The Riverview Carousel- Six Flags over Georgia

One of the most revered parks in amusement park history is Riverview Park. It will always live in the hearts and minds of Chicago citizens and serves as a staple in park history books. Many considered it the quintessential amusement park. It had amazing coasters like the Bobs and Fireball, a parachute drop, a Shoot-the-Chutes and everything a park from the "golden age" should have. For the 1908 season the Schmidt family worked with a concessionaire, the Fidelity Amusement Company, to bring a a five-row carousel from the Philadelphia Toboggan Company, one of the largest and the first five-row (out of four made) the company ever produced, for Riverview. According to Chicago historian Stan Barker the machine cost $18,000.00 when it was first built. The park was a second home to many Chicago families who spent many childhood weekends enjoying the wooded park at the intersection of Western and Belmont.

The people of Chicago collectively shuddered as the park's owner announced that Riverview was closing forever in the fall of 1967. Sadly, many of the park's landmarks were lost to the wrecking ball. In fact, the crews who tore down the park used roller coaster cars to knock down many of the park's large coasters. The carousel was a handful of the rides saved. The mayor of Galena, Illinois bought the carousel but the town could not afford to rebuild the ride. It sat in the basements of Galena citizens and received many different coats of paint not intended by the original carvers. Jerry Deagen, Six Flags over Georgia's art director, visited the town during 1971 and saw what was left of the Riverview Carousel. His crew felt that the carousel could have a new home atop a hill at Six Flags over Georgia shortly thereafter located 69 of the carousel's 70 horses. Over the winter and spring of 1971-1972 the carousel was meticulously restored to a pristine state. The "new" ride opened for the 1972 season in a building that harkened back to Riverview Park. It still runs at the park today in a beautiful wooded setting surrounded by rocking chairs and tall trees.

The carousel itself, P.T.C. number 17, was one of carver Leo Zoller's masterpieces. Looking at the ride today it seems like more of a museum piece than an amusement park ride. It is interesting to look at, because the outer rows are the largest and each successive horse gets smaller the closer you get to the center of the ride. The inside panels and upper outside rim are covered with gorgeous angel carvings. Most of the angels are white with gold wings and some have blue ribbons around their mid-sections. The most controversial part of the carousel was the "Lovers Chariot." It had a naked couple in each other's arms and the woman had her breasts exposed. Although tame by today's standards, when it debuted in 1908 it had to catch many an eye and resulted in many mothers putting their hands over their children's eyes. Today the carousel still spins, thrilling new generations of riders. If I have one problem with Six Flags owning this piece is the fact that they do not run it and take care of it the way the builders wanted. For a National Historic Landmark, it seemed to be missing paint on several horses and spun slower than a good carousel should. Other than that it still is amazing to ride a creation that has been bringing enjoyment to generations of people. This carousel has stood the test of time and is arguably one of the most beautiful ever produced. It is hard to look at the ride from the bottom of the hill and not feel in awe of what you are seeing.

[Author's Note: Some of the information for this page came from Charles J. Jacques Junior's "The Carousels of the Philadelphia Toboggan Company."]


Carousel horses do not get much more regal than this. The flowers at the saddle's rear are a nice touch.	Notice how the horses get smaller as you look towards the center drum.	Notice the monkey on the saddle, an interesting choice for the kill.

Angels surround the carousel's outside rim. White is the only color of light to be found anywhere near the ride.	Although different than the carousel's location at Riverview, the walk up to the carousel today is arguably even more impressing than in Chicago.	The Lover's Chariot. A living piece of history that is more art than the recreation associated with an amusement park.