The Crescent Park Looff Carousel is a historic carousel that opened in Riverside, East Providence, Rhode Island in 1895. It was built by Danish immigrant Charles I. D. Looff. He was born as Carl Jürgen Detlef Looff in Bad Bramstedt, Holstein (now Germany) in 1852. After immigrating to the United States in 1870 at the age of 18, Looff settled in Greenpoint, Brooklyn and found work as a carver for a furniture factory. He began a hobby of taking home leftover wood scraps from the factory and carving them into carousel animals. He created his first carousel in 1876 and it became Coney Island's first carousel and amusement ride. Looff soon opened his own carousel factory in Brooklyn and continued to build more of the rides. In 1886, Looff was commissioned to build a carousel for Crescent Park (known as "the Coney Island of the East") in Rhode Island. In 1895, he moved his family there and established a new headquarters. He built a second, larger and more elaborate carousel for the amusement park. He also built an adjoining workshop and showroom for prospective buyers. Looff relocated to California in 1910 so he could build carousels for amusement parks on the West Coast. He passed away in 1918 after building close to 50 carousels. Looff is regarded as one of the most important and influential carousel builders of all time. Crescent Park was damaged by the 1938 New England Hurricane. Repairs were made, but the park permanently closed in 1977 with most of the rides being sold at auction. The Looff Carousel was saved and was declared a National Historic Landmark. It has undergone a number of restorations over the years. The platform features 61 horses, a camel, two single dragon coaches and two double chariots. It is one of the last surviving carousels to still be standing in its original location with all of the original components. Today the carousel is open from June through October. It operates on Saturdays and Sundays from 12pm - 6pm. Rides cost $2. My family and I recently visited the Crescent Park Looff Carousel. My wife and I have been carousel enthusiasts since we visited the New England Carousel Museum a few years ago. We had heard that the carousel in Riverside was one of the best historic carousels that was still left. This carousel is absolutely beautiful! You can tell that all of the horses were carved by a master craftsman. We also really liked that this one is one of the few that still features a brass ring device. A wooden arm dispenses iron rings that carousel riders try to grab as they pass by. If a rider gets a 'brass ring', then they win a free ride. This whole concept adds a fun competitive element to the ride. As an added bonus, riders can throw them into the cut-out mouth of a clown face painted on a large canvas. We had so much fun riding the Crescent Park Looff Carousel. Our only complaint is that the band organ wasn't operating during our visit. Aside from that, we think that it is probably the BEST carousel that we have ever visited! We hope to return again and again! read more

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I absolutely love the Crescent Park Carousel, and so do my kids. The park is in a beautiful area with the carousel right across the street. The horses are beautiful, and the building itself fabulous. It has original features, and I love trying to grab for the golden ring. I wish it were open year-round, but it's only seasonal and certain days of the year, so it's a real treat going there in the spring and summer. read more

A Historic Landmark you can ride. Yay! Built in 1895, the carousel is one of the handful remaining of more than 100 carousels built by Charles I.D. Looff. It's in excellent condition with finely crafted original parts: the lighting, shed, and band organ. Set in Crescent Park and overlooking the Seekonk River, the carousel retains bright, vivid colors and the laughter of its riders. It's open from Easter to Columbus Day. Ride tickets are .75 cents. It's a great pit stop at the end of the work day or on your way to aging. Wheeeeee! read more

Crescent Park Looff Carousel - Crescent Park Carousel - Carousels Near Me - Riverside, Rhode Island

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Really gorgeous carousel in a lovely park! My partner and I were curious to see Looff's famous craftsmanship up close and this carousel is indeed incredible. If you've ever wanted to go for a spin on a giant Saint Bernard - here is your chance! An enjoyable experience for adults and kids alike. There was also some snacks including popcorn, though I didn't try any. Next time! read more

Crescent Park Looff Carousel - Jessie the Saint Bernard! - Carousels Near Me - Riverside, Rhode Island

One step into Crescent Park Carousel and you are brought back in time. A feeling of nostalgia brings me back to when I was a little kid and the many trips I'd take here with my family and how much fun it was to pick a horse, go around trying to grab a brass ring and just enjoying a simple ride around on an old time carousel. I love how the history and details have been preserved here over time. Just a great place to go and enjoy being a kid again and admire the beauty of a historic venue. I also like that they have a Blount Clam Shack outside, which is a great new addition. No matter if you are young or old, come from near or far, I suggest making it a point to take a trip and go enjoy a ride or two over at the carousel. read more

