A magical menagerie featuring 57 whimsical, hand-carved animals on a restored 1910 Looff carousel, turning to the music of a 1913 Wurlitzer band organ.

Happening at the Carousel

Happy New Year!

We had an *almost* white Christmas, and are enjoying winter in the mountains. As folks head up to ski at Eldora, the Carousel awaits to bring them a smile at the end of the day! We hope you and your

Holiday Adoptions are a Very Special Gift!

Adopting one of our unique animals is one of the best ways to support the Carousel and become a part of our family. We hope every smile experienced here turns into countless more beyond our doors! Funds raised by animal

Carousel Named as Top 3 Spot to Take Kids

The Carousel of Happiness has been named the #3 Top Spot to take kids in and around Denver for 2021, by readers of Kids Out and About Denver. The Carousel ranked immediately behind the dual powerhouses, Denver Zoo and Denver

How It All Began...

As a young Marine in Vietnam Scott Harrison received a tiny music box that he held to his ear to distract him from the horror of the war going on around him. The music, Chopin’s “Tristesse,” brought him a peaceful image of a carousel in a mountain meadow. After returning home, he rescued an abandoned Looff carousel in Utah and spent 26 years hand-carving animals to bring it back to life.

Scott had never carved before, but starting with the rabbit that is now on the sign in front of the carousel in Nederland, he went on to create more than 50 one-of-a-kind animals, 35 of which can be ridden. As he was finishing, the small community of Nederland (pop. 1,500) came together and raised the $700,000 to build it a home.

Puppet Theatre

Enjoy some fun activities when you visit the Carousel. Put on a show in our Puppet Theatre. Let us know, what makes you Wonder? Share your stories with us!

Shop the Carousel

Our gift shop is full of items sure to intertwine our story with yours. Your purchase helps fund the Carousel, magic and all.

Birthday Parties

Celebrate your birthday or other special event at the Carousel to create lasting memories for your family and friends.

"This is hands down the most magical place I've ever been. The carousel has such a rich and interesting history and the environment it's been placed in shows just how much love has gone into it."

"A carousel in the middle of a mountain town?! Fun for the kids and an interesting history for the adults. Second time we've stopped in after doing something else in the area..."

"Glad to see history saved. They took great care documenting the history of the carousel and its restoration. If you pass through Nederland, CO, you need to stop and take a ride."

"Beautifully carved animals, an antique Wurlitzer music box and a fun place for kids."