The Flying Horses Carousel in Martha’s Vineyard is one of the most historic amusement rides in
the world. This attraction is the oldest operating platform carousel in America
and it has been a National Historic Landmark since 1987. And most importantly, it’s one of the rare
carousels where riders can still reach for the brass rings. Find out why this ride should be
on any carousel lovers radar in this review. The carousel as we know it was developed in the
1880s. The Flying Horses Carousel didn’t originally open on Martha’s Vineyard.
It originally opened in 1876 at Coney Island. This carousel was built by Charles W.F. Dare
and it’s one of two carousels from his company still remaining.
The other is located nearby in Westerly, Rhode Island and it’s also called the Flying Horses
Carousel. That one also has brass rings and also is a National Historic Landmark,
but that one has a much different set-up. Those horses are suspended from the ceiling by chains
and for this reason, it’s off-limits to adults. But back to the one at Martha’s Vineyard.
In 1884, the carousel was moved to Massachusetts, more specifically Martha’s Vineyard. It was placed
near Oaks Bluff Harbor, but it was moved to its current location in downtown Oaks Bluff in 1889.
This carousel isn’t part of any amusement park. It operates independently.
The ride was owned by a series of business owners before being acquired by the Martha’s
Vineyard Land Trust in 1986, which helped ensure the long term stability of the attraction.
This carousel is in great condition. The horses and benches are beautiful.
There’s a 1923 Wurlitzer Band Organ. It’s one of roughly 14 carousels in the US that
still allow riders to reach for the brass rings. And the ride’s mechanical system
was completely refurbished in the 1980s. Today the carousel is powered by an electric motor,
but it ran on steam in its first two decades of operation.
Unlike most carousels that have a circular pavilion, the building housing the Flying Horses
Carousel is more reminiscent of a house. While some of the buildings adjacent to the carousel
are rundown, the carousel’s building looks quite nice and it has a big sign to draw people in.
The hours for this carousel can vary wildly and I strongly recommend checking the ride’s website.
The carousel opens Memorial Day weekend and operates for a few weeks after Labor Day.
The carousel operates 10 am to 10 pm daily in the middle of summer,
but it has reduced days and hours towards the start and end of the season.
As of 2021, tickets cost $3.50 per ride. And if you catch that brass ring,
you get a free re-ride. The carousel’s platform is smaller than
most carousels. It’s just 36 feet or 11 meters in diameter, and as a result, it has less horses.
This carousel has a unique set-up. All of the horses are stationary.
And there are two ring dispensers. One for the outside horses and one for the inside horses.
Even though it’s entirely possible for a grown adult to reach both dispensers,
you are only supposed to grab the one for your respective horse. When I saw someone go for both,
the employee started to block the opposite dispenser from them.
However, it’s possible to get multiple rings per pass if you’re coordinated based on the
position of the dispenser and how quickly it reloads. I saw quite a few people doing this
to maximize their odds of grabbing the brass ring. From what I saw, the brass ring tends
to be the last one placed in the dispenser. I know it’s a simple gimmick reaching for the
brass ring, but this little challenge is super fun. It’s like you win a prize on each rotation.
Combine that with the classic and clear music being pumped into the building, and the ride is
pure bliss. You also get a fairly long cycle, so you definitely get your money’s worth.
So what would I rate the Flying Horses Carousel? This attraction gets a perfect 10 out of 10 from
me. It’s one of the world’s best carousels between its historic nature, how well it’s maintained,
and the ring dispenser. The latter makes any carousel a must ride for me. This attraction
is a must if you ever find yourself on Martha’s Vineyard and die-hard carousel
lovers should try to make it here one day. The only carousels that I’ve ridden that I
prefer are the Grand Carousel at Knoebels and the Carousel at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.
These ones have many of the same features as the Flying Horses Carousel, except those rides are
larger and grander. But there’s something to be said about the quaint, local feel of this one.
So those are my thoughts on the Flying Horses Carousel in Martha’s Vineyard.
What are your thoughts on this attraction? Do you love brass ring carousels as much as me?
Let me know your thoughts down in the comments. If you enjoyed this review, I’d appreciate it
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coaster and amusement park videos here at Canobie Coaster. Thanks for watching!