Children riding carouse in St. George Utah town square
A young visitor waves excitedly to his family admiring him from a bench. Photo courtesy Your Content Queen 2022

Who:

Fun for everyone! People of all ages ride the carousel.

What:

The only municipal-owned carousel in Utah featuring elaborate fiberglass animals and embellishments. It is covered in lights and plays traditional carousel music in a park-like setting.

Where:

St George Carousel
100 W Tabernacle
St. George, UT 84770

When:

Monday-Thursday 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Friday & Saturday 11 a.m.-8 p.m.

Hours are subject to change and inclement weather could cause closures. Please check the carousel website at SGCity.org/carousel/ before you go.

How much:

$1 (discounts for multiple rides)

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Life has its ups and downs; put some lights on them, turn up the music and enjoy the ride! That’s what visitors to St. George Town Park do when they hop aboard the magical merry-go-round. You can’t be sad with a trusty steed between your legs and a firm hold on the brass pole (it’s a rule). This adventure will cost you all of $1.

Old man riding Carousel
Loren and his wife, Carrie, Reed thrill the grandchildren with a ride of their own. Kids of all ages enjoy the St. George Carousel in Town Square Park. The Reeds are visiting with family from throughout the country for Spring Break in the historic city. Photo courtesy Your Content Queen 2022

Seniors Loren and Carrie Reed were visiting St. George with family on Tuesday (March 30). Far from their home in Tenessee, the couple decided to straddle the saddle and take a ride. Their daughter-in-law Abby Reed said family members came from around the nation to join them for an extended spring break.

St George Carousel
Carousel operator, Stephanie Johnson (far right) oversees the colorful attraction and its riders of all shapes and sizes. Photo courtesy Your Content Queen 2022

Carousel operator Stephanie Johnson takes her riders’ safety seriously. She enjoys her job as a part-time ride operator because, “I love working with people, especially kids,” she said.

It was a long trail to Utah

A man named Chance Rides originally built the whimsical attraction with fiberglass animals in 1989. Those animals ran in circles around Chicago until 2006. A private owner in California bought it next. St. George City purchased the ride to attract shoppers to its historic downtown and it took its first official twirl there in 2011; it was finally home.

What kind of city buys a merry-go-round? A city in fierce competition for tourism and downtown traffic. The community tapped the Redevelopment Agency to help fund a major downtown revitalization. Historic Town Square and Town Park at 50 N. Main were part of that project. Are you starting to get where the carousel comes in?

At first, it was an attraction they hoped would increase foot traffic. It didn’t take to realize the ride was wildly popular and even profitable the first year. The cost remains $1 per ride with discounts for multiple rides. 

Wild Horse St George Carousel
One of many colorful horses on the St. George Carousel, this wild horse offers a wild ride. A man named Chance Rides originally built the whimsical attraction with fiberglass animals in 1989. It was in operation in Chicago until 2006. It was then sold to a private owner in California. St. George City purchased this timeless piece and installed it in 2011. Photo courtesy Your Content Queen 2022

The ride is now in the heart of the town park in the midst of a brand new Gold Star Families Memorial Monument, a splash pad, a children’s museum, a sculpture garden, and a host of other fun activities geared toward gathering, learning, reflecting and good old-fashioned fun. Residents love it, visitors come from far and wide to ride it and that means a boost to local businesses and the economy.

For Southern Utah Families, Town Park is the perfect place to spend a lazy afternoon with plenty of room to run.