ashes. Nothing was salvageable—not even the leg of a horse. Park officials described the loss as incalculable. “It’s like putting a value on the Mona Lisa,” said Michael Crowther, the park’s public relations director. The destruction of the Grande was a blow not only to Dorney Park, but also to the broader carousel preservation movement. At the time, only 29 carousels remained in operation in Pennsylvania.
Below: Remains of the Grand Carousel.
The fire not only destroyed the Grande Carousel but also claimed several other beloved rides. The Bucket O’ Blood dark ride, originally built in 1937 as the Devil’s Cave Pretzel Ride, had been re-themed as Pirate’s Cove in 1963 by legendary dark ride designer Bill Tracy. The Flying Bobs, a circular ride introduced in 1973, was also lost. Several other rides sustained damage, including the Iceberg (formerly the Cuddle-Up), the Sea Dragon, and the Paratrooper.
The fire prompted the return of a different chapter in the park’s carousel history. Dorney Park had purchased a handcrafted 1901 Dentzel carousel in 1903 and used it regularly until 1923. Briefly reappearing in 1954, 1969, and 1976 for special events, the Dentzel carousel regained prominence after the loss of the Grande. Restored and reassembled, it served as the park’s main carousel for two years until it was replaced by a modern Chance Manufacturing merry-go-round with fiberglass figures.
In 1985, Dorney Park received an award from the American Carousel Society in recognition of its efforts to restore and preserve the 36-figure Dentzel carousel. However, that same year, the carousel was sold to help raise funds for park expansion. Then-owner Harris Weinstein sold the hand-carved figures individually, effectively dispersing one of the park’s last original treasures. Former board chairman Robert Ott recalled the move as a necessary but bittersweet decision.
There was one more carousel before the Grande, known as the Chanticleer, which operated from 1909 until it too was destroyed in a fire in 1973. Made famous by its appearance in the 1968 film Where Angels Go, Trouble Follows, only an ostrich and a rooster were salvaged and displayed in a glass case beside the Grande. In a final act of preservation, a park worker braved the 1983 fire to rescue the same ostrich, slightly charred but intact. The fate of the rooster remains uncertain.
Below: Scene from 1968 film Where Angels Go, Trouble Follows.
In 1995, Dorney Park expanded its carousel legacy further with the introduction of the Antique Carousel. Built in 1921 by the Dentzel Carousel Company, this historic ride had originally operated at the Northern Illinois Fair Association and traveled with carnivals for decades before finding a home at Cedar Point in 1971. In 1995, it was relocated to Dorney Park, where it received a custom-built structure and was placed prominently at the front entrance. Featuring 66 beautifully carved animals—including horses, a giraffe, a lion, a tiger, and an elk—the Antique Carousel remains a beloved family attraction and a vibrant tribute to the golden age of American carousels.
Though the Grande Carousel is gone, its spirit lives on in the stories, music, and memories that continue to echo through Dorney Park—a testament to craftsmanship, tradition, and the timeless joy of the merry-go-round.
Below: The Antique Carousel.
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