Salem's Riverfront Carousel Reviews

We had time to spare before meeting family for dinner in Salem, so decided to check out Salem's Riverfront Park on the Willamette River and we discovered Salem's Riverfront Carousel. It is housed in a building and has beautiful hand carved animals which are a delight to children and adults alike.

Our carousel is so unique hand with carved animals, wagons and so much more. My favorite horse is Glad Tidings, which comes out at Christmas because it's one of two holiday horses. Bucky is popular, The General and dozens more.

We took the family to the Salem River Park with the children. The children enjoyed playing in the park. However a highlight of the day was riding on the carousel and trying for the brass rings. The older children liked the challenge of getting the rings and the younger just riding on the horses of other animals. We adults loved taking pictures of just seeing the fun expressed on the children's faces.

Jump on-it's not just for kids. What a gem this carousel is!! Get up close and "on" some of the horses and take in the artwork that went into these animals. Of course, kids love it- it's a reasonable price too. It's fun to buy extra tokens so you can hand them out to others. It's in a nice park with lots of walking paths available.

Great for our G. Kids ages 3 & up! Next door is the Children's Museum which is very educational & a fun play area. It rains nearly every day in OR!!!!

My boys love coming to the carousel. Next door is a wonderfull Playground and paved paths to walk, run or bike. Big lawns for playing soccer, a water fountain for kids to play in during hot summer days. This is a must visit attraction in Salem Oregon. We've even visited for birthday party's!

Not only was it fun to ride one of these gorgeous horses but it is a beautiful Carousel to see! The animals are so well done. The gift shop is very nice and get a snow cone for the pure joy of it! My horses name was Legal Tender and my husbands was Big Sky! We were the only adults that climbed on horses but go for it!

Indoor Carousel - decorated beautiful. The park that surrounds the Carousel if nice and looks over the riverfront. The park has been upgrading fun to explore. In the summer there are concerts at the park.

Whenever we have the grandkids (ages 2-12) with us, it seems like we always end up with a trip to the carousel. The kids love it and the Riverfront Park is wonderful to walk around after a carousel ride. There is also a play area for kids.

This is gorgeous!! the carousel is in a glass building ,with a gift shop.For the holidays there are special horses put in the mix...This is at the riverfront park ,with many things close by...including an ice skating rink( for the winter only) The place is a great photo op.
for your kids and grandkids!

Very nice casino with a nice selection of well run games with minimums that won't break the bank. Plenty of parking.

We visited the Riverfront Carousel as a family, and the craftsmanship is amazing! There is a shop onsite (in the gift shop) where you can see new characters being carved. The carousel is beautiful, and incorporates details specific to Oregon's history and area. Inexpensive ride ($1.50/person) in a beautiful park.

When we were there at the carousel, the work shop was closed but you can see easily into the glass windows the projects that are being worked on. The workmanship of the carousel is beautiful. The atmosphere is carefree and energetic for families. It's only $1.50 a ride (very cheap!) when we were there (Jan 2018) The gift shop has a large selection of carousel gifts but also a fairly large selection of other items from the area as well. Fairly reasonable prices. There's also a extremely long path that follows the river, right near the carousel where you can bike, roller blade or walk. A cute playground and some sculptures as well. There's also an ice skating rink nearby. My daughters and I spent about 2 hours in this area and still didn't see everything.

Service was great, staff was fantastically kind and the Carousel is beautiful. If you are a Carousel fan this is a must. There are far too few around. Our 11 year old daughter just loved this place.

Take the grandchildren here! Take the kids here! Or take grandma to reminisce about her childhood! Just plain good clean fun for the whole family. Watch the woodcarvers create another masterpiece for the carousel! That's right, this entire carousel is filled with horses created by these local artisans!

We live in Reno, Nevada and April 30th my family and I were in Salem unfortunately for a family funeral. We had young children with us and it had been a very long car trip. We stopped at the Salem Carousel the 3rd day in town, and we were very surprised that a ride only cost $1. Unbelievable since here in Nevada everything cost so much that we can barely afford a movie once a year! We rode the carousel, adults and children then we were lucky enough to meet the man who makes the carousel horses by hand! He was so sweet and took time to explain the procedure to us in his shop! . The people working at the Carousel were so nice, they even have a game to play as the carousel goes around you pull the (golden ring) actually paper pieces, but if you get the correct one you get a free ride, and my grandson got it and he was thrilled.! The Carousel itslf is inside but is located in right at the edge of the Willamette River and the park surrounding it is amazing, green like a carpet, flowers of every color cover the whole area, and statues and benches scattered across the lawns are just a beautiful way to spend the day outdoors in the lovely Pacific Northwest! The gift shop is not even that expensive and has many souveniers that one can purchase. We got a tootsie pop and it was delicious.

The carousel is located in the park by the river and is well worth a trip if you have time. The cost to go on ithe ride are reasonable and you can see the youngsters really enjoy it.

What child/adult does not love a carousel. Brings back memories of your younger self. This is a place to relax and ride a small piece of a bygone era . Don't miss this....ride or watch the younger children ride and enjoy their hoots and laughter.

Great place to bring that family and enjoy the sights or just relax. They always have different types of activity's there I think every month.

Old time carousel is visually appealing with lights and music and hand-carved horses. This place provides a quick and inexpensive place to entertain the kids. Take a peek into the workshop to see a carved horse in progress. My grandkids love to learn the names of the very detailed horses, and look for their favorites to ride when they jump on the carousel.

Most, if not all, the animals on the carousel are hand made by locals. It's a beautiful carousel and after you have ridden it you can go outside and stroll around the lovely grounds, have a picnic, play games, etc. If you visit, I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

My brother and I were admiring the decor on the well-kept up animals on this carousel and decided - why not? We're in our 60's and grinned at re-living fun times of our youth. The bonus is that this carousel is located in the terrific Riverfront Park for walking. There's a small playground for little ones.

Whenever we have our grand kids, during the summer, we always take them there to ride the carousel, eat cotton candy, and play at the play ground.

So colorful, adorable, expertly carved variety of animals for all ages. Impressive that this is a labor of love made possible by community volunteers. They should be very proud! It's a must see during your visit to Salem. Pick up a sheet in the gift shop that matches the animals to their cute names. The park is lovely too! Free parking.

Fun times greatMemories. Always trying to find things to do with 5 Very Active boys. Time to go find some new adventures

My granddaughters, 3, 6, and 7 love the carousel and the gift shop. I always ride with the 3 year old and we really enjoy choosing her horse and going so fast our hair blows behind us. They all had a great time shopping in the gift store which has a nice collection of items for any age.

