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Balboa Park Carousel
Category: Arts & Entertainment Arts & Entertainment [Edit]
2920 Zoo DrSan Diego, CA 92101
Neighborhood: Balboa Park
(619) 239-0512
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
32 reviews for Balboa Park Carousel
32 reviews in English
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Review from Holly J.
Carlsbad, CA
2/13/2012 3 photos
Spent a lot of my Saturdays right here, in beautiful Balboa Park. This ride was a lot of fun; my favorite pony, standing firm next to the emergency rail, was still there, 40 years later. I won a lot of free rides from snagging the brass ring, a cool game they still provide. Take your own kids, give them some longstanding memories of their own!
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Review from Jason D.
Lawrenceville, NJ
9/8/2011
Took 4 year old daughter on it for the first time on my recent trip to SD.
What I find particularly compelling is that it's a beautifully maintained carousel, but doesn't have that 'glossed over' restoration feel to it. It feels old, runs like a top and transports you to a different time. Plus, it hauls ass and has a brass ring game.
The Best Carousel In America. Seriously. -
Review from Nick T.
San Diego, CA
3/1/2011
Downing a couple of beers and then getting on this thing was not the smartest decision that I could have made that one weekend a while back.
Nice ride though and the kids seem to love spinning round and round. I would take my nephews and nieces here. Kids love this stuff.
I used to be able to walk here from my old apartment but no more. I drive now. Its way too far from my new place. -
Review from Rosaleen A.
San Diego, CA
5/10/2011
I love this Carousel!!!!!!
I've been riding it since I was a baby, introduced my kid brother to it when he was a baby, and now, I recently took my own baby for a ride!!
The best san Diego experience, for only $2!
This carousel even has the brass ring legend come to life. You sit on the outer Horsies, and every time you spin by the ticket booth you pull out your pointer finger and reach for the sky, and Viola a brass ring!
Brass ring = Free ride!
Can't wait to ride again. You're never too old for this hidden treasure.
Happy Riding! -
Review from Shalini G.
San Diego, CA
3/7/2011 2 Check-ins Here
cool carousel...they were playing the theme from Indiana Jones when we were walking by. That caught the attention of my kids...they were baffled b/c they are used to hearing that at Disneyland, not at the SD Zoo...we didnt ride this time, but have in the past...my 5 year loves the carousel..thats her favorite thing to do at DL too....my 7 year old...not so much...as cool as this one is...i think we'll stick to DL rather than pay an additional premium for a quick ride...
instead we trotted over to the train...now that the kids are old enough to go by themselves, i only have to pay for 2 of them... -
Review from Tony N.
This carousel always seemed to be closed when I was a kid. My pops would tell me that it was haunted, which of course made me think it was some awesome murder arena.
MAXXXIMUM MURDER ARENA!!!
Now, thanks to a long renovation, the carousel is running at top speed every weekend for at least 4 minutes a turn. Children of all ages have the opportunity to relive (or finally live out) those fantastically fun-filled fantasies they had riding a menagerie of seemingly randomly placed animals. Last time I was there, I rode a cat.
A CAT.
It's also one of the few carousels around that still offers the brass ring special! The last time I was there a little kid freaked out when he snagged the ring. It was cute, in a special way.
Protip: The fun factor is raised exponentially relative to the number of disproportionately made Irish Car-bombs. -
Review from Walker S.
San Diego, CA
3/12/2007 2 photos
In 1994 the Balboa Park carousel won the NCA Historic Carousel Award in recognition of it's historic significance, quality, maintenance, regular schedule of operation and the community support. Our carousel continues to be available to the public as an operating machine. It is located adjacent to the San Diego Zoo.
The carousel is a Herschell-Spillman menagerie model built in 1910. It is one of the few that remain in operation. It was originally built for Los Angeles' Luna Park, then moved to Coronado's Tent City and various locations within Balboa Park before finally settling at its current location along Park Boulevard.
