Beautiful, charming, affordable. A must do if you're with children in GG park. The only con is that there is really only one spot to take a pic. We will be back! P.S. don't get discouraged by the long line in the area-it's for a coffee/food stand read more

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Old time Beautifully maintained Carousel. $2.50 for adults and $1 for children. Ride is long enough to enjoy and has traditional music. The attendant was nice and interactive. read more

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Looks partly abandoned ...could run ..the one at yerba Buena is probably open more ..considering ...I like to live in a park bathroom Walk on a different path of golden gate Park Still light out and misty august ...super cali fragiligistic ..alotrocious ..where's Mary Poppins read more

Super inexpensive joy ride for little kids next to a great playground. The only thing that would make this old merry go round more delightful would be if they had an antique music maker instead of piping in merry go round music from a speaker, takes a way a bit of the old timey charm but still a wonderful toddler attraction in Golden Gare park. read more

Golden Gate Park Carousel - New operator for the carousel with new hours - Carousels Near Me - San Francisco, California

I would definitely recommend this impressive merry-go-round, located at our country's oldest playground, Koret Children's Quarter! Carousel tickets are just $1 for kids and $2 for adults, hubby and our eldest enjoyed this classic ride! You could easily spend the whole day here! When you're done grab a bite or drink at their cafe! And you cannot leave Golden Gate Park without going down their huge concrete slide! Just grab a slab of cardboard to slide down! After visiting, take a romantic stroll through the San Francisco Botanical Garden or Japanese Tea Garden and then peddle boat at Blue Heron Lake! And if you love checking out historic landmarks like I do, there are several here!! We'll definitely be back to explore more, we are especially excited to take our kids to the California Academy of Sciences!! SYOY! :-) read more

Golden Gate Park Carousel - Hubby on the carousel! - Carousels Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I love that we still have a carousel here and that it's still operational. It's nice to have remnants from the past and reminders of how life was when I was growing up. This location is clean and was not crowded. The staff was friendly and cheerful. read more

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Amazing artistry. Glimpse into early American history of children's entertainment. Simple pleasures and lasting memories. Can't wait to take my grand daughter here! read more

A great novelty item to have in a children's park - it only costs $2/adult to take a ride and you can take two kids with you for free. Tickets are purchased at the food kiosk across the way. You don't have to wait too long in between rides to get on and each ride itself will last several minutes. Lots of different fun characters to choose from, both stationary and mobile. read more

Short review: Gorgeous antique carousel with local imagery painted on the rounding boards, but difficult to see through dim windows. Nice cheap entertainment for a day out, and moderately interesting for carousel and history enjoyers. Long review: The wooden animals were beautifully restored with eye-catching paint jobs around 1984, and recordings of traditional carousel music play while the ride spins. The antique band organ did not seem to be in operation. The outside row does not go up and down, and the round tub no longer spins, which is unfortunately common for Hershell-Spillman carousels of this variety. Does not feel like the fastest carousel in San Francisco, though that may be at least partially because only a door or two are open so there isn't much airflow, thus not much of a breeze when in motion. There was a cardboard sign listing the times of operation (basically every 15 minutes) but some times were late or skipped. Staff were polite but unsure how knowledgeable they are about the carousel and its history. No place to view it indoors as it runs. That said, it is the cheapest antique carousel in the Bay Area at $2.50 or less per ticket, and it's just a few blocks away from a Muni bus stop. It's also right next to the Koret Children's Playground, which is a nice accessible playground that requires adults be accompanied by children, and the ticket stand is also a snack shack. read more

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A great stop during a Golden Gate Park visit. Right next to the children's playground. It's free for under 5s, $1 for 5+, and $2 for adults. We were almost the only ones there on a Friday at around noon. You don't have to wait for more people to show up. The carousel seems to run pretty much on demand. read more

This is a good indoor location with reasonable rates that's family friendly, it's a throwback to yesteryear and simpler times by having this classic merry-go-round carousel. Parking is fairly easy if you're willing to walk. Getting here was a bit of a mess using a GPS with all of the one way streets twisting and turning on and off streets back and forth, so it's good to get somewhat acquainted with the location, as Golden Gate Park is huge, and plan ahead. read more

