Ameri-Go-Round

The "Ameri-Go-Round" was an antique carousel at Six Flags Great America. It is also the name of a newer carousel built the same year at its sister park, Paramount's Great America.

History

The Ameri-Go-Round's life began in 1910 as the Carousel at Fontaine Ferry Park in Louisville, Kentucky, where it ran until the park's demise in 1975. The next year, Marriott's Great America opened in Gurnee, Illinois, and one of the attractions was the Carousel (not to be confused with the Double-Decked Columbia Carousel also located in the park), however, it received a new name, "Ameri-Go-Round". The ride sat in the very back of the park in County Fair and was located between the circus (later the American Eagle), and the County Fair Games area.

Great America was unique because it was one of the few parks with two carousels within the park.

In 2003 the carousel spun for the last time as it was removed after the park closed for the winter. The ride was replaced with a HUSS Frisbee ride named "Revolution" in 2004. One factor to the ride's removal however was that the ride was closed often due to low staffing and/or mechanical problems.

In Santa Clara, the Ameri-Go-Round closed in 1995 and was replaced with the Drop Zone Stunt Tower.

Current status

Currently, the Ameri-Go-Round is in storage at the park. Initial speculation was that the ride was to be relocated somewhere else within the park, however that has changed and now the ride will most likely be sold to another park. The ride is rumored to be in storage crates near the lift hill for "Superman Ultimate Flight".

With Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom now open in Louisville, the park in Kentucky is attempting to return the carousel to its hometown.

Santa Clara's Ameri-Go-Round was relocated in 2006 to Wonderland Park Zoo in Seattle, Washington. It will be operational by summer 2007. Santa Clara's Ameri-Go-Round was Philadelphia Toboggan Company's 45th carousel (built in 1918), and valued in over $1,000,000.

External links

* [http://www.fontaineferrypark.com/ffcarousel.html Fontaine Ferry Carousel Photos]
* [http://greatamericaparks.com/amerigoround.html Ameri-Go-Round History]

* [http://www.zoo.org/carousel/horses/horses.html Santa Clara's Ameri-Go-Round's Horses]