Except for two animals it is original as are the hand-painted murals surrounding the upper portion of the carousel and the military band music. Take the kids down to see this wonder. Let them ride and try their chance at getting the brass ring. This carousel is one of the few in the world still offering the brass ring game for everyone taking the 5-minute ride. Your child will have a great story to tell if the brass ring can be there own. -
Review from Judy L.
San Diego, CA
3/1/2011
It wasn't until this summer that I even noticed the carousel located near the San Diego Zoo.
This carousel, along with the train next door, is THE place to go for the little monkey I nanny for. He LOVES both of these rides to death and I can imagine he'd ride them all day if he could.
I have to say, that carousel lasts forever. And it's FAST! The first time I rode it wasn't so bad until halfway through I got motion sickness. Now, it happens each time I ride and refuse to ride it more than twice.
It's $2 for a single ticket, $10 for six. What sucks is that adults who have to accompany young children have to pay as well. I guarantee that most of the fun is for the child. I have to suffer and pay $2 for the ride while doing so? Oh well, anything to make the kids happy :)
The folks who run the carousel are pretty nice too. The monkey and I run into Joshua a lot; he's great with the little ones. There's another guy but I never caught his name.
All in all it's worth it to ride it once --- totally makes you feel like a kid again.
(Edited to add --- this post was written during the Summer 2010 and I didn't realize it wasn't fully posted and so the date is off!) -
Review from Amy K.
5/31/2007 ROTD 6/24/2007
The fancy flowered horse that's the default pic for the carousel reviews is my FAVORITE horse, the one I always insisted on riding as a kid. There's a picture of me on it from when I was 8 or 9, and a few years ago I went back and insisted on riding the same horse. I guess it's an asshole move to run for it and beat the little girl who wanted it, but fuck that, I'm older, bigger, have nostalgia, and managed to quash my sympathy.
The brass ring game is very rare nowadays, and is something I've always loved: an arm sticks out from the sidelines, and riders on the outer horses reach out every time they pass and grab a ring that rolls out. Most are iron, and then one or two are brass; get the brass ring and win a free ride. It mattered more than anything to me as a kid, and while I was too short to grab for rings (and barely tall enough to play the last time I went), my dad faithfully rode with me and would get the brass ring, then we'd have to go again...and again...
Getting the brass ring as an adult (although technically, I didn't actually manage to hang on to it so much as knock it out of the arm, but it counted, and the attendant rang the bell, and I was beyond gleeful) was probably one of the most fulfilling things I've ever done. Not exaggerating.
If I could give this carousel a hundred stars, I would. It makes me want to drive down to San Diego right now.Listed in: My ROTDs
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Review from Paige E.
San Diego, CA
2/2/2009
This carousel is.......................Legit.
New Yelp Tradition.....Monthly rides?? C'mon...it will be awesome! -
Review from JöHnNy A.
:-)
Faster. FASTER. FASTER!
What a great experience to have with your children.....
A Merry-Go-Round... A Carousel!
$2/rider. Cash Only. Approximately 4minutes a ride -- damn did that carousel move!
We bought two tickets for our boys (5yr old and our 2.5yr old) thinking we'd strap them into the sleigh ride seats...
Turns out we needed to have an adult accompany our 2.5yr old, which made sense. But yikes! With no ATM in site (they don't accept credit cards) I was split!
"Who Shall Ride the Carousel?"
I felt like Meryl Streep in "Sophies Choice."
And I needed to be slapped like Faye Dunaway in "China Town."
Where's my CASH?!!!
Immediately our young Carousel Host Joshua says to me: "No worries!" and lets me ride gratis. WOW! I'd tip him if I didn't just spend all my cash! DAMN!
As "daddy" rode with the boys, "papa" sat outside and gave them someone to wave to! I will definitely return to this Carousel next weekend. I need to give Joshua $$ and tip. A good deed goes along way and comes back to you many fold--pay it forward people.
How can you NOT feel the Holiday Spirit?
Thank you Joshua, and THANK YOU Balboa Park San Diego for this wonderful and archaic ride. It even had the ring grab, something I hope my children's children can experience someday!
