The Griffith Park Merry-Go-Round
1926 Spillman Eng. Carousel • 4-Rows • 68 horses from Spillman, Looff and Carmel
(Photos 2011, R Hopkins)
The historic carousel was built in 1926. It was brought to the LA park by the Davis Family in 1937 after operating in Mission Beach, San Diego. The carousel features 68 horses in 4 rows and an elaborate ceiling kit. When it was placed in its new building in 1937, it was just down the road from The Griffith Park Zoo.
Click the cover to read more about Griffith Park Carousel history in the Carousel News & Trader, Jan. 2008 Online
It was the Davis Family who brought the 1926 Spillman carousel to Griffith Park. They built the beautiful building niched into the side of the hill as well. Oliver F., Ross R., and J. O. Davis, three generations. In addition to The Griffith Park Carousel, the Davis family are also responsible for the historic carousels at Balboa Park, San Diego; Tilden Park, Berkeley, CA; and instrumental in placing the carousel in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco.
Before the 1926 Spillman, a 1911 Herschell-Spillman menagerie, better known today as the Tilden Park Carousel operated for a season at the building site at Griffith Park. It was a huge success. In those days, The Griffith Park Zoo was just down (or up) the road. Animals came to Griffith Park from Lincoln Park, where the Davis’ had their main carousel operation. The Griffith Park Zoo opened in 1913 intending to give the animals a more natural setting. Cages were carved right into the hills around it, and although it attracted 2 million visitors a year, in 1966, the animals were moved to the new LA Zoo, 2 miles away. In addition to closing the old zoo, the park closed the road going past the carousel to the zoo. Griffith Park Drive went up past the carousel to the old zoo not far away. The road also went all the way to the new zoo, but it was soon closed anyway, just above the carousel parking lot. Still, plenty of families and kids of all ages find the rare historic carousel in the park, filling it up on the weekends. The carousel also does well to exploit its own character and good looks, and is quite often the location for filming and/or private parties. What better place?
Griffith Park Merry-Go-Round
4730 Crystal Springs Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90027
(323) 665-3051
Visit laparks.org for Griffith Park carousel visitor information.
The Griffith Park Zoo
Los Angeles’ Zoo from 1913 to 1966.
The Griffith Park Zoo – The zoo for Los Angeles from 1913 until 1966, when the animals were moved to the new, current, Los Angeles Zoo two miles away.
Click Here for more history on the Old Griffith Park (Los Angeles) Zoo >>
Click here for the Griffith Park Zoo on Wikipedia >>
Click here for more Old Griffith Park photos >>