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How to find it: On Lincoln (heading towards 19th Ave.) and before you get to 4th Avenue, make a hard right onto MLK drive, go .02 mile, then another hard right and then another right turn to get into the parking lot. Charming, made in upstate New York at the turn of the century and lovingly restored, going to the carousel in Golden Gate Park is one of our favorite things to do. In winter, the Carousel is open only on Saturday and Sunday (excepting major holidays). In summer, It's open daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Children 5 and under ride free (but must be accompanied by an adult) and otherwise children 5 and over pay $1/ride. Adults are $2 and yeah, you can be a kid and ride the carousel, too. If your little ones get hungry, there's a little kiosk that sells hot dogs, chips, soda, ice cream and cookies/brownies right there in the little courtyard. Both the carousel and the refreshment stand are cash only (try to bring small bills). Afterward, head over to the sunny and huge Koret Children's Playground adjacent to the Carousel. If you're lucky, your kid might be so worn out he'll take a nap. (it doesn't cost a thing to wish!) read more

San Francisco has not one, but two classic carousels. One is here. If you're a parent living in The City, or you visit SF with kids, then this is a place you must find. It's a little hidden away. You can't see it from the street, whether zipping toward Lincoln Avenue or looking down from MLK. Just find the Koret Children's Quarter, and it's right there. We went to The City today, and before going, I suggested going on the merry-go-round. My girl actually bounced up and down while shouting with glee "the merry-go-round!" When she saw it, she almost ran down the steps to get there. $1/ride for kids, great deal. The funny thing is, she told us that she got sick riding it. Ah, so she wasn't being a drama queen when she was hanging her head over the front of the horse . . . Thing is, it's not that fast of a ride. The one in Santa Cruz is much faster, and also bigger. And it's hard to get a good photo here because no spectators are allowed inside the building. Still, it's lot of fun, and more affordable than those hot dogs being sold nearby for $5. And with its location near the big playground, this is a winner. read more

Golden Gate Park Carousel - anticipation of a fun ride - Carousels Near Me - San Francisco, California

A great Carousel in a great location in Golden Gate Park. What's not to love about merry-go-round rides? It costs $1.50 for adults to ride, and the ride lasts for a few minutes. Lots of fun, enough said. read more

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Love this carousel. It has been around forever, and it's still kept up in beautiful shape. Tickets are sold at the hot dog stand. $2/adult, $1 for kids 5-11, but free for young kids. A very inexpensive way to brighten a kid's day. The ride lasted for a decent amount of time compared to other merry-go-rounds. Yelp says they close at 4PM, but I went at 4PM on a Wednesday, and they were still running. Not sure if the hours have been extended or if they keep operating as long as there's an interest. read more

Where else in the city can you ride a: Gleaming red, orange and yellow rooster. (see Josua P's review for a slightly more edgy take :) ) A purple, blue, and yellow ostrich. A dope billy goat - rearing on it's hind legs. A unicorn. A roly poly pig. A statuesque silver suited horse. For 2 dollars ? Where else? (1 dollar for kids over 6 and free for 6 and under) Note - be sure to read the rest of the reviews to learn more about the fascinating history behind the Golden Gate Park Carousel. Trust. read more

YOU'RE NEVER TO OLD TO HAVE A HAPPY CHILDHOOD! I have had the most joy riding this Golden Gate Park Carousel through the eyes of all 3 of my Children. However, I'm fine with solo rides too! The history of the carousel is one that illustrates an interesting part of 12th century Arabian and Turkish tradition. Derived from the Spanish word, carosella (meaning "little war") real horses and lances were used to engage in a game of horsemanship and technique that was taken quite seriously. The game traveled across the continents, setting in Europe during the 1680s, where the act became a bit of a spectacle. Eventually, wooden horse contraptions were created for members of young royalty to get ready for upcoming tournaments. It was from this design that the modern carousels flourished, bringing in the "Golden Age" of the carousel from 1880 to the early part of the 1930s. At one time, more than 7,000 carousels thrived, but now only 300 of these beauties exist, with this very special example residing in Golden Gate Park. This 1912 Herschel-Spillman carousel stands as the true gem within the larger playground. read more

This is one of the most beautiful carousels that I have been on! It's gorgeous! Check it out! Kids under 6 ride free with a paying adult= $1.50 . I noticed a sign that mentioned a price change on September 1st= $2.00. read more