5 WOOFS to Joshua and the Balboa Park Carousel! -
Review from Suzanne F.
San Diego, CA
9/21/2007
OK - I have to admit that my strongest childhood memory of this carousel is being about 4 or 5 years old and SCREAMING in panic as it went around and around...so loudly that they actually had to stop the thing and let me off.
Fast forward...some...years. Our 5 year old loves the thing. Of course, you could swing him upside down by his feet and he'd be happy - thankfully, he seems to have not inherited my balance/motion issues. After making Lisa ride it with him a bunch of times while I watched them having fun, I finally decided to overcome the childhood trauma and take a ride. And whaddaya know - not only did I manage not to scream in panic, but I actually caught the brass ring.
5 stars for the removal of childhood trauma and for being my son's hero for the afternoon.Listed in: The Best of All Things
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Review from Sarah C.
San Diego, CA
3/25/2010
For $2, you can be a kid again. The bf and I decided to come to Balboa Park one sunny weekend, and the carousel was probably the highlight of our day. I know for sure this was the highlight of my bf's day since he got the brass ring and a free ride on the carousel. So, if you want to have a chance at a free ride, grab a seat at the edge of the carousel and reach for those rings.
My favorite animal? The giraffe. The bf's pick? The huge green dragon. Um. And, YES, we were probably those two adults in our mid-twenties without kids on the carousel. -
Review from Jeanna W.
3/23/2011 2 Check-ins Here
What a load of fun for a low price.
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Review from Amy S.
5/3/2008
When I think of my childhood, I think of riding the carousel every Sunday morning while my grandparents watched from the side-railings as I went around and around for hours at a time riding just about every animal on that thing. I remember the guy who used to run it was the sweetest man ever who often let me ride for free because I was there so frequently and assuming I was pretty cute for a five year old.
Years later, going back to this place without dresses and lace socks on, I really appreciate the craftsmanship of each animal and the charm that goes into it. I still get just as excited as I did when I was five, and I hope there is never an issue where the city wants to remove it from Balboa Park.
This carousel definitely needs to be preserved forever.Listed in: Yelp on Yelp Action
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Review from Matthew J.
Palos Verdes, CA
8/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
Awesome old carousel. Long rides and 6 tickets for $10. Well worth the ticket.
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Review from Al A.
5/31/2007
When I was a kid, the mini train ride and the carousel were the highlights of my trip to Balboa Park or the Zoo.
Got the brass ring only once in my lifetime.
This carousel is an authentic classic, not like the new fangled ones you see at the malls or amusement parks. This thing is built to last and will be around long after I'm gone. -
Review from Charlie F.
Hercules, CA
8/26/2007
I wish I could give it 6 stars!! No trip to the park would be complete without a ride on the Carousel.
There's one seat that rocks. It's the best. It's extra thrilling because it also rocks side to side because it's so old and rickety. You never know when it's going to break, and that's half of the fun!!
It only costs $2. It's worth so much more! GO! -
Review from Caroline B.
San Diego, CA
6/6/2007
My brother used to work at this Carousel when we were teenagers, we attended a wedding at this merry-go-round for one of his co-workers and I can't help but associate it with rides and waving at my (now long gone but never forgotten) father....every time around. There will always be a place in my heart for this icon of San Diego.
I hadn't stopped by in years but now having a two year old, took her over recently after a day at the Zoo. This was our experience:
This carousel is a true antique and is in marvelous working condition. The songs are upbeat, traditional classics and they give you a nice long ride for the money. I couldn't believe my eyes when they brought out the ring machine so we could try for the gold ring (as we did so many years ago).
I will say, it was a disappointment when the older of the two gentlemen operating the ride deemed the ride insufficiently populated to justify loading the rings! Come on! Who would it have hurt? Ooooh! God forbid anyone in our group were to win an extra ride!
