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Griffith Park Merry Go Round
Rating Details »
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
12 reviews for Griffith Park Merry Go Round
Mr. G....you are the best!
We (kids, parents & Staff of Glen Feliz School) had so much fun on Friday at the Merry Go Round.
***Folks....for fun...go to the merry-go-round!!!
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3 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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8/2/2009
I went back to the Merry-Go-Round yesterday with my Victoria and our dog. The service is great!
The… Read more »
In my 29 years of life I've explored what must be 99% of Griffith Park. I doubt there's a stone that I have not overturned here. From the old zoo to that strange tree a couple of miles away from the Hollywood sign. I've been everywhere in this park.. and as one of the highlights to the place has to be the Merry Go Round.
During none operational times, the thing looks like it's the batmobile in the first batman film. It has a metal casing around it. Protecting it for the children. Oh yes. For the children.
This is one of the many things that you can do on the cheap that will please a small child you just so happen to be taking care of or taking out for the day. Be it your nephew or your own children. Griffith Park should be on your list of places to go for a good weekend adventure. Just becareful of the crowds. They can get into the mass amounts.
But the merry go round is completely old school and very much just as beautiful, if not a little more so than the one in Santa Monica. Make a day out of this with the youngin's or just go with someone on a date here. You'll be feeling all nostalgic in a matter of minutes.
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I came to Grifith Park with moderate expectations.
The scenery was great for the engagement photo session I was scheduled to shoot there. There were kids, parents, and a happy vibe.
Until I attempted to photograph the couple in front of the carousel.
I could see the carousel attendant giving me the stink eye. Finally after he got tired of scowling, he approached me and said I could not shoot in front of the carousel or on it without a permit from the city. My answer? Fuck you, carousel attendant. Go harass the droves of parents photographing their children on the carousel and stop embarrassing me in front of my clients.
We continued shooting. A few minutes later, a very bitter old woman came out and said I needed a permit from the city (to shoot an engagement session?) and handed me a "rate sheet".
$8000 half day rate?!?! $10,000 full day rate? I'm not kidding you folks. I have full respect for the elderly, and all mankind, but punching this woman would have provided endless satisfaction.
We moved our photo session to Griffith Observatory. Much better location and experience.
Griffith Park Carousel can suck it.
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If you're not familiar with Griffith Park, it might be tough to find the merry-go-round; there are a few signs, but if you're having trouble, the employees at the Vistor's Center/Ranger Station on Crystal Springs Dr. can point you in the right direction.
The carousel is a total throwback...you'll hear the carnival sounds of "Mary Poppins" songs or the occasional Andrews Sisters tune piping though from yards away. The ride itself is in need of some TLC (perhaps the reason the ticket prices are kinda steep?), but it has the ancient vending machines, available carnival food and accoutrements that make it the real deal.
The merry-go-round also has history on its side -- it was here, while sitting on a bench watching his daughters ride the carousel on "daddy day" that Walt Disney envisioned a place where parents and children could enjoy rides and attractions together. BTW, you can buy a copy of the fanzine "E Ticket" at the vending stand to read all about how the Griffith Park merry-go-round inspired King Arthur Carrousel at Disneyland.
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"How can a Merry Go Round in a lovely park earn anything less than five stars?"
Thank you for asking. Great question. After consulting some books and my spiritual adviser I've reached the following conclusion --
A Merry Go Round in a lovely park can only earn less than five stars if it kills people. Should the horses re-animate and chomp a baby on the head, or perhaps a well-greased pole ends up shooting a young mother over the Hollywood sign... those things are bad and definite 3-star territory.
_C$
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I love this place! The sights of the wooden horses, the sound of the organ playing, the taste of the cotton candy, so many memories for me and my entire family. I can't wait to bring my 3 year old nephew here and see the reaction on his face the first time he sees this marry go round, I remember when I first rode this marry go round, I'm sure he will remember his.
Bring your kids, bring the young at heart, bring the entire family. Throw that frisbie you have in your closet or that football, order some pizza to go and bring it to the park, and top it off with a ride on the marry go round. What a great and wonderful day you will have at the park. This place truly makes me feel like a kid again.
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Awwhhh, what is this salty substance forming in my eye? Is this....is this....a tear of nostalgia trickling down my sarcastic cheek?! Why yes, it is! But no real sarcasm needed for this one kids, cuz this place IS my childhood.
Some of my sweetest memories include this Merry Go Round and my family and my little blond haired brother and I spinning around and giggling to our heart's content.
We would also have picnics here and some of the most beautiful photos of my mom were taken here holding us up on the horsies as she glowed in her 70's and 80's sundresses.
Honestly, it's places like this that I think of when I think about the REAL LA and for the haters, just check this place out and then tell me LA is fake and lame. If you still think so, then I'll meet you at the tan horse with the purple paint at 3 'o'clock and we'll settle it there, bitches!
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On the day we decided to ride the Merry Go Round, it was playing music from Mary Poppins. That's very appropriate considering this is the very place where Walt Disney himself was inspired (after watching his girls play) to build a park where families can all join in on such fun.
It's so great to know they are open on major holidays and all throughout the summer.
I only wish they would take better care of the carousel, as it's beginning to show it's age and looked a little vulnerable and frayed.
Never the less, this place holds great memories for many of us and I can't wait to visit again.
This is an adult review of a child's amusement park ride. Any kid would give it 5-stars, but it get's two from me.
The only reason I am giving this carousel a two-star and not one is that whoever runs the thing claims that the carousel was the inspiration for Disneyland. According to a sign at the ride, "Walt Disney's dreams for Disneyland began when he watched his daughters ride on the carousel in Griffith Park."
The Carousel News & Trader says (http://carouselnews.co...), "The Griffith Park carousel also remains in about as close to original paint as any in the country... Another distinction of the Griffith carousel are the ceiling panels. Where most carousels are open to the mechanics above, Griffith Park has a ornately painted interior roof to protect the riders. A huge Stinson 165 band organ provides the music."
Yes, the paint is original, but what paint is left, shows how poorly maintained it's been. I have been on carousels 20 years older that have shown much less wear. The ceiling is also falling apart, with gaping holes in it. The Stinson is pretty cool looking, but frankly makes me sick. It is way too loud and warped sounding-- and literally made me nauseous.
I have been to better and less expensive carousels with my daughter. THEY CHARGE FOR ADULTS! How ridiculous is that? That means it cost $4 every time my daughter rode it because she was too young to ride alone. This is one of the few I have been on that requires the parent of a young child to pay.
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This is one of those places that makes you happy to have kids. I wish I could convey the sticky-sweetness of my toddler laughing while whirling around on that impressively-fast Merry Go Round and then kicking back in her stroller with a pinwheel and popcorn. All for less than $5. Every parent in L.A. should be required to bring their kids here!
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Nostalgia. It's been over 8 years since I've lived in LA - this merry go round will always be special for me.
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I went on when I was in the park once. I think I may have gone on it when I was younger too. I think I heard that this merry go round was used on a Twilight Zone episode.
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