Historic Dentzel carousel opens for the 2022 season with free rides through Memorial Day

Marcia Greenwood, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
·2 min read

The historic Dentzel Menagerie Carousel at Ontario Beach Park in Charlotte opened for its 116th season Friday and will offer free rides through Memorial Day, Monday, May 30.

The merry-go-round will be open from noon to 7 p.m. through Memorial Day and on Saturdays and Sundays through June 26.

From Monday, June 27, to Labor Day (Monday, Sept. 5), it will be open from noon to 7 p.m. seven days a week.

The historic Dentzel carousel at Ontario Beach Park in Rochester was built in 1905.
The historic Dentzel carousel at Ontario Beach Park in Rochester was built in 1905.

The cost after Memorial Day will be $1 for a single ride; $10 for 12 rides; $5 to ride all day.

As part of a proposed $10 million project to improve Monroe County parks, the carousel would get $500,000 in upgrades, County Executive Adam Bello announced Friday. The work would entail cosmetic fixes, improvements to fences, guardrails and handrails and enhanced handicap access, although the ride has long been ADA-compliant.

If you want to plan to visit around the weather forecast, Friday’s calls for mostly cloudy skies, showers and humidity and a high of 73 degrees. A morning shower is expected Saturday, when the high should reach 71. Sunday will be sunny and warmer with a high of 79, and Monday will be mostly sunny and much warmer with a high of 85. There is almost no chance of rain Sunday and Monday.

Made by G.A. Dentzel in Philadelphia, the circa-1905 Dentzel is one of the few carousels of its kind still in use. It features more than 50 hand-carved horses; three cats, ostriches, pigs and rabbits; two mules; and a deer, giraffe, goat, lion and tiger; and two chariots.

In 1984, the county completely restored the wooden animals to their original condition.

The ride was shut down for more than a year starting in July 2017 because of a broken crown bearing, a replacement for which had to be fabricated.

Reporter Marcia Greenwood covers general assignments. Send story tips to mgreenwo@rocheste.gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @MarciaGreenwood.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Dentzel Menagerie Carousel at Ontario Beach Park opens 2022 season