Rocky Springs Carousel: Historic Dollywood Attraction to be Reborn in Pennsylvania

The 1924 Dentzel Carousel has been in storage since 1998. It could soon have a new lease on life in Strasburg, Pennsylvania.

Rocky Springs Carousel Association has inked a letter of intent with the local Choo Choo Barn Foundation train display, which would revive one of America’s oldest hand-carved wooden carousels after years of inactivity.

The Carousel first began life as early as 1895 at Rocky Springs Park in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, originally running on steam before being converted to electric power in 1903. The next drastic change came in 1924, when the Carousel was enlarged at Dentzel Company’s factory to accommodate three horses per row and all of the latest technologies of the twenties.

Wrought by Rocky Springs Park’s instability and eventual closure in 1984, the Carousel briefly moved to Michigan’s Lake Lansing Park in 1982 before ultimately being leased by Dollywood from 1990 to 1998. A delegation of Lancaster County leadership successfully raised $1.2 million in private donations to return it to Pennsylvania, where it has remained in pieces ever since.

The letter of intent marks the first step in a formal planning process, which will entail fundraising efforts, the design of a permanent Carousel enclosure, and a historical exhibit. Details on the latter will be released in the coming weeks.

“This partnership with the Choo Choo Barn Foundation opens an exciting new chapter in our carousel’s century-long story,” said Tracy Artus, President of Rocky Springs Carousel Association. “Strasburg provides the perfect setting to celebrate this rare piece of American craftsmanship and share it with future generations”.

The Choo Choo Barn houses a 1,700-square-foot train display, featuring over 180 hand-built miniatures and 17 operational trains. Homegrown by the Groff family since 1961, its ownership was recently handed to lifelong train collector Gary Russell, who quickly recognized the potential of reviving a local icon.

Gary himself isn’t short on enthusiasm for the project: “Welcoming this historic carousel to the Choo Choo Barn Foundation is a profound honor. This is more than a restoration — it’s a celebration of our community’s legacy and a commitment to preserving the magic of the past for families today and tomorrow”.

Do you have a classic Dentzel Carousel in your region or at your home park? Let us know in the comments below!