We have been frequent visitors since my son was a baby and he’s 8 now. He still loves it and is tall enough to play the ‘grab the ring out of the salmon’s mouth’ game which really is a lot of fun to do and interact with the other bigger kids riding the Carousel as they all have a friendly competition for who gets the ‘rare’ gold rings. The gift shop is great for birthday party gifts, the staff is super nice and the popcorn and other treats they sell are a nice treat. The park has a great playground just outside the Carousel too as a bonus!

I took 2 of my out of state nieces, on the carousel ride. It is so adorable & enjoyable. It is great family fun. It's fun in the rain or shine.

I love the Carousel! Love it! Each 'pony' has been lovingly hand carved and meticulously painted. Everyone can find a favorite. From Woodland Crusader to Jazz, Rosie, or little Joe. There is a story for every pony. Some of them are fun and a couple will bring us softies to tears. Each ride is a magical trip back in time to when you were young and life was easier. Whether it's a couple of friends out for a fun day, taking your kids or niece and nephews for a special treat or hunting through the gift shop for that special present, you can find something at the Riverfront Carousel. Did I mention I love the Carousel????

Going was easy and fun for the kids very expensive we kept the grandkids busy for about an hour there was no long lines so the kids could go many times choosing a different horse or animal each time

Located near downtown Salem. Beautiful horses. Take the kids. Near the river and bridge access to Minto-Brown park.

Love it here. Very peaceful! Love the bridge you can walk on that crosses over the beautiful Willamette River.

This was my go to place as a teen. I still visit when I'm back home. It's perfect for families of course but also for a first date or just a walk.

This is a great place to visit, with the surrounding park and close to downtown Salem, this makes for great picture opportunities. Nice little gift shop and workshop, and if you are lucky to land on a day that the craftsmen/craftswomen are there working on new or doing repair work you might get to hear cool stories of some of the carousel animals history, they were so welcoming and invited us in up close to the Carousel Animals they were working on. We also stopped by to take Prom Pictures, the staff was very helpful in getting us in to take pictures in-between the rides.. the staff was wonderful! And the photos came out amazing :)

Visited the carousel and Riverfront park with several grandchildren, they always enjoy the ride and the playground right next to it.

We regularly bring our granddaughter here 2-3 times a month. We enjoy the ride 4-5 times a visit, enjoy the beautiful horses, enjoy watching them being carved and painted. Always fun to visit the park afterwards.

My child loves it there and had her last birthday in their party room. It was a huge hit! sjkhdash aisud

just a nice highlight of Salems downtown waterfront! It's pretty, and kind of unique. Salem waterfront park is beautiful, and also has one of those sternwheeler boats with daily trips.

Excellent park. With the carousal, Stern wheeler play ground, water park and even the Gilbert House on the other side the kids just love to come down to the Riverfront.

Who doesn't enjoy a classic carousel ride? This one is truly remarkable! Certainly the ride is what you would hope for, and the music has always been a nice selection, but what makes it particularly special is the craftsmanship of the horses (and other characters). If you want a bonus, go on Thursdays to see the artisans in action, designing and building their next creations. You will be in for a treat! Do stop by the gift shop... it has temptations even for a shopping fuddy-duddy like myself. :-) Also, enjoy the park, go for a walk, bring a picnic, hit the splash pad (summer time). Make a day of it!

The carousel is very enjoyable with kids or without. Horses are beautiful. The carousel reminds me of when I was a kid.

Who doesn't love a Carousel?!?! This one is completely enclosed so it makes a perfect 'get-out-of-the-rain' activity. Granted the rides are only a few minutes long, but still, it's worth it! The kids love it! There is also a super fun park right nearby & bathrooms, so it is a great place to spend the morning or afternoon! Rides cost $1.50 or you can buy one of the bulk offers (the smallest being 18 rides for $20, which saves you $7). Multiple kids can ride on the same bulk coupon.

Not sure if this is normal, but today when we went there were people working on building new 'horses' (actually it's a dragon, which my son thought was really cool!). They gave both of my kids a buy one ride, get one ride free ticket, so we'll be back soon to redeem those!

Another attraction recommended by the folks at Woodburn BW. Being from Cincinnati and having Carol Ann's Carousel, we wanted to see this. We first took a ride on the carousel. This is one of only a few carousels built entirely by volunteers using traditional techniques. Then we stopped in the workshop. We had wonderful conversation with Bill and Jenny. We learned about the woodworking techniques and saw the 2 new characters for the carousel: llama and dragon. Jenny gave us additional ideas for places to enjoy. A fun stop on a somewhat dreary weather day.

The hardest part about the carousel is getting to it. If you can make sure to be in the correct turn lane, you will be fine, else park at the Gilbert House parking area and walk over. Beautiful handmade animals, we watched years ago as they crafted them and now everyone gets an opportunity to ride. Youngsters can ride - and adults. Rooms that can be rented for birthday parties. Just fun.

Located just 5 minutes from the State Capital, it's perfect for kids of all ages with tickets starting at just $1.50.

Whenever someone comes to visit, we go to the carousel. The Riverfront Park is a wonderful place to be and riding the carousel is just a kick

We heard my nephews 2nd birthday party at the carousel and it was an amazing venue! They have a large room with an attached kitchen that allows you to bring food in from outside. We did a potluck and had a lot of room for people to mingle. The cost included balloons, carousel tickets and invitations, we opted out of the invitations and got more carousel tickets. The party books the room for two hours, plus you get 15 minutes prior for set up. We will definitely book with them again!

Nice little place for a walk and a snow cone with great view of the river and beautiful bridges. The carousel is nice and has snacks for sale most times. Theres a nice playground for kids and downtown shops are a block away.

What can you say about a carousel, exce[t they are delightful. The carousel is located at the Riverfront Park. It is a medium size carousel but the kids still love it.

Very pleasant park by the river to stop and relax and enjoy. Carousel is a local effort of love! Nice little gift shop.

This is the carousel by which all others are measured. Really cool animals, in the park by the river and next to the playground... I'm not a big carousel guy - heck - I had to use spellcheck to even figure out how to spell carousel, but this one is cool.

One thing about it... They sell all day ride bracelets. Really? I mean yeah. It's cool, but who wants to ride a carousel all day? Anyway - if you live in Salem and you have kids or are just a kid at heart - take a ride or maybe just go check out the cool artwork.

