Looff Carousel — Attraction in Santa Cruz

You can feel the rich history in the soul of the Carousel as you approach. The brilliantly restored, fully automated and functional Wurlitzer organs play their distinct, festive multi-instrument tunes over the laughs and screams of the happily terrified amusement riders and the ocassional, faint crashing of the Monterey Bay Pacific Ocean waves in the background. Take in the music, the sounds, the smells of sweet foods permeating the ocean air during the 15 minutes or 20 minutes you wait your turn for a couple minutes of immersion in the ambiance of a special day a hundred years ago. Examine the detail of the elaborately painted and impeccably restored carousel horses, Wurlitzers, and the tier-domed structure overhead. And decide which of the creatures, in motion or stationary, you'll race to when you finely pass the gate. When you grasp the spiral brass pole that supports your galiant, colourful creature and climb up onto a straddle, you'll get a perspective and gain a memory shared with fortunate others over the past 100 and more years. And when the bell rings and the Carousel slowly begins turning and the horses begin their slow, undulating trot, visualize those of the past who came by carriage, by model T, by Studebaker, by Pinto, or by wood-paneled station wagon over the decades, dressed in the garb of their era with the ones they loved... to do the very same thing for the very same reason as you are now. Reach out carefully to snag a metal ring from the chute and have a go at flinging it into the hole in the curtain that is the clowns mouth. It's harder than it looks. Look up and down and take a gander at mechanics of this entertaining marvel. It's truly a work of engineering and mechanical art. After about a half dozen revolutions, you can't help but feel that exciting disappointment as the the horses slow their pace and the the huge, turning platform gradually conforms to the motionless concrete floor below it. In your youthful enthusiasm and smiles and photos and conversation exiting the ride, try to remember to walk the perimeter of the Carousel gate and read the placards that accompany the majestic and whimsical mechanical and musical objects around you. The stories are fascinating and the work to bring them to us for entertainment and appreciation is passionate and exhaustive. And now it's time for a corn dog, an ice cream, a cotton candy, or maybe a beer, then decide if next you'll go toward the arcade, the other direction to more rides, or take a break with a walk...

This beautiful wood carved carousel was created by Charles Looff, renowned for being the Creator of the Coney Island carousel. The one here in Santa Cruz came after and was installed in August of 1911. It's one of the only remaining carousels in the world that still has a working ring dispenser. In the old days, if you got the "brass ring" you won a free ride. These days, the rings are steel and you "win" by tossing the ring into a clowns mouth. Many people keep the rings so the Boardwalk buys 60,000 each year to keep the carousel in supply! For special events, they still occasionally add brass rings to the dispenser. Make sure you also check out the antique organs that take turns...

A timeless treasure at the Boardwalk!

The Looff Carousel at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is pure magic. It’s beautifully maintained and full of charm, with hand-carved horses that bring out the kid in everyone. You'll love the old-fashioned ring toss game—it adds such a fun and nostalgic touch.

Organ music gives the whole ride an authentic vintage feel. Whether you're visiting with kids or just revisiting childhood memories, this classic carousel is a must-experience. It's one of those simple joys that makes the Boardwalk so...