Crescent Park Looff Carousel - Taking a step back in time for a ride on the carousel. - Carousels Near Me - Riverside, Rhode Island

Amazing building and carousel without a doubt! I've seen a lot of these now and this one truly stands out as many reviewers say; MAGICAL... The craftsmanship and museum history photos are what set this on the proper context. Anything with this age and mindful creation has a long history of odd events to make it come to life and stay alive. Stop and play for it will keep your child-like nature alive as well. read more

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The carousel is a hidden gem of East Providence. It's located right across the street from a free parking lot, and a walking area and beach with views of the working waterfront. The carousel itself is still full of old-timey seaside charm. You can try your hand throwing rings into a clown's mouth for a chance at a free ride, or take your picture with some wooden cutouts you might see on a boardwalk circa 1900. I enjoyed this place as a single person and now with my kids. For families heading here, get the "buy 20 tickets" deal. It's worth it, they don't expire and you'll come back. read more

Crescent Park Looff Carousel - Carousels Near Me - Riverside, Rhode Island

Reach for the brass ring, in the original sense of the idiom. This fast-moving century-old carousel has a touch of danger and adventure that modern carousels don't. Leather seat belts (that are really belts) make it safe enough, but the wind in your hair lets you know this was built in an era (1895) when people knew what a fast horse ride should feel like. They have an authentic ring-dispenser that the staff diligently refills as riders on the outer tier of horses enthusiastically snap a ring on each pass and then discard (if iron) or cash-in for a free ride (if you have gotten a brass ring, well-worn and golden). Buy several multi-ride packs because you'll want many many rides. Charles Looff was a master carver and carousel builder and the one at Crescent Park was his factory showroom model, huge and intricate. Build your day trip to Rhode Island around your visit to this carousel. Try the nearby clam shack (in season). read more

Crescent Park Looff Carousel - Looff Carousel building at Crescent Park. - Carousels Near Me - Riverside, Rhode Island

Yippee! Carousel time! And she sure is a beaut. There are some passionate Rhodies out there who have kept the Crescent Park Carousel alive through all these +100 years, and continue to fight for her. Brass rings! Original organ music! Gorgeous wood craftsmanship! A carousel experience does not get any better than this. The well-maintained park is a great place to spread out a blanket and relax, play catch, roll down the hill, all that good stuff. Head down to the beach for a stroll, where you can spot remnants of the old boardwalk, and the pottery shards and sea glass pickin's are prime. I walk this beach every week (my 'hood!) and fill my pockets with treasures every time. "Cruise Night" car shows every Saturday night in the summer. Family/kid movies are screened next to the Carousel Friday nights. Sorry, I think the clam shack is nasty, but that's another review! read more

This place is both historic and magical!! The carousel was closed for the better part of last summer due to renovations - renovations which are sure to make this enchanting little place even better. Located in the park is a little shack where you can purchase clam cakes and chowder. The food is pretty good, so on a sultry summer evening you can expect to wait at least a half hour for your food. Across the street is beautiful Crescent Park on the banks of the river. During the summer, they have live bands that come and play on Thursday nights. Fun for kids, but even more fun for big kids. 75 cents for a ride! Weeeeeee!!! read more

Family fun from years past. The carousel is in excellent condition. There are lots of photos from years ago when Crescent Park was open. Highly recommended for anyone that wants to see what a real Carousel looks like. read more

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This is a fun spot to spend twenty idyllic minutes in the summertime. They totally allow grown-ups to ride this bad boy, and you can have your pick of stationery horsies or ones that move up and down. Daring carousel riders will be excited about the ring toss; you lean over from your horse, pull a ring from a dispenser and throw it into the mouth hole of a giant painted clown! Eep! Being around so many hyped up little kids is intoxicating, and I am one of those rare girls pushing thirty with a very quiet biological clock. I just like seeing folks having fun! I have never seen anyone here in a crummy mood, with the exception of a toddler who didn't know what he was in for. Once I had the surreal experience of observing a gaggle of modestly dressed tweens who rode this carousel side-saddle in ankle-length skirts. read more