Go in and ride on the carousel! It’s really a good time. Lots of different animals to ride. Popcorn and drinks, candy etc!!! Then walk around the park! Go check it out!

We live in the area and take our young son to the Carousel frequently. He absolutely loves to ride it and always begs to go again. It is a must see for anyone traveling through Salem.

The Carousel is a magic carpet to my youth. I was raised in Fargo, North Dakota, and every year there arrived in town, a large carnival. The most exciting ride, to me, was the carousel with its shinning, prancing horses and an assortment of other animals, all hand carved and hand painted. My grandfather told us that the carousel was old when he was a boy. Great place to take your kids and grandchildren.

We have not been on a carousel forever, and stumbled on this marvelously restored carousel near the waterfront in downtown Salem. It has been beautifully restored. It is indoors, and a lot of fun. Don’t miss it. Kids take your Grandparents here!

This is a great place to spend an afternoon. The waterfront is beautiful, the carousel is Grand, and talking to the artisans and volunteers was delightful! I enjoy going there to people watch too - all generations have a great time here.

The carousel has a beautiful assortment of handcarved and colorfully painted horses. Parking is easy, and the giant playground in nearby Riverfront Park gives you a place to extend the fun.

Our grandchildren love the carousel! Everyday we get the request to go to "cross the train track play in the park" from our 4yr old. He loves the playground there as well.

The carousel is beautiful and on a big beautiful park. Parking can be hard to find. Also make sure to bring cash, if you bring a card there is a minimum balance.

This is a nice place to bring the family. A great park nearby, and downtown Salem right there. Also, the Gilbert Museum is just a stone's throw away.

Old time carousel with an actual gold ring pole stop by if you have kids great fun for all do shop mars waterfront park behind the river bluff definitely a place to stop for an afternoon lunch bring your own

Hubby and I went just to see what it was all about.had more fun looking at the old paddle boat in the river.
This is definately a place for kids. Price is really good. 1.50 a ride.

Took my Great Granddaughters who absolutely loved it. We knew one of the carvers of the Carousel horses, and was interesting to see the horse that needed to be repaired and the new ones that were being carved. There is a splash pad next to the carousel, that is also great for the kids. And there is free parking in their lot.

Salem's carousel is the best I've ever seen. The hand-carved animals are beautiful and the setting is great. Near the river and a park with a big grassy area to play. Definitely a must do when visiting Salem.

The animals are all carved by local craft folks and are done very well. The ride is well maintained and lasts longer than you would first suspect for the price of the tokens. There is also a room you can book for birthday parties, as well as snacks available for sale. The gift shop has plenty to offer as souvenirs, and it is adjacent to a great outdoor activity center and park with swings, slides and hiking trails. Decent parking area, but it can fill up on busy days.

We always have fun at the Carousel. It's beautiful, fun for the littles, and INEXPENSIVE. The park surrounding it is huge and clean, but the restrooms are not always in the best condition. Be sure to check out the facilities before letting the kids use them in case they have human fluids on them. I know, gross, but necessary these days.
The park has foot bridges across the Willamette River to West Salem at one end, and to Minto Brown Island on the other. Tons of space to ride bikes, kick a ball around or play Frisbee, playgrounds, and a water park feature. It's also right downtown, so food, etc, is always just a few blocks away. Parking is an issue, but this place is worth the extra couple of blocks. I highly recommend it!

We enjoyed our trip to Salem's Riverfront Park. It was very peaceful and the indoor carousel is a festive and fun addition to the park. It is relatively close to the parking lot if you are looking for something to do with the kids on a rainy day. There are lots of walking trails and two pedestrian bridges - beautiful grounds.

Carousel with gift shop surrounded by beautiful parks. Great for family outings. After riding metiouscly restored carousel enjoy adjoining Riverfront Park playground, see Eco-Earth or wander across adjoining two footbridges to more parkland or a wildlife refuge. More trails and exploration opportunities that can last a lifetime. Much, much more than just a carousel. Visit adjoining downtown Salem also.

While there are many Carousels in Oregon this is one of the VERY best. Well maintained and operated. Very good for families and for photography. The gift shop is well stocked with a delightful array of items. Be sure to make time to go to the AC Gilbert museum nearby also.

The carved horses on the carousel are outstanding. It is amazing tosee all the different ones. It is also neat to see how they make the horses and they take the time to explain to you if the carvers are there.

We have visited The Carousel 2-3 times a year for every year since our oldest grandchild was old enough to ride. She's now 19 and our youngest are 6 and 8...we're still "requested" every visit for rides on The Carousel. With a city park and great playground next door it's agreat place to make memories with your children and grandchildren. One of the best attractions in Salem. They even get a new postcard of every animal they ride on that trip....but Bucky is still their favorite.

A truly delightful experience for kids of all ages. Set in beautiful Riverfront Park, on the banks of the Willamette, it is just a short walk from the Gilbert House Discovery Center. The beautifully carved and detailed animals are lovingly carved by local artists and volunteers.

The animals are all hand carved and beautiful. They are usually working on new ones every week also. So interesting to watch them do the carving.

This is a great activity for 9mo - 7 yo. There is a really awesome park right next door. We buy the 20 punch pass to save.

This is a fun and beautiful old carousel! Worth seeing;). Our children love to pick thei favorite horse!

This is the best merry go round in the area! The rides are very reasonably priced the staff are friendly and the kids have a great time. We took our kids when they were little and now we enjoy taking the grand kids! While you’re there be sure and check in with Mel and buy some popcorn he is a great vendor! Loves the kids and it is alas a joy to see him!

Best breakfast with Santa I have been to. Took my grandchildren and had a wonderful time. Very personable. All the children had a wonderful time. We will definitely go again.

We took our 3 1/2 year-old grandson for his first carousel ride a couple of weeks ago, and had a great time. The tickets are a steal... At $1.50 a ride, we could let him go around the three times he asked for without a single quibble! Giraffe (excellent for nervous first-time rider because it doesn't go up and down), zebra, and frog all got tried out, and the adults in the party all had gorgeous horses to ride. Little ones must be accompanied by a non-riding adult, for whom there is no charge. For the very young or others who can't scramble up on one of the horses, there is a covered wagon at floor level with nice sturdy seats. Good fun for all!

I have taken my grandson to Riverfront Carousel many times. He loves it. The staff is courtesy and extremely helpful. I would recommend to anyone with small children.

