Located in Nederland, Colorado, the nonprofit Carousel of Happiness is a magical menagerie featuring 57 whimsical, hand-carved animals on a restored 1910 Looff carousel, turning to the music of a 1913 Wurlitzer band organ. The Carousel opened on May 29, 2010, and has provided more than 1 million rides to visitors from around the world.

The story of the carousel and the Vietnam veteran behind it serves as an inspiration to our many visitors. As a young Marine in Vietnam, Scott had received a gift of a small music box, which he held to his ear to distract him from the horror of the war going on around him. The music brought him a peaceful image of a carousel in a mountain meadow. After returning from the war, he rescued an abandoned carousel in Utah and spent the next 26 years hand-carving animals to bring it back to life. (Buy the books "Don't Delay Joy" and "Carousel Soul" for the full story!) The antique carousel provides a cultural opportunity around this historically popular amusement park ride, and is a source of pure joy to people of all ages and abilities.

With its affordable ride price, the Carousel is accessible to the vast majority of visitors and families. However, free and reduced cost rides are provided to people in need and in special circumstances, including those participating in senior programs, Alzheimer patients, people with autism and developmental disabilities, and children in after-school and YMCA programs. The Carousel also has a ramp for riders who use wheelchairs, and noise-cancelling headphones for sensitive ears.

In addition to the main attraction, the Carousel offers a DIY puppet theatre upstairs, a storytelling booth with professional recording equipment for visitors who wish to record their own stories for future generations to hear, and the "Wonder Box" where visitors share a question, pondering, drawing, or thought with us. We believe that inspiring wonder, curiosity, and imagination are part of what makes the Carousel so special.

Program Impact:

Many organizations serving seniors, people with disabilities, youth and low-income families have visited the Carousel, bringing their clients to ride the animals over and over again.

Groups that visited in 2024 include: Boulder High School, Boulder Waldorf School, Duncan Park Church Camp, Gilpin County Parks & Recreation, Girl Scout Troop #888, Imagine!, Lamar Visitor's Center, Nederland Elementary, Nederland Middle-Senior High, New Explorers Learning Center, The Travis Manion Foundation, Wild Bear Nature Center, Women's Wilderness Group.

Over 660 Group Visitors from 13 organizations in 2024

Providing Joy and Connection