ELYSBURG - The Grand Carousel at Knoebels Amusement Resort was given a birthday bash Thursday for its 100th year.
The anniversary arrived about the same time the Travel Channel named the park No. 2 in its Top 10 amusement parks across the country, topping such heavies as Walt Disney World, Six Flags and Hershey Park. The affordable prices, family friendly atmosphere and old-fashioned ambiance won it the distinction.
Hundreds of park-goers stopped to watch a small parade make its way to the carousel, led by Buddy and Dick Knoebel and their sister, Leanna Knoebel Muscato, with mainstay mascot Kozmo and newcomer Dexter in tow.
The Knoebels each shared a bit of their own personal history with the famed carousel.
Buddy called it the "heartbeat" of the park. Leanna agreed, saying "The Grand Carousel will always be the heart and soul of Knoebels."
"When the organ is turned on and is playing the happiest music on Earth, the park seems to come alive," Buddy told the crowd.
Their uncle, Grover, operated the Grand Carousel and would read the comics to Buddy in between rides. When he grew older, Buddy himself operated the carousel.
Dick recalled hearing of how the 27-ton carousel was delivered on two old trucks in 1941. The ride was so heavy, the front end of one truck lifted off the ground while it attempted to climb a hill. The carousel was set up in 1942 but was left dormant with the rest of the park in 1943 because of World War II. The park reopened in 1944 with the carousel as a main attraction.
The carousel must have been a comforting ride to Dick in his youth. As a child, Dick said he'd wandered off into the park. His family searched high and low and eventually found him asleep inside a chariot on the carousel while it spun around and round.
Birthday cake was handed to passersby and everyone was invited to ride the carousel at no cost.
Bits of history on the carousel were on display beneath the birthday cake pavilion across from the 100-year-old ride, including some original parts and information on its creator, George William Kremer.
Kremer was a German immigrant who was a glassblower before working in carousel production. Two of his carousels remain in use: the Grand Carousel at Knoebels and the Lakeside Park Carousel in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada.
He built the Grand Carousel in 1913 in North Beach, Long Island. It was purchased years later by the Knoebels to replace the park's Gallagher Carousel.
According to Joe Muscato, director of the park's public relations, the carousel has undergone "extensive renovations" over the past three years. Colorful stenciling that had been painted over has returned to the sweeps, and several upper center panels have been repaired and restored. Some original rounding boards were uncovered and refurbished. They were originally painted by August Wolfinger.
Much of the restoration, Muscato said, was completed by Matt Wynn, a son of David Wynn, the ride's primary caretaker.