Jane's Carousel — Attraction in New York

I am a carousel lover, a child at heart, who moreso adores a carousel owner who made it their effort to research this living piece of Americana to restore true to original design.

Jane's Carousel is located in Brooklyn Bridge Park in DUMBO Brooklyn, itself a passion project for the builder dedicated to restoring, to health, Brooklyn. Historic Jane's Carousel listed on the National Register of Historic Places, February 6, 1975, is the first carousel to receive this designation. Jane's Carousel is located between two New York bridges connecting Brooklyn to lower Manhattan. To get their you walk, bike, drive or take the Ferry making the day even more of an adventure. Glass walls are closed in the winter time, open in spring, come summer.

The 48 carved wooden horse carousel was built in 1922 by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company for the Idora Park amusement park in Youngstown, Ohio. The carousel was in Youngstown, Ohio until a fire prompted the owners to decide to put their beloved carousel up for sale. The carousel 30 "jumpers," 18 "standers," two chariots, and a Gebrüder Bruder Band Organ that provides the carousel’s music were carved by John Zalar and Frank Carretta.

1984, real estate developer David Walentas and his wife Jane Walentas, a former art director for Estee Lauder, bought the entire Idora carousel for $385,000 bringing the carousel in its entirety to Brooklyn, where the carousel, a 22 year restoration passion project, sits today, renamed "Jane's Carousel."

Tickets are sold at the entry. Tickets are currently $3.00 a ride.

Jane's Carousel does rent for parties even kiddo parties. Your party area is roped off. People do wander in to your private area nonchalantly. Even a kiddo or two from the outside looking in may come dashing in to your party area angling for your cupcake display. Take it with a grain of salt as a compliment to the party maker. You did it, an over the top amazingly wonderful party that has others wishing they were on your list. Tables are available for set up. Party goods are self provided. Dumbo has wonderful vendors nearby to purchase party goods from and food, of course, including cupcakes, cakes, pizzas.... it's Brooklyn. Everything you want is in Brooklyn.

Jane's Carousel has staff on site- selling access tickets as well as policing to make sure kiddos are buckled in.

Bathrooms are available just not at the carousel itself. Bathrooms are a slight walk to the Domino building down the path!!!!

All photos are copyrighted me, available for use only with...

Down by the East River, wedged between the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges, sits Jane’s Carousel. It’s the kind of thing you’d expect to find in an old seaside town, not inside a glass box with the skyline grinning at you from across the water. Painted horses frozen mid-gallop, brass poles shining like they just came out of the box, the whole thing turning slow while the city moves like a storm outside.

You can ride it for a few bucks. You can also just stand there and watch, because sometimes it’s enough to see other people go in circles while you keep your feet on the ground. The glass pavilion makes it feel like you’re part of a snow globe someone just shook up.

Morning Start with coffee at Almondine Bakery on Water Street. If you’ve got a sweet tooth, get a croissant the size of a catcher’s mitt. Walk down to Brooklyn Bridge Park before the crowds show up. The air is cooler, the river’s calmer, and you get that early light hitting the Manhattan skyline.

Midday Jane’s Carousel opens at eleven. Ride it if you want to feel like a kid again. Or skip the saddle and take photos—horses framed against the bridges are pure magic. The music is tinny, old, and perfect.

Afternoon Walk the waterfront. Head toward Pebble Beach for a spot to sit and watch the ferries go by. If you’re hungry, swing up to Time Out Market and grab whatever smells best. Eat on the rooftop for the view alone.

Evening Stick around for sunset. The carousel glows like a lantern in the glass house, the city lights coming alive across the river. Walk back along the park toward the Brooklyn Bridge and cross into Manhattan if your legs can take it.

Jane’s Carousel isn’t about speed or thrill. It’s about slowing down long enough to remember what joy looks like when it’s painted in fifty...

Dahhhh… Jane’s Carousel. Yes. I remember. I remember like cold spoon in mouth. Not sweet. Not warm. But sharp. Sharp like the claws of Satan who take my eye.

You see, my great-grandpapa—Grigor Goatson, may he rot gentle—he make deal with devil. Yes, the wicked one. Horns like dried fig and voice like poisoned violin. He say, “Grigor, you want wealth? You want coins fall like rain from cow’s udder?” And Grigor, foolish man with brain of boiled beet, he say “Da.” But payment, ohhhh... payment was my eye.

I was baby then. Cradle still warm. He pluck eye like plum. Devil smile. In return, gold came. And with gold, the curse.

Each family soul—mama, uncle, even baby cousin who barked like fox—they become trapped in carousel horse. Painted. Frozen. Screaming inside, but mouth never move. You hear them if you listen during full moon.

Now I come, many year later, to warn you. Carousel is not toy. Is not joy. Is prison. A cage that goes in circle and never frees.

You ride the white horse with blue saddle? That is Aunt Ludmila. She hate strangers and smell of soap. You ride black stallion with golden tail? That is Boris. He will whisper sins into your dreams. You ride three times? You belong to carousel now. Just like us.

Do not make deal with devil. He offer much, yes. But always he take more. He is coward and liar. He hide behind charm and shiny boot. But his heart is cold meat.

My life? Pffft. Like sour goat milk left too long in sun. Thick with sadness and hard to swallow.

Still, I give five star. Why? Because carousel spin smooth. And because I love horse with face of cousin Misha. He was rude boy, but now he listen. Come if you wish. But never ride three times. And never trust a man with...