Our kids really like the carousel and love the adjacent park. The hand carved horses and animals are individually named and have a back story. They maintain them on a regular basis so they stay remarkably pristine. Inexpensive and fun stop along your day. There seemed to enough people there to warrant more food options or a small cafe, but as a stand alone attraction, it's great!

The carousel is not a thrill-seeking ride, but it's great for young children who may be skiddish. I recommend because it's family-focused, great popcorn, and a nice little gift shop for those out-of-towners wanting a little token of Oregon.

Love the park. Wish it was more dense with tree areas.

Too many homeless. Didn't feel safe for our kids.

First opportunity for a complete carousel ride with our granddaughter. A bright sunny day in Salem. We shared our extra ticket with a family who just walked in. Outstanding carving talents here at the Salem Carousel. Be sure to sign the guest register.

The carousel is just a part of the fun..... stroll over the walking bridge, snow cones, popcorn and a gift shop.

After work or on a lazy weekend on a sunny evening, this is a good relaxing place to hang out.
at times you might get lucky to see a live music concert as well.

A lot of fun for young and old. Lovely area with park and playground. Walking trails and river views abound.

We visited and was hopeful of taking a ride on this carousel but were surprised when we arrived to see it was closed down

Carousel was beautiful, but walked around park never seen so many homeless people , the park bathroom closed and was engulfed with homeless people, horrible

Nicely located, ample parking, great scenery and a really cool carousel. The employees are super fun and it was simple to purchase the ticket and adults ride free with kids under 42". My husband and I both rode for free with our 11 month old.

The Carousel is a long standing Salem family attraction. Great place to take your grandkids, as I did, for a ride, treat and maybe a surprise gift from the gift shop. The playground adjacent to the carousel is a nice alternative when you run out of tickets to ride. The cost of tickets is cheap and rides are long enough for kids to enjoy. I recommend the Salem Carousel for both young and old, it's a "Classic" Oregon experience.

You see these hand carved characters, mostly horses, & know there is pride in the making. Our grandkids never get tired of going on the carousel.

What a special place this is. The Salem carousel is worth seeing when traveling thru or near Salem. The carved wooden horses are hand painted. You don't have to be a child to appreciate. And the riverfront park surrounding the carousel building is so relaxing for a stroll, a picnic lunch, and close to very good shopping and restaurants.

This is a gorgeous carousel that is a joy for the kids and family. Very nostalgic. Definitely worth a family outing.

Nice walk next to the river and the carousel is fabulous. The carousel is vintage and next to it is a small gift shop.

Salem Riverfront Carousel is better than any you can remember from your childhood; it is simply magical, regardless of your age. We are "kids" in our early 60's and still thrill at picking out which horse to ride, hoping for our favorites and then,reaching for the golden ring. The traditional music, beautiful setting in the Riverfront Park, and amazing array of hand-carved, hand-painted animals and beasts are perfect backdrop for photos and fun. Inexpensive, and open all year. Close to amazing Cascade Bakery, tap root café, Sugar Sugar, Wild Pear. Do not miss it!

Our kids love riding the carousel, love going every birthday for their free ride! Can’t wait to have our daughters birthday party there next month.

I have been a lover of carousels since childhood. I now have the opportunity to introduce my daughter to that same love. Riverfront is a wonderful place to go and take your kids for a day. The carousel is delightful, filled with children's laughter. There is a huge park and the Willamette River to spend a lazy day and picnic. The Carousel also offers birthday parties too. It's a great place to go and have a beautiful family day!

This carousel is the culmination of workmanship of master craftsmen. It is a delight for the eyes and the facility is set within the Salem's beautiful Waterfront Park. The carousel's gift shop is loaded with unique items for purchase and the staff is very helpful. A great way to spend an afternoon just being a kid.

This is a fun place to bring kids for a birthday party as they have a room you can rent or just bring them for a ride. Next door outside there is a nice play area.

This is a fun thing to do with the kids! Choosing your favorite pony is tough!

Great photo op and affordable.

My daughter and grandkids love to visit! And I also love the quaint little shop. Its a great place to visit anytime of the year.

It was great to see this old carousel and wander the river front park. It was so open, lots of places for kids to play, and ride bikes or for people to walk. Huge play ground area also for the kids to play on. Bathrooms were icky and dark.

We bring the grandkids here at least once a year. They love riding the different horses on the carousel. We usually purchase 6 rides.

I have taken my niece and nephews to the carousel a couple of times. They enjoy it, but they are getting a little old for it. It is a pretty place to take out of towners, but unless they have young children I don't know how long they will want to stay.

Beautiful old time carousel with very friendly staff. $1.50 for a ride! The operator was very nice. Just a lot of fun!

We were only passing thru Salem so after our visit to the state Capitol building we walked thru downtown to the river. The Carousel building is impressive but sadly it was closed when we arrived. You could see that it was a special place. The adjacent park, globe and bridge are all very impressive too.

Always a good sight but can be insane crazy, chaos. The carving and work put into the animals is fantastic. Price is reasonable, gift shop is great and there are events and snacks available.

We went through the artist studio where they were working on hand carving and painting the animals for the carousel....and it was incredible! The attention to detail is astounding. So, of course, we had to take a ride. You can play catch the brass ring from the fish mouth.....what fun!! The granddaughter got two free rides as a result of catching the ring and a great memory of the carousel in Salem.
THIS IS A MUST DO !!!
Thank you Salem for keeping this wonderful carousel alive!!

My kids get so happy to go on a ride! The staff is really friendly and the place is very clean! The horses are very nicely painted and have their own names, if you have a certain horse you like look in the gift shop and take home a gift with the same horse.

the carosel is in a very nice building in the middle of the riverfront park.. the riverfront has its food festival every year and the movies in the park at night in the summer its a great place to just go watch people and relax also

Each beautiful animal on the carousel is hand carved and hand painted by community volunteers and would be worth a visit, even you couldn't ride them. Enjoy the ride on the animal of your choice, but be certain to take time to see each animal. They are works of art and will reward your interest with delightful surprises.
Each animal has a community sponsor and a story to discover.
The experience can be a bit intense for very young children. Let them ride, then go play a bit at a wonderful playground just South of the Carousel building, before returning for another ride.
When you finish your visit, be sure to cross the beautiful Peter Courtney pedestrian bridge, part of Riverfront Park and take a walk along the Willamette River.

The Salem's Riverfront Carousel is such a community treasure! The horses are beautifully carved and the atmosphere just makes you smile! Take the family down for some fun & then have a picnic in the park! It's also a great place for a birthday party!