This is one of my favourite places in the world. There is nothing so absolutely magical as walking into the carousel, smelling the popcorn, and hearing the brass bell ring over the sound of the calliope, signaling the start of a ride that will make you feel like you're 8 years old again. Once inside, you can peer through a made of brass and carved horses to see the ticket booth. It was 25¢ when I was a kid, but has gone up to a dollar a ride to keep up with the cost of maintenance. It's still less expensive than the cheap, mass produced carousels at the mall, and I'd happily pay more, it keep it going. The carousel was intended as a showroom of sorts of the master carver, Charles I. D. Looff. There are four rows of ponies, the outermost being the largest, most ornate, and expensive, and the innermost, the smallest. Most of them go up and down, but there are alternating rows of stationary seats, as well as a couple of chariots. They're being refurbished, currently, so there's an interesting blend of new and old. One of the biggest treats is the ring catch, as another reviewer mentioned. I remember waiting to be big enough to lean out and crook my fingers around one. The arm is manual, requiring an attendant to feed rings into it, and during most of the rides, there's a single gold ring, entitling the catcher to a free ride. There is nothing more exciting than looking into your hand and seeing that glimmer of gold between your fingers. If you don't catch it, you can always try your hand at tossing your ring into the painted clown, just before your whirl by the gift stand. The calliope is original, as well, and you can still catch the mechanical arms of the cherubs moving to hit their drums now and then. It's massive and a wonder to behold. The entire carousel is like that, in fact, a little old fashioned oasis in an increasingly busy, modern world. The carousel is open week-ends starting Memorial Day and closing after Columbus day, though it does open up for pictures with Santa and the Riverside tree lighting. This is one of the best winter deals around-a 5$ donation nets you a picture of Santa, seated in a decorated chariot, welcoming in the holidays. There is no charge if you want to take your own photo, but it's well worth your money. As another note, you can now also buy souvenir brass rings to keep the memory alive, as well as to discourage people from stealing the finite amount in the building. My family, Riverside locals, have been going here for years. My daughter became the fourth generation of riders at three weeks old, obliviously curled up in her sling. I hope some day she'll be able to bring a fifth generation here and experience it the same way I have. read more

This is one of the remaining carousels that is made by Charles Looff. It's a historical landmark in the state of Rhode Island. Its horses move up and down a little faster than the ones at Central Park. read more

Just some good classic family fun with a little bit of history if you actually walk around and look at all the pictures and plaques.

A dollar doesn't go far these days, but at Crescent Park, $1 will get you a ride back into time! This well-kept carousel is authentic, built in 1895, and a real local treasure. The whimsical sounds from the German organ magically transports you to childhood. I think my husband and I had just as much fun as our 2-year-old. And bring your camera - great photo opportunities on the carousel and in the nice green park across the street. read more

Great Ride. Great atmosphere. Beautiful horses and authentic calliope. Grab for the brass ring. And with a Blount Clam Shack 50 yards away and a great park with a view of the bay right across the street, what's not to like! read more

Hands Down, the best carrousel around. Made on site, by Mr Looff himself, the carousel is the only remnant of Crescent Park amusement park. After the park closed in the late 1970's, the carousel was saved from an uncertain disposition by concerned citizens of Riverside, and is maintained by volunteers. A dollar to ride on a masterpiece is a bargain! The carousel is open seasonally, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and holidays. read more

Fantastic place! Love it. Beautiful, and it was 50 cents per ride on the day we went.

This carousel is enchanting , magical and the craftsmanship shown is spectacular. The history shown in the carousel is fascinating and is amazing to ride a historical landmark for only 75 cents! The area around is well kept and they have a little food shack near by so after a ride you can go grab a snack. Love this place , definitely stop and check it out. read more

I really enjoyed this carousel. I remember stories of my mom telling me about the carousels she rode as a child and this is just like I pictured. The horses are very pretty and the fine detail on the carousel is amazing. My kids had a blast and I will openly admit that I had a great time as well. The bonus: They have the brass rings that you try to grab and throw into the clowns mouth. This task has us all competing against each other for bragging rights. I feel that the price of $1 is very reasonable. We went on a Saturday night so the trip was extended by walking around looking at all the classic cars out in the grassy area. Young and old this is a great place to go and enjoy the simple things in life!!!! read more

I grew up in the seventies and we went to the park every weekend! Now since the park is gone, I have the carousal to keep the memories alive and well. I remember the western train ride with a gigantic dragon figure! If you go and look at the museum pictures it will bring the memories back. You can smell the popcorn and hear the shouts of joy even now. Big five stars!!!! read more

nice carousel. first one my daughter has ever been on. 75 cents per ticket, 1 ticket per person, per ride. rotation goes around about half a dozen times. there are A few kiddie rides outside, $1 per ticket, and most rides require at least 2 tickets. my daughter was too small to go on most of the rides which she was disappointed about. read more

Crescent Park Looff Carousel - Carousels Near Me - Riverside, Rhode Island

Really fun carousel, lots of history with a mini museum inside. Face painting, games, popcorn etc. Love it!