The Griffith Park Merry-Go-Round: Its 100-Year History and Its Road Back

The Spillman Engineering company built the carousel in 1926. It first ran in San Diego. In 1937 it moved north to Griffith Park, where it has been ever since.

Not every horse is as old as the machine. The horses on the platform come from three carvers: Spillman, Looff and Carmel. Friends of Griffith Park has said some individual horses date to 1895, according to The Eastsider.

• Four horses across. The horses stand four abreast, in four rows. The city calls it one of the few intact Spillman Engineering four-abreast carousels left in North America.
• Jumping horses. More than 60 carved wooden horses ride the platform, and they move up and down as it turns.
• Two chariots. Riders who would rather sit can take one of two carved chariots.
• A ceiling to look up at. The city's description notes an ornately detailed ceiling.
• A band organ. The music comes from a Stinson 165 Military Band Organ.

That is a well-known local story. Walt Disney, then living in Los Feliz, brought his children to the merry-go-round on weekends, according to Los Angeles magazine. While he sat on a bench and watched them ride, the story goes, he began to picture a place where parents and children could have fun together. Disneyland opened on July 17, 1955.

The Eastsider and ABC7 both repeat the story, and ABC7 calls the carousel the inspiration for the Happiest Place on Earth. It is a story, not a documented record, so we share it that way.

For years the carousel was privately owned and run, inside a building the city owns. In 2020 one of its two co-owners, Julio Gosdinski, died suddenly. He had started working at the carousel as a teenager. His half of the ride went into probate court.

The carousel closed for repairs in January 2022, according to a court document reported by The Eastsider. Repair estimates grew while ownership was unsettled, and the ride stayed dark.

The city's Department of Recreation and Parks set out to buy and restore the carousel, and it has since bought it. Officials feared a private collector might buy the ride and take it out of the park, ABC7 reported.

The city's own project notice says the carousel needs mechanical repairs and restoration before it can reopen, and that the work may take several years and be paid for through fundraising. The city's goal is to have it restored and running by the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Donations go through Friends of Griffith Park, the park's nonprofit support group.

1. Know where it is. The carousel building is off Crystal Springs Drive inside Griffith Park.
2. Check before you go. The ride is not running while the work is done, so look for updates from the city's Recreation and Parks department before planning a ride.
3. Follow the park group. Friends of Griffith Park posts park news, and it is the group named for donations.
4. Watch our calendar. When a reopening date is set, we will list it on the Los Feliz events calendar.

• Driving up for a ride today. The carousel has been closed since 2022. Plan a visit for after the city announces it has reopened.
• Counting on an old opening date. Older guides and listings may still show past hours and prices. Use the city's current news instead.
• Treating the Disney story as history. It is a well-loved local story. Enjoy it, and share it as a story.

Griffith Park has plenty to enjoy while the carousel is being restored. Walk the shaded stream at Fern Dell, read our history of Griffith Observatory above Los Feliz, or browse our guide to free things to do in Los Feliz. The Los Feliz events calendar has this week's gatherings, and if you host one nearby, you can add your event for free.

Los Feliz Events is a free community calendar for Los Feliz, Los Angeles, from Rooster Homes™, the Los Angeles real estate brokerage led by Brandon S. Arlington and Sarah Arlington. If you are thinking about buying or selling a home in Los Feliz, you can contact Rooster Homes. We are always glad to talk about the neighborhood.