Carousel Gardens Amusement Park
4.6(1.6K)google
4.1(31)yelp
Roller CoasterKidsFamilyYouth-FriendlyOutdoorDate Spot
Overview
Carousel Gardens Amusement Park is a charming, nostalgic amusement park nestled under groves of ancient live oaks inside New Orleans City Park. The park's crowning jewel is the Flying Horses Carousel, an antique wooden carousel carved in 1906 that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and features real horsehair tails. Boasting a range of classic rides including a vintage miniature train, a family roller coaster, and bumper cars, it offers a beautifully historic, fairy-tale playground experience for families.
Practical Info
Suggested Duration2-4 hours
Best TimeWeekend afternoons to early evenings (3:00 PM to 7:00 PM) during spring or autumn offer the ultimate experience. This historic amusement park is shaded by majestic, moss-covered live oaks; cooler temperatures make waiting for rides comfortable, and the antique hand-carved wooden carousel looks magical when illuminated at dusk.
Getting ThereNestled beautifully deep within the central recreation zone of New Orleans City Park. Hop on the Canal-City Park Streetcar line to its final stop at the park's main entrance, followed by an easy, clear 5-minute stroll directly to the park ticket booths. Free on-site parking lots surround the area.
Travel Tips
- The amusement park operates seasonally and is mostly closed during winter and weekdays. Check the City Park website for real-time schedules before visiting. The gate is 100% cashless; all admission and ride tickets must be purchased digitally online.
- The park features a century-old historic wooden carousel. To protect this antique artifact, strict weight limits apply to certain wooden horses, and clothing with sharp metal studs or accessories that could scratch the vintage paint is banned from the ride.
Photo Tips
Photo Spots
- The best scenic overview of the entire park is captured from the Miniature Train Ride. Weekend and holiday crowds of families are massive; arrive 30 minutes before opening to line up and hit the train and carousel first to beat the afternoon bottlenecks.
Reviews
Positive
- The park houses a priceless 1906 antique carousel, one of the last hand-carved masterworks in America, offering a dreamy and nostalgic ride experience.
- Designed beautifully for children, it features an old-school train, mild coasters, and a Ferris wheel, serving as a safe and secure family fun park.
- Nestled in City Park, massive oak trees provide a beautiful natural shade canopy over the attractions, protecting families from blistering summer heat.
- Admission and ride wristbands are highly budget-friendly compared to modern theme parks, paired with orderly lines and clean accessible restrooms.
Heads up
- The operations are highly seasonal; the park shuts down on specific winter and spring weekdays, making a meticulous online calendar check mandatory.
- The ride physics are heavily tuned for younger children under 10; thrill-seeking teenagers and adults will find the rollercoasters too tame and boring.
- Crowd density surges to maximum levels on sunny weekends, causing long queues at small rides, and the food stalls suffer from slow service throughput.
- The in-park hot dogs and popcorn baskets are very plain and small for the marked-up price, leading many savvy locals to pack their own picnic lunches.