I am grateful for the Golden Gate Park Carousel. As we drove down Bowling Green Drive, passing the San Francisco Lawn Bowling Club facility, I felt a flurry of butterflies quivering in my stomach. I was age 8 again. A wealth of happy memories filled my mind and I was about to make a new memory. This visit to Golden Gate Park would be the day I accompany my children on their inaugural ride on the carousel. I learned about the National Carousel Association's website and since my first virtual visit, I have made a quest to seek out these historical works of art. The 1914 Herschell-Spillman is a classic wood carousel. It was updated in 2010. There are 28 Jumping Horses, 10 Standing Horses, 24 Menagerie Animals (1 Tiger, 1 Lion, 1 Giraffe, 1 Stork, 1 Deer, 1 Goat, 1 Camel, 1 Dragon, 2 Frogs, 2 Cats, 2 Zebras, 2 Dogs, 2 Roosters, 2 Mules, 2 Ostriches, 2 Pigs), 2 chariots, 2 Tubs. My daughter was captivated by the white horse with the roses and gems. My son initially rode the standing dragon and then leapt at the chance to ride a prancing caramel colored horse. Monday afternoon was an ideal time for a ride. There was no line. We played in the adjacent playground and slid down the concrete slides prior to our rides. We ate salted, warm pretzels. We enjoyed the Gebrueder-Bruder #107-52 keyless band organ and casually enjoyed every whimsical moment. Just remember: BRING CASH. Cash only ride. Thank you to the City of San Francisco for preserving this treasure. read more

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This carousel is magical. Such a beauty. Vintage and in an amazing location by a park for kids to play and snack nearby. Parking can be tough so expect to walk a bit to get to this. read more

Awesome carousel. So many carousels are overpriced and quickly over. This is not the case for this carousel. You buy a ticket behind the carousel. Then present your ticket and get a good ride on your choice of different animals. My daughter had a great time. This is a great location, close to a playground and restrooms. read more

I love the fact that the Golden Gate park has a carousel right next to a park (Koret's kid's corner.) This carousel is awesome with hand carved animals of all kinds! Very bright, colorful, shiny and fun for children to take a ride on. Some of the animals move up and down, some are stationary and there are other little seats that will fit a few people. The prices are so reasonable. It only cost $2 for adults (ages 12+) and children 6-12 are $1. And if you're younger than 6 you can ride free with a paying adult. Bring your little ones here and watch their eyes light up with joy, it is totally worth it. Then head over to the Children's park and have a blast! read more

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This 92 year-old vintage carousel is a delight for children and adults alike. One of only two remaining four-row Herschell-Spillman carousels in the world, it is not simply a ride, but a work of art. In addition to beautifully carved horses, the carousel features a number of more unusual animals, including a frog, an ostrich, a camel, a goat, a giraffe, a dog, and a cat. The ride itself is just the right length (about 2 minutes) and fast enough that the kids get a thrill without getting scared. About a quarter of the animals are stationary in case your little one is afraid to ride the animals that go up and down. There are also bench seats you can use if you have a child who wants to be held. The cost is $1.50 per ride for adults. The cost for children 6 - 12 is $.50 and children under 6 ride for free. read more

Golden Gate Park Carousel - Carousels Near Me - San Francisco, California

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For 3.5 minutes, it's really good for the price. Kids 5 and under are free with an adult ticket $2. Ages 6-11 are $1. Located near the art studio, bowling green, I have to say the closest parking is going west on kezar and making a right onto MLK drive. The park is just a walk down a small hill. Plenty of parking if you arrive in the morning. Not meter parking so yay, but it is two hours Monday - Saturday. Very classic and elegant carousel. The interior design of the dome is def worn and you can see some water damage, but overall you're still experiencing some kind of history! (; The carousel itself is like any other except I have to say the animals are quite unique looking. The outer animals are stationary and the inner ones are the ones that go up and down. So make sure you get on those. Tickets are sold at the hot dog stand right outside. They seem to run the carousel - as in decide when it opens.... I waited around till 10:15 and was kind of talking loud about how I wish it was opened for my daughter and was about to leave because it said 10 online and the worker quickly opened up the doors for business. So maybe show up around 10:30 to be safe and that it is opened? I hear sometimes they close early too... so 10:30-3:30 is your safest time slots. They don't run it back to back either. Sometimes the worker will say next ride in ten minutes or five minutes or who knows... it all depends on the amount of tickets that are sold. But if you're in the area, I recommend checking it out. Plus it's right next to a toddler and children's play park. Double action to tire out your kids. Oh sorry spectators. You'll have to wait outside of the building even though they have seating on the outer rim. read more