The hours are also a bit disappointing....particularly given it's close proximity to the world famous San Diego Zoo (now on summer hours). This carousel was built to light up so beautifully at night....hmmmmm....too bad. -
Review from Michelle C.
Monterey, CA
9/27/2008
Love this carousel!
I took my daughter today for the first time and she loved it. I grew up riding the carousel in Long Beach so I was happy to live near one that I can bring my daughter to. It's beautiful, fairly clean, and has a wide variety of animals ranging in size.
After we rode we walked to the zoo, it's really close. -
Review from Mark P.
La Mesa, CA
My kids LOVE this carousel! My days of riding are over with after I spent 30 straight hours on the one in Seaport Village (true story, google it). But this one goes pretty fast and it keeps the kids happy. Another thing the kids like to do is try to grab that golden ring to win a free ride. And really , I like it when they get it because it is a ride I don't have to pay for hahaha. But if there are 2 or more people sitting on the outer row then they do the golden ring contest. Just trust me here - sit on the outer row and do it. This place does have funky hours but seems to be open when it needs to be.
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Review from Leni T.
San Diego, CA
3/26/2010
HA!
You're not the only "adult" who loves this gorgeous old school carousel
I love stopping here when at Balboa Park and taking a whirl back in time.
As a matter of fact- it's one of my favorite San Diego spots.
Childlike or romantic depending upon your
mood. -
Review from Xioux Xioux X.
San Diego, CA
11/7/2010
I have broken my rule of not giving a perfect rating!
I blame it all on Mr. Joshua, the most adorable carousel boy I've ever met (and I've had a few, carousels, that is)! Gahhh! I feel like a 16 year old again! I'll try to focus the review on the establishment and my experience rather than my actual constant ogling on his smiling face.
My friend, her hubs, and their child (my goddaughter) came to visit from LA. After lunch, we decided to go to Balboa Park and parked by the carousel, so it was the first thing they saw. My friend instantly wanted to ride it and used my godchild as a reason. So, we buy our tickets and there I was acting like a little child wanting to ride my ostrich. We picked two ostriches right beside each other and the one I picked was up too high.
Here comes this adorable guy to collect our tickets - Mr. Joshua. He must have heard me ask my friend how in the world I would get myself up there because he offered to lift me up. Well, I certainly do not have a banging body, so I got a little insecure, and said 'no, thanks'. He asked, 'are you sure?' with his smiling eyes and face. I said, 'can you do it?', and he replied, 'of course'. Visions of me breaking the pole/pipe that holds the seat and his veins exploding, while pushing me up came rushing through my mind. What an embarrassing scene to see. But I needed to get up on my ostrich, so I said to myself, 'well, Mr. Hercules, go ahead, suit yourself'. So he assisted me as I stepped on the lever to push myself up. I gained so much momentum, I'm sure I weighed like a feather to him. And I started to laugh in my head, more like mock, of my visions because it failed. I think he might have said, 'see, I told you', but I was in the middle of winning over myself so I didn't hear exactly what he said.
The ride gradually became faster, which wasn't a bad thing at all except it got to the point where my butt was sliding down. I silently asked the guy's denim jeans in front of me if that's the secret to not sliding, cos I started to wish I was wearing one instead of my shorts over leggings. Or maybe my ass was too big. Shat! I had to keep my composure and hold on to my dear life as the carousel go round and round, and every ten seconds I would see Mr. Joshua's smiling face, so I had to smile back. And as soon as I pass him, I move an inch towards the middle or wish that I won't totally slide and 'take the piss' on my own self. Nevertheless, the ride was pretty good/long for a very cheap price. It was also playing the Star Wars theme so it added suspense to my chance of humiliating myself. Another employee helped my godchild when she started to slide down. Mum and baby sat on the booth instead.
After the ride, Mr. Joshua, came to us with his smiling face again, I began to think that he must either agree that my friend was a hot mama, or that he wanted to be friends so he can get to know my friend who was a hot mama, rather, he asked how it went. When I realized he was only talking to me, I suddenly started to think he was adorable and that I would secretly drag friends there more often just to see him. He held his hand out, introduced himself, and I did the same. Like many I've met, he loved/liked/thought my name was beautiful, yet, I made myself believe he was hitting on me and that it meant totally different. Until of course, I read another review below praising him, and that pretty much ended my whole infatuation.