Its keep clean and nice for the kids and families to enjoy and the river there is nice to walk along.

This is a fun place to take the kids. The carousel is smaller version of the old fashioned merry-go-round but it is definitely large enough for lots of fun. There is a party room on the side and a gift shop for all your carousel needs. There is even a room where you can see horses being carved. The carousel is in its own building on the side of a huge city park that is located next to the Willamette River. Lots of grass, a playground and walking paths. Beautiful place for a day adventure.

Went here the other day with our grandkids. Nice setting in riverfront park and great weather. Lots of people there for a weekday afternoon. Made it even more fun!

The friendly staff at the Gelato shop reminded us about their old carousel just a couple of blocks away. It only takes a few minutes to go there and appreciate the fine craftsmanship of this indoor attraction. If you have children or grandchildren I believe it's only $1.50 per ride.

I love running here. There are two great bridges to run over as well as amazing views. Also has a great atmosphere for kids.

Kids love this place. One of the few carousels in the United States with all of the horses handmade, hand carved on location. good prices, food available and gift shop. They even have games kids and adults can play. a great place to bring the family. at Salem's river front park with free parking, a short walk to the downtown.

great place to take kid.s and enjoy a merry go round like you did in the old days.
brought back memories from my childhood

The carousel is always fun. The park has a lot of room to play, ride, walk, do yoga, dance, lay in the grass, whatever! You can walk all the way down to the docks! We recently went ice skating at the Salem On Ice tent that shows up yearly during the cold months. Loved it! Always a lot of activities happening at the carousel and park. Carousel offers birthday parties, which includes a lot of free ride tickets and a party room.

I took my niece and nephews to the park and decided to go into ride once. We ended up buying the stamp card so they could go several times. One more time they kept saying.

The workmanship on the varied animals made us stay to watch the carousel. We found more than horses...a giraffe, a frog with a tennis racket, a covered wagon for the smaller children, and many of the horses with little fun surprises at the back of their saddles...a cat, an angel, and many more peeking out as the animals passed us. Inside the gift shop, we were encouraged to look at new animals being carved and others receiving some needed restoration and paint touch-ups. Beautiful workmanship!

They did a great job, great service, friendly staff, clean facility, kids loved it. Would highly recommend it♡

The Riverfront Carousel is a great stop for families with young or older kids. The horses are hand-crafted by a Salem artisan, and the workshop can be viewed on site. The gift shop is amazing, and offers unique gifts that cannot be found in Salem Center. But the best part is the carousel itself. On our visit, one of my nieces was in a cast with a broken foot. She was still able to participate because she could choose a wagon, rather than a horse. This allows older people or those with babies to still take a ride with their families. Rides are very inexpensive. It's a cool break from the heat while visiting Riverfront Park in the summertime, but it's open year round.

This is good for all ages! The hand-carving and hand-painting on each animal is exquisite and bring the characters to life. I've been there lots of times and no matter the age, there's something for everyone. There is a gift shop, as well as a place to reserve for birthday parties if wanted/needed. No matter how many times I've been, everyone seems to have a great time and wants to come back for more.

I have been taking my Grandchildren for years and they always ask to take a carousel ride. They also have a great gift shop attached!

Ok ...the carousel is cool and all...and they have a squished penny machine BUT coooooler is that through the gift shop is where they are painting new "horses."

We were so happy to hear how long and how much it costs to do a new (beautiful) creature.

Parking DIFFICULT.
Turning in to the location not EASY....do able ...but not EASY.

This is a fun place for kids birthday parties or just to take them to ride a carosel horse. They're all hand carved and so beautiful. The gift shop is very nice too.

Children and adults alike will enjoy this colorful and magical Carousel. The horses and other animals are hand-carved of wood and beautifully painted. Shop at the unique gift store and check out the craft room if the door is open!

Stopped by here to see my brother and sister-in-law, who volunteer here. What an amazing bunch of folks who carve and paint the rides for the carousel. The Carousel is located at the Riverfront Park. There is a gift/souvenir shop adjacent to the carousel. A fun place for all. Stop by and see the artisans at work.

My
Granddaughter loved the carousel ride, the gift shop is really cute with nice gifts, have come here three times in six months, will keep coming back

Handmade, old fashioned carousel. Affordable, free parking, and a great bridge walk that crosses the willamette River. All housed at Salems Riverfront park which is an excellent venue. Soon will add another bridge crossing to Minto-Brown Park. An all day, family treat. Only the carousel has a small fee. The rest is free.

their time spend here! Thank you for your beautiful carousel! We get pics of the kids and postcards of the first horse they ever rode at the store! ~ Baby book memories!

Part of a nation wide initiative to restore an American cultural landmark. The horses and other beautifully constructed animals we designed and constructed by area volunteers and artisans. (there is one in Albany being built) So fabulous and whimsical, a treat for the family, even if you do not have children, watching the joy over the characterizations on the carousal is wonderful. Parking and in the beautiful River front park.

My dad always took me to the carousel. He passed when I was 11 yrs old. As I grew got married my husband call took me to the riverfrint carousel especially on my birthdays. Its heartwarming to watch people of all ages enjoy it. Also it is very educational as there are times you can watch the carving of the horses. I recommend this attraction to all.

From a tiny tots to grandparents this spot has it all. The carousel shares it home with the A.C. Gilbert children's area. That's the A. C. Gilbert as in detector sets. Never heard of him Google him. An old train Bridge sends you over the river and is a nice view picnic space and open areas host many events .One of my favorite points of interest is our cities sternwheller. On to the world's acid ball. You have to see it to understand. There sits the carousel in a wonderful brick enclosure she sits and spins and plays her tune. Young old and in between have ridden. Special needs can enjoy over and over. Horse all done by citizen. A store to fill the needs of gifters collectors and just good old kids

I took my neice and nephews. The loved it one more time Auntie one more time. I had to bribe them to leave. It was a nasty day or we would have taken advantage of the playground and the rest of the waterfront.

Our younger grandchildren love the carousel. They enjoy reaching for the rings...and occasionally winning a free ride. The hand carved horses are true art and add to the magic for children.

Great price. 1$ ticket to ride in the evening around 630 pm happy hour prices. Nice carousel. More could be offered in gift shop and building could be updated some

This is such a fun place to go when you are here in Salem. The carousel is so much fun. Kids of all ages (myself included) love riding the carousel.