Golden Gate Park Carousel - Carousels Near Me - San Francisco, California

This place used to be amazing. But after the previous ride operator left (KD) its fallen from five stars to 1or no stars. The new guy who was here this Saturday is NO FUN in every way shape or from. He preaches safety but I saw him start the ride before all the kids had gotten situated, and that just seems dangerous. He is in a hurry, and that seems funny because when I was there there was a sign on the door that said "next ride at 1:35". He showed up, operated the ride once or twice and left. When he took off there was a sign on the door stating the time of the next ride. I wanted to stand inside and take some photos, he said I could stand in the doorway if I wanted. "I just don't want to get closed down". What a complete jerk. I'm sorry and I don't want to come off as rude, if you dont like children, you don't like dealing with people and you want to be a jerk to everyone you should find another job. Go be a jerk somewhere else. read more

Nearly the best $4 spent on the carousel. That price is 2 rides each for my 8 year old, my 2 year old, and myself!!! Like the others have said it's $1.50 for adults, and 50 cents for children 6-11 (I thinks). Children 5 and under are FREE with paid adult! Man I'm going to make a promise that I take my kids on that badboy if we ever make a visit to the park. read more

Slides are back! Now that the adjacent playground has been restored, remodeled and cleaned, plan on spending a good 2 to 3 hours with any age kids there. We happened to be there the day Gavin and friends cut the ribbon and reopened the playground after a long restoration period. Nice to have the carousel but there is so much more to the playground, namely the ever-lasting cement slides. read more

Golden Gate Park Carousel - Sunday Chronicle - Bay Area Section, July 15, 2007 - Carousels Near Me - San Francisco, California

Closed when I brought my daughter in the afternoon tuesday wednesdays and thursdays..

Awesome carousel located right next door to Koret's Children Quarter also known as Golden Gate Park Children's playground. After huffing and puffing and running with their heart desire from concrete slides to money bars. ... the best way to wind down is a ride on the majestic classic carousel. With so many different animals to choose from and only a few dollars per ride, we can go a couple rounds and enjoy the relaxing and fun ride before heading out. The carousel is nothing less than beautiful. And definitely a delight to have in Golden Gate Park (^_^) read more

Zach Galifianakis once said, "When you look like me it's hard to get a table for one at Chucky Cheese." Well, when you're a man in your thirties, riding a carousel requires at least one of these things: an accompanying child or a woman. I thank my friend, Viola P. (yes, THE Viola P., Mayor of Awesometown) for helping me get on this ride without setting off an AMBER Alert. Carousels are wonderful, as in full of wonder. The concept is basic, the execution is bombastic, and the result is all smiles. Have you seen the faces of children on a carousel? That is called delight. It's beautiful. There are not many carousels still running. This particular carousel was carved and assembled in 1912. I think it turns in a circle because it's meant to be eternal. I'm glad my 1.50 goes towards sustaining a piece of history. Also, I'm glad I rode the tiger, because I am a manly man. read more

Considering the beauty of the carousel itself and the Golden Gate Park setting, it's amazing to me how effortless and inexpensive it is for anyone to access this little treasure. This place is everything Disneyland is not and just knowing that it exists makes me happier with the universe. Even if it does cause me to lose my lunch sometimes. read more

All of the five star reviews don't lie. This is the cutest, biggest, coolest carousel ever! Children under six are free. 6-12 year olds are $1. 12 and over are $2. This is a bargain! The ride isn't short either. There are so many different animals to pick from. My son and I had trouble deciding because they are all so cool! We wanted to ride them all so we hopped from one animal to a couple different ones during the ride. My 2 1/2 year old loved it. This is a must do if you are near Golden Gate Park with your kid. read more

I don't know what it is but I'm a sucker for classic carousels like this. Every time I find myself in Golden Gate Park I make sure to stop here. The ride's affordable, just a couple of bucks, and while there's nothing you wouldn't expect (music, stuff moves up/down, you go around in a circle) it's neat to see all the details in the old wooden animals - not just horses here. SF has another classic carousel over by Yerba Buena Gardens/Moscone Center - but this one is right next to the awesome Koret Children's Quarter playground in Golden Gate Park, so it wins. read more