Thank you Mr. Joshua, and the other employee for helping us. And I'm sorry to Mr. Joshua, his wife/gf, or if he's gay (he came off very happy and kind, and most guys I've met with that character turned out to be gay) if I made you uncomfortable with this review. -
Review from Carrie B.
12/14/2010 1 Check-in Here
Lots of great childhood experiences have been had by our family here. Try to grab the brass ring for a free ride and when you're finished trot across the way to the little railroad. Hit Spanish Village and hot dog stand on your way over to the museums afterward.
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Review from Ricardo S.
San Diego, CA
10/22/2011
great place for kids, good location, let's all go
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Review from joe r.
11/20/2008
i love swings. and i love carousels.
the balboa park carousel is beautiful, it goes round and round and up and down, and they have rings you can grab....if you get the brass ring you get a free ride. how fun is that.
lots of good memories...now if they can get all those pesky kids off, i can have a chance at the brass ring all to myself! hahaha
if you havent been here, you gotta go! -
Review from Luana S.
San Diego, CA
8/5/2008
I've seen the carousel here for years and we've never been on. The kids never seemed interested. Until today. Son #2 decided he wanted to try it. So, he, Son #1, my 73 yr. old Dad and I hopped on and took a ride. The ticket seller wasn't the friendliest, oh well. I got my tickets and the right change, that's all that mattered. The ride operators were very nice. Dad said one was trying to get Son #1 to grab the ring, but I guess he wasn't paying attention. It was nice of him to try. We enjoyed the ride and the beauty of the carousel.
8/12/08
I just wanted to add that the ride operators are real sweethearts! We went again and I put my youngest on a horse that didn't move up and down. I didn't realize that, but they noticed. One asked him if he wanted one that moved. He's not very verbal and didn't answer. I didn't hear him and thought he was telling him to hold on. The other came over and asked him, then I realized his horse was stationary and what the man was asking him. He offered to move him to a moving horse. He picked him up, all 75+ lbs. of him and carried him to another horse. My son thought this was all very funny and he had a huge grin for the entire ride. I think it was beautiful that they went above and beyond the call of duty! -
Review from Allison K.
San Diego, CA
1/29/2007
I still ride the carousel and I'm in my 20s. I kick all those short kid's butts at getting the brass ring. There's something so wonderful about feeling dizzy and nauseous because you've just done 500 revolutions in a brightly colored human centrifuge.
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Review from Erin B.
San Diego, CA
5/28/2009
I loved it as a kid and now I love to take my kids on it. You never know if you'll hear traditional carousel music, or something offbeat - my son was ecstatic one day to have his dizzying ride set to the Star Wars theme. As a child growing up in Coronado, I always thought it was very special that the carousel had previously been in the Tent City there. And the brass ring game! I'm finally tall enough to play, though in my heart it will always be about my dad trying to get one for me. Isn't it wonderful that something almost 100 years old is still so much fun?
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Review from Jenn K.
1/8/2009
The Balboa Park Carousel is one of the most precious things about Balboa Park! I remember riding it as a kid, and can't wait until I have kids who I can take there as well. It's beautiful, and in a picture-perfect setting.
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Review from Aneesh B.
Redwood City, CA
7/2/2010
Classic carousel with a chance to grab the brass ring and score a free ride. $2 a ticket, and you can buy 6 rides for $10. Great deal for a really fun thing to do with kids (or if you want to act like one). And yes, I did get me a brass ring. And oh yeah, the kid had fun too...
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Review from Teresa M.
San Diego, CA
4/1/2009
What can I say about this wonderful carousel that hasn't already been said? My siblings and I loved it as children and my son loves it today. Great for the family. I almost always catch a ring for my son to ride again.