This venue has been a family favorite for years. The grandchildren will frequently request a visit and we usually give in to the request. The multiple ride ticket is the best buy for our family. We've always found the environment to be clean, well staffed and maintained. The only problem that we have experienced is tearing our 18 month old granddaughter away from the horses!!!

The people that work here are very kind and knowledgeable about the carousel. The gift shop is a must, stop by to see how the horses are made! I purchased a year pass so we can go anytime and bring along up to 4 friends to ride with us. We just love the beautiful setting in the park.

We have been many times and always love it. Get the wristband and ride as much as you want. The staff members are mostly volunteers and they are friendly and obviously enjoy being there too. The carousel animals and beautiful and each has its own personality. Pick up a checklist if you want to keep track of which ones you've ridden. Just being there makes us happy.

Went to the carousel with the family and really enjoyed the gift shop, the snacks including cotton candy and popcorn. The carousel is beautiful and fun to ride with unique horses and animals.

Fun for adults like me ...big kid and little. Volunteer person helpful and fun. Looks like he enjoys how he helps out.

fun for kids and nana too. Beautiful crafted Merry go Round, not my first visit. Great story behind the carousel.

I went to the carousel out of curiosity, we were do to the park for a stroll, and thought we'd go in to check it out. It is the old style circus type carousel, with horses etc. that kids ride. That we found to be too cool, and the kids there seemed to be enjoying the whole experience. As adults, we watched and relaxed, reminiscing to a point, of how fun the simple things in life are. It's free to look, but the kids will surely want to ride. The river and park are also worth the trip, and right there.

Some might not know this but all the carving/painting was done by hand by volunteers!
Pay attention to all the beautiful details, it's truly a work of art! And tons of fun for all ages! Plus it's in a lovely park with a great playground and trees, grass and views of the Willamette River in the heart of downtown Salem! You will have an enjoyable time visiting rain or shine!

My husband and I made the carousel our destination for a date night. It was charming -- the music, the lights, the carousel and it was only a few dollars for an enchanted evening! There were maybe 4 or 5 other people in the place when we went, so we felt like it was our own private amusement ride.

The carving area is interesting. It is behind the gift shop, which is packed with a lot of interesting items. You can see the sketches of potential carousel animals.

We enjoy coming to the carousel a few times a year. The price is reasonable at $1.50/ride but we typically use our Entertainment book coupon that makes it half price. The ride length is good and the kids love they can pick their own horse. The facility is very well maintained, the gift shop has wonderful unique items and changes regularly throughout the year. There is usually treats to buy (popcorn, sno-cones, etc) and they have a nice room for birthdays. The bathrooms are very large and clean which is a bonus with young kids! The carousel is also conveniently located next to the playground so kids can play inside and out.

We went with a group of 8. Everyone on staff was nice and patient and we had a great time on multiple rides. The price is cheap, too, for such a beautiful work of art!

This is a charming Pavilion with an eye-catching Carousel to delight both kids and adults. The Token price is reasonable ($1.50) for a dizzying ride if you're game. Be mindful that not all the horses go up and down... so choose wisely (ask the kind attendants for help if need be).

What a special treat for our grandkids! They love to choose the animal to ride on and enjoy every ride. We have been here for birthday parties as well as catered events. It’s a perfect place and especially fun in the summer so you can enjoy the outdoors as well. The gift shop in the next room is especially nice too with books and other items to remember the trip.

We love the carousel, and go often.
They let parents of little ones ride for free.
Perfect place to take out of town company when it's rainy out.

First of all found a place to park and then was so happily surprised that they had a party room. I had been their a few times before and never even noticed it. The kitchen was so nice with fridge and tables abundant. It was nice to just relax and watch the kids on the Carousel. They loved it and we just really enjoyed ourselves.

I have enjoyed the carousel many times. Once I brought the entire eighth grade of Dayton Junior High to ride and because it is so affordable, we could ride more than once! Beautiful animals, lovely fun, and Riverfront Park is more beautiful each time I go down.

Very cool carousel with lots of history. In a river front park that is really family friendly. Go check out.

Very nice park - people friendly - and a beautiful setting along the Willamette River. And the carousel was fun!!

Do you need to go back to your childhood? Ride the Carousel at Riverfront Park!
Be sure to go to the workshop where the volunteers are doing upkeep on the paint etc on the animals if it is open. This is a community effort so besides paying for your ride, make a donation to the effort.

We have been taking kids here since it opened and we have never had a child not totally thrilled. It is extremely unique in that they keep making different horses and animals to switch out. The ride is a good length and parents go free if they stand by the child.

Great economical fun for all ages and clean safe environment. Beautifully hand carved animals. Fun store with affordable gifts and souvenirs. Food available. Park and river walk adjacent.

It’s not the first time I come
But I was extremely disappointed by staff this time

Staff did not make reservation after confirmation
I was rudely shouted by 3 staff loudly
and rudely blamed by the staff

Great Carousel Nice park near by. Lots of fun for the whole family. Very clean and safe environment A wonderful day out in Salem

This is a beautiful carousel. I understand in talking to long time residents that all the horses and other animals were carved and painted by local artists. They are amazing and unique. The ride is long enough and inexpensive. The carousel building is part of Riverfront park which is a large and beautiful park between old downtown Salem and the river.

this is one of the most beautiful places to photograph your kids. family friendly, lots of color and a real treat to experience.

This is a must visit for everyone living in or passing through Salem. The horses each are individual works of art with special names and characteristics. You can purchase a multiple ride card in the attached gift shop and the card also gives you a discount for any purchase you may make. After riding the carousel, kids can roar around the unique playground and follow the paved walkways around River Front Park. Pack a picnic lunch and make a day of it. Good fun and exercise for kids and adults.

Hand carved horses adorn this adorable attraction! This was a fun date night activity, brought us back to our childhood.

There is always something enchanting about a carousel with all the mythical and magical carvings that makes a child's face light up with that smile that warms your soul. I loved the carousel rides when i was a young girl and it's just so delightful to put my grandchildren on this carousel too!! The festivals at this park is also fun with all the cultures that come together is such fun for all to see!!

I've been coming to this carousal for years seems to still bring as much attraction as before! That's what I love. The staff are polite. My only complaint is the gift shop is a like little to spendy for my liking.

Located in Salem's beautiful Riverfront Park, the Carousel has a minimal charge to ride ($1.50 per person) and the Carousel animals are beautifully restored; all you have to do is choose which one to ride!?!

