griffith Park Carousel Gets a Second Chance

The Griffith Park carousel-a “crown jewel” of the park and the place where Walt Disney first dreamed up disneyland-is getting a major upgrade just in time for its 100th anniversary in 2026. The city of Los Angeles’ recreation and parks Commission recently signed a million-dollar deal to buy the historic ride.

Walt Disney loved this carousel. he even bought a similar historic wooden ride to use as the King Arthur Carrousel at his Disneyland park in Anaheim. The Griffith Park merry-go-round stopped running in 2022.

Its previous owner, Julio Gosdinski, unexpectedly passed away during the pandemic. This left the carousel in a arduous situation just as COVID-19 restrictions were starting to lift. It briefly reopened in spring 2021 but closed again the following year because it needed repairs and didn’t have a clear owner to fix it.

gosdinski’s ownership of the carousel is still being decided in Los angeles County probate court. His mother and sister are competing with another owner for control, according to court records.

Now that the parks commission has an agreement, the city will take care of the carousel. It will be part of a larger project to improve that part of the park, which is expected to be finished before the 2028 Olympic Games.

The carousel is one of the oldest wooden merry-go-rounds in California, and one of just a few remaining from the early 20th century.