The Crescent Park Looff Carousel is the best amusement ride in Rhode Island. Now,
that may not be saying much considering this state’s only remaining amusement park
no longer has any coasters. But this carousel is legitimately a jewel. And it may be the world’s
best carousel. I’ll explain why in this review. Crescent Park was located in East Providence,
Rhode Island. The park opened back in 1886. And one of its oldest and most
beloved rides was its carousel. Built by Charles Looff, it was installed in 1895.
However, the park closed in the late 1970s due to declining attendance.
Like so many of the region’s seaside parks, it was demolished in favor of housing developments.
Locals fought to save their beloved carousel. The ride was added to the
National Register of Historic Places in 1976. And while most rides were sold at auction,
one ride remained- the historic carousel. The ride remained closed for a few years, but it
reopened in 1984 and in 1987, it was declared a National Historic Landmark.
The ride has been a bit tricky to ride in recent years though. It was closed from 2019
until late 2022 for a lengthy refurbishment, but it has triumphantly reopened. However,
it still has very limited hours. The ride is mainly open summer Saturdays and Sundays for
just 4-6 hours. So definitely check the website for the operating dates and times. Also pay
attention to when the ticket booth closes. This year, it closes an hour before the ride does.
The Carousel is located by a beautiful park by the water and there is ample free parking available.
And the second you get out of your car, it’s impossible to miss the beautiful band organ.
The music radiates through the entire area. It is a gorgeous Wurlitzer band organ. Not
only is the music loud and cheerful,
but it is ornately decorated. It looks like something that belongs on a church altar.
The building looks great too. It’s a fancy circular pavilion. It just oozes
history. And the roof creates this kaleidoscope effect on a sunny day.
It compliments the carousel itself that is a gem on its own. There are some fancy chariots,
61 horses, and 1 camel. And all of these were hand-carved. The detailing is phenomenal.
The pavilion also features a small museum about the history of the ride and Crescent Park
plus some concession stands, but the focal point is undoubtedly the carousel.
Tickets are shockingly affordable. As of 2023, it is still just $2 per ride. That is well
worth it! And you can pay with cash or card. With your ticket in hand, you can enter the
queue line. You may have to wait a cycle if it’s busy, especially if you want one of the
outside horses. You absolutely should sit there to maximize your experience.
That is because this is one of about a dozen carousels in the United States that still
offer guests the opportunity to catch the brass ring. Shortly after the ride starts,
an arm is lowered holding rings. With each pass, guests can grab a ring.
Most are black, but there’s one brass ring per cycle. Whoever catches that earns a free ride!
Most enthusiasts are familiar with the version at Knoebels, but this one requires more skill.
There are four reasons for this. First, this carousel has a mandatory lap belt.
This prevents riders from standing up and hanging over the edge. So hand-eye coordination is key.
Second, many of the outside horses move up-and-down, so it can be a bit trickier
to line your finger up with the ring. Some horses are static, so check before you board.
Third, this carousel seems to rotate faster than the others I’ve done with brass rings.
Fourth, the ring holder is a bit quirky. It replenishes quickly, so it is possible to get
two if you have quick fingers. But there are other passes where two rings get stuck at the
bottom. When this happens, you’ll need some extra oomph to get them out. If you aren’t anticipating
the added resistance, it’s easy to drop the ring by mistake. I saw that happen to a few guests.
With your ring in hand, you then can try to throw it into a clown’s mouth. There’s no alarm like
the one at Santa Cruz, but it’s still a fun little game. And it’s surprisingly hard when
you have to account for the rotational motion. Grabbing the ring is what makes this ride special,
but anyone can appreciate the music and nostalgia as you rotate around.
And you have a nice long cycle too. So what would I rate the Crescent Park
Carousel? This ride easily earns a perfect 10 out of 10. I had been eying this attraction ever
since moving to Providence and I finally got to experience it a few weekends ago. It may be the
best carousel I have done. It’s beautiful- both visually and auditory. It has the brass rings.
And the way it operates leads to some additional difficulty that I very much enjoyed. This is a
can’t miss attraction if you’re anywhere near Providence and I’m glad it has been preserved.
So those are my thoughts on the Crescent Park Carousel, the best amusement ride in Rhode Island.
What are your thoughts on this carousel? Do you think it’s the best one out there? Let
me know down in the comments. If you enjoyed this review, I’d appreciate it if you gave
this video a like and you considered subscribing since there will be a lot
more roller coaster and amusement park videos here at Canobie Coaster. Thanks for watching!