We love to take our children and now our grandchild to visit the Carousel each year. Clean, light, bright and so fun for all of us!

The Salem Riverfront Carousel is CLOSED. Not sure when it will reopen again, but it is closed due to the COVID 19 outbreak. It’s a wonderful place, and I hope life will get back to normal someday soon.

The little playground next door appears to be open, but there are warnings to stay off the slides and toys because these structures cannot be sanitized.

Please stay safe and healthy!

Beautiful sculptured horses, vibrant painted. Reasonably priced activity, can even have Birthday party here as well. Kid friendly park with plenty to do right outside the carousel area.

Had friends visiting for Salem's 2017 summer highlight - being in the path of totality for the solar eclipse - and took them to Salem's Riverfront Carousel. It was a big hit, even with the 16-year-old. Telling them the lore about local woodworkers crafting it and the community's support of it made it all the more special to our visitors. It is an absolute gem!

Had alot of fun spent time with my kids and it was a blast great place for all ages great view clean please to run sit play just amazing great time

Great for families with small children, you only pay for the child to ride, but you can help them hold on to the horse. The horses are beautiful and each one has a fun name.

The carousel is located in Riverfront Park along the Willamette River and an easy walk into the downtown area. The carousel is a blast for all ages, with a room available for birthday parties and other gatherings. It's a great place to take the kids and let them experience a carousel, then walk over to the children's play area in the park. If you are a grandparent, this is a great place to spend an hour with the kiddos.

Took our grandkids both the little ones and the big ones that still think they are young in the head! Lots of fun for all ages...

The Carousel is located in the Riverfront Park, a good place to stroll and explore, but for us the carousel is the lure. We live in Salem and when our various grandchildren come to visit, it is their steadfast tradition to ride on the carousel (and some of them are now young adults). We respect these requests because we can then ride it too.

What a nice place for kids and families. You have a toy store, a carousel, walking trails, water and riverfront views. Had a great time!

Main visit July 2014 but returned again this month. Beautiful carousel, I love that the names of the horses/animals are up above them. Next to a huge green park with play structure, picnic benches, and views. Lovely place to spend the day.

I took my 4 year old granddaughter along with a 17 year old and both had fun riding the carousel. Lots of variety of characters. They really catered to the kids.

We visit the carousel several times every year...great value wonder time....lets adults be kids for that brief moment. My children have asked for their birthday parties to be there as they have attended a few and they are fun and well put together. A must see and do in Salem

My daughter loves to come to the carousel! And chance she gets she chooses to come too the carousel! Friendly staff, and beautiful carved horses! The carousel ride lasts quite a while! You definitely get your money's worth!

Fun place with friendly staff. Always clean and peaceful. Great place to take grandkids on a rainy day.

The staff are very kind and patient with people. Both of my granddaughters love going there to look in the little shop and riding the carousel.

A Salem favorite in the riverfront park, at the opposite end from the children's Discovery center, near the Willamette Queen. Paddle Wheeler. Inexpensive rides a small gift shop. Rental for children's parties.

This is a great place to go with young kids and old kids alike, so fun and inexpensive. When you go, make sure you take a walk across the old railroad bridge crossing the Willamette River.

Staff is friendly and the rides are fun. The kids love going there and the park outside is nice and so big.

For some reason I thought the carousel would be quite a bit larger than it is, but it is sooooo charming! My son (5) absolutely loves it, and was so happy to find out he gets a free ride on his birthday. I particularly loved the shop next door and stood agape at the wood shop where they make the carousel horses by hand. Everyone is welcome to look in and ask questions from wood workers there. Absolutely amazing!

Went there with my friends, (all adults with childhood wishes) & we rode the carousel. The staff were friendly & quite helpful especially when a few of us couldn't get off our mounts too well. The gift shop is so totally loaded with all kinds of history of the carousel, pictures, & other novelties...& snacks too. I'm so thankful that carousel is indoors cause it was raining a bit more heavier than usual. They can accommodate parties in a few rooms too. And it doesn't cost that much to ride the carousel either. A fun place to go for everyone, including those with disABILITIES too!

My family which includes three kids under 9 years old, enjoyed visiting here. There is a nice gift shop too. The horses and such on the carousel are well maintained and clean. The bathroom was clean and up to date. There is also a big playground outside that was a blast.

That's about all I can say. It was fun the first time... for about 10 minutes.

Today's kid expects much more. Take them to GET AIR where they will jump on lots of trampolines and get wore out.

That's a better bang for your time and money.

We have been to the carousel for multiple reasons. All of which were great experiences that our children remember.

Birthday parties in the party room are awesome, and so much fun for the kids. It has plenty of room for adult seating, and the kids are always visible on the carousel.

Rides are priced well, and we have never had an issue taking our children on - even if they are a old enough (5 and 7) to seat themselves, we still feel more comfortable knowing we are there with them in case of an issue.

We will continue to enjoy the carousel for years to come!

Imagine taking in beautiful works of art while watching your children or grandchild delight to be riding on them. The carousel is an adventure for all ages. Beautifully carved horses and animals, each one a masterpiece. Enjoy the thrill of the ride and the wonderful of the art.

Hope aboard an elephant, giraffe, wide variety of horses or even the covered wagon for an absolute fun spin on the carousel!! There are stationary animals for those that cant go up and down yet. Ride an outside horse and as it races past the "fish with the rings in its mouth" - snag one and hope you get the gold one - it's a free ride token!! The operators greet the returning riders with high fives and hellos!! My grandkids love spending time at the "carousel park" Bathrooms are clean and accessible for all. For those kids with challenges of any kind - there are "care ride" tickets. Time is given to seat those with challenges. Can't go wrong with time spent at the Riverfront Carousel!!

We rode a few times and they have a nice gift shop. Fun for kids of all ages! Staff was nice and friendly. This is an inside carousel so visit anytime of year!

What a wonderful family place. what a joy it was walking around and chatting with very nice people. the kids loved it!

This is a great place to take the family. The carousel animals are all hand carved by local artists. You can ride, visit the gift shop or watch as artists work on projects. They have squashed penny machines and you can buy your penny passport in the gift shop, as well as many other gifts and souvenirs.

A very affordable way to spend time with the grandkids. Beautifully carved horses by local carvers and reasonably priced ride. Friendly staff and also a room to rent for parties.
I take the grandkids frequently and then over to the playground which is located right next to carousel. Picnic areas and the water splash area is in riverfront park as well. You can easily make a day with it with your kids/ grandkids .