How can this NOT make you smile? Old-timey carousel music with horses and other animals to ride on. I contemplated hopping on the ostrich but I ended up choosing a horse next to the blue dog and horse that my young companions were on. The ride lasted for a few minutes - not too short, not to long- more like perfect Goldilocks time. The kids loved it and that totally made me love it all the more. $2 for adults $1 for children Free for the under-5. read more

First, I am gratified to see that it is indeed called a "carousel." I was walking down the hill to this one with my two yr old, excitedly telling him that we get to go on the carousel today, and a little girl overheard and asked her mom what it was. The mom said, "She means merry go round--carousel is just the old-fashioned name." Shaaa! Me and L-man are on the carousel CURCUIT these days and we know what we are talking about. We like this one because it is fast and beautiful and a good price at $2. The pricing is all over the map at different ones in town (I think $3.50 is the highest, but it's for two short rides), but it's nice that the GG Park one is pretty cheap since it's next to a park we go to at least once a week and we'd go broke otherwise (yes of course I could say, "No carousel today, honey," but have you tried telling a two year old "No" to a shiny moving thing with animals and music?) read more

LOVE this carousel! We were trying to go to the Exploritorium & the line was 1.5 hr wait. Having a toddler in tow (you know what I mean if you have kids) we knew we weren't going to last more than 20 mins in line. We were bummed. We were sad. We drove all the way from the East Bay to have a fun day in Golden Gate park. With our heads hung low we drove toward the exit & saw a sign that said CAROUSEL. My hubbie & I looked at each other & said "why not?" Parking was hard to find, but we parked near the Conservatory & found a hidden path to the carousel. What luck again! This carousel is 95 years old & the hair on the horses tails are real! PLUS it is rated one of the top 5 in the world (the one in Santa Cruz is another in the top 5). AND it is only $2 for adults & free for kids under 5. SCORE! The playground for the kids next to the carousel is amazing. It is really well thought out & my son spent hours exploring it. We got some hot dogs & big fat pretzels from the vendor & ate lunch in the shade. WHAT A FANTASTIC & unexpected day we ended up having! read more

Definitely worth checking out. Especially now that the Children's playground has reopened. $1.50 a ride for adults and a mere fiddy cent for children. My son is a "horsie" addict and it's often hard to get him off any carousel, but with the amazing Children's park within eye shot, it was easy to convince him that our turn was over. Added bonus? We spun around on this beauty to the tunes of Rebel Yell! Yes...the Billy Idol of the 80s Rebel Yell. It was classic. Well.. actually it was rock, but you get my point. read more

We were in town for the weekend and decided to check this park out. I am really glad we did, it's such a nice park (huge), and my 13 month old loved it! They have everything a kid could wish for including a huge slide and a beautiful carousel. Tons of playground to climb on - both for big and small kids. There are also lots of swings, not just 2! My LO loved the large grass field and wanted to run around for days. I highly recommend and we will be back every time we make a visit to this town. read more

Golden Gate Park Carousel - Huge cement slide! - Carousels Near Me - San Francisco, California

In my hometown, there was a carousel that was a national landmark. Every horse and other animal was hand carved, hand painted, beautiful and unique. Unfortunately, this treasure burned around a decade ago. The entire city mourned. The carousel at Golden Gate Park was like the lost twin of my hometown carousel. So take everything I say with a grain of salt. I'm feeling just a tad nostalgic. We were the only people not accompanied by children over age 10 on the carousel. But the guy at the ticketin booth didn't seem surprised when we purchased two tickets. It was your typical carousel ride, complete with annoying or amazing music depending on how you look at it. It lasted maybe 5 minutes. But the pictures will last a lifetime. Don't laugh. I told you I was feeling nostalgic. read more

The LO loves merry go rounds and carousels, so we had to check this one out. It was kinda hard to find since it isn't right next to the parking area, but if you find the children's playground, you'll hear and see the carousel. The only complaint I have is the worker was daydreaming and didn't realize that the music wasn't play, so it was kinda creepy to have the carousel spin around without the music. It was nice to check out and I am sure we'll be back the next time we are in town. read more

Golden Gate Park Carousel - Carousels Near Me - San Francisco, California

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