Cheap. But all there is to do is ride on the carousel. It gets boring quick. Wish they had more things to do

Stopped here a few times with a toddler. She totally enjoyed the ride. Very friendly personnel. Carousel is part of a park area that is great for kids.

I love taking my grandchildren to the Carousel. They enjoy going there very often as they live in South Salem. The fun memories of the many events that are held there. Birthday party or other events in the private room is a must do. I love walking around seeing happy faces on so many people of all ages. What isn't there to love about a Carousel ride? Thank you for always making sure everyone has a great time!!

I was expecting something over the top after reading all the reviews.
Just a carousel in a building.
Walking the park along the river was more fun.

The hand carved animals in the carousel are beautiful!! The surrounding park was clean and fun to play in!

My wife always enjoys a good carousel. It's from another time, relaxing, and beautiful. It's so much fun to see the faces of all who go by on the carousel. This is a wonderful park in Salem. Don't miss it.

Even though my kids are now adults, they live carousels. The ride is fun. In the gift shop area, you can look in the workshop where they make new horses.

Have been before a few times, but took the kids for another ride on a Monday with no school. This time I learned all the history about some of the horses and toad (Mr. Hopkins) and the gentleman working around 11AM was so great with the kids and my curiosity of how all the horses got their names, etc. Nice play structure next door too. At $1.50 a ride you can't beat it.

Within Riverside Park in downtown Salem. Rides are $1.50/each and the carousel is indoors, so rain immune;). Kids have a great time and ask to go frequently. Hooked to very nice park trails (paved) for biking/walking/scootering. Close to A.C. Gilbert House Children's museum.

The carousel and the park are great places to take kids. The parking is not great.You either have to walk a distance or be prepared to park downtown.

Beautiful hand carved carousel. Nice to ride or just watch. Great for kids and adults. Reasonable prices. It's building is on the edge of the Riverfront park. It's a gateway for a wonderful afternoon.

When we visited the kids on it all seemed to be having a great time.Worth popping along to see it if in the park or close by in the historic district

My 6 year old grand daughter has been coming here for 4 years and still loves it. The staff are friendly and helpful. The carousel animals are beautiful, many different ones to chhose from. The staff at the food carts are very nice and greet us with smiles every time. Love looking at the in progress new animals.

We went there on a summer Sunday morning. Our Granddaughter loved it as did Grandma. It was next to the river and we did a nice long walk along the river front. Also was there when they had an event that offered many rides etc for the Granddaughter.

We always take our grandchildren to the carousel when they come to visit. It is a beautiful carousel, but also very enjoyable for the children. At Christmas time it is a favorite place to go when Santa comes to visit. This May we enjoyed the playground that is a short walk away and had a little picnic and they ran and played on the large grassy area. The grandchildren love going.

Our kids really enjoyed getting to ride the carousel. We bought a punchcard for discounted rides, and it paid off.

What is bad about a carousel and a park? It is down town and I enjoy walking the river front park. All the horses are great to look at.

What a treasure! The grandkids loved the opportunity to ride an oldie but goodie.

Hardest part was riding only twice.....

As an adult, this does not really do it for me but for young kids - they certainly do love it. There was a time when I could not drive by with my young daughter in the car or I would have to deal with the chronic whining of wanting to go. Those days are gone now, but for the little ones, they really do enjoy a stop here on the way to or from the large adjacent playground or park.

Very affordable. Kids love it. Try not to judge the beauty of the carousel by the dirty bathrooms outside by the park.

I grew up here amd I've gotta say this place just gets better and better over time! If you get tired of the carousel, you can take a stroll outside by the riverfront, wanna sit down? Stop at the great playground that my kids adore!

One of Salem's Jewels... the hand hewn and painted horses bring back a more simple time, without screens and video games... take some time and stop by, bring the little ones... put away your phone, choose your favorite steed and just try to catch the golden ring... I love this place.

Amazing carousel for only $1.50. Great park as well when the crazy church people aren’t there not social distancing.

My 4 yr old always likes to ride. And the playground is also a big draw.

Love to visit and play in the park

This carousel was hand carved by a group of local people and it is absolutely beautiful. it is open most days and doesnt cost much to ride. I love it. I always try to ride it whenever I am in Salem, and I am not even a kid.

This place was great for the three year old. They were having a special, 10 rides for 10 dollars, so it's great for families on a budget trying to make a special day for their special little ones. Outside is a beautiful river front park for walking, watching the river, lounging in the grass, or letting the kiddos play on the structure.

The park around the carousel is cool. There's a cool sprayground, blackberry bushes and strolling paths. The carousel is a carousel. No big deal.

The carousel is a must for childern and adults who appreciate the hand painted horses on this year round ride.

Wonderful to people with disabilities,I am very proud of what I observed with the employees good job

Do have kids between 2 and 10? Or do you love carousels? Restorations and beautiful handiwork? Or just bright spinning spectacles? Then this is a must stop if you are visiting Salem for some reason. It will entertain for 20-60 minutes. We've done it many times, until our kids were bored with it around 9 yrs old, because they'd done it so much. If you happen to go around the holidays, they might have a santa there, and it makes it all the more special. It's on the lovely Salem waterfront - so kids can run and play at the playground or grassy areas before & after. This would be a great stop if you were making a long drive with kids down I5 - stop here, have lunch, get back on the road.

A child's fantasy come to life. What can be said other than this is a must visit stop on the by-ways of life that takes you joyfully back to the woderland of childhood. Enjoy!

It is rare that you will find a beautiful carousel that replicates an era that many of us do not see much anymore. Well kept and clean the Riverfront Carousel provides each visiter with simple and yet enjoyable fun! Perfect for all ages, you can't beat a ride on one of your favorite horses! The gift shop is also very nice and has some good items available.

Hard to find any more a real Carousel, looks new, hand made by local artists, also a very nice fully stocked gift shop.Recmmended for the young and old.

Beautifully maintained carousel animals with large & small figures to ride on going “up & down” or charming vehicles (covered wagon, cowboy buckboard) to sit in. Staff notes which animals are ridden and sanitizes after each ride ends.
Note: the actual ride is a bit faster than I expected.

My husband an I decided to take a break from our drive up to Clatskanie. I searched TripAdvisor and found this little gem! It was a beautiful day and we walked along the river walk and took a look at the carousel. It is beautiful! I'm so glad we stopped. There is construction going on to connect the three parks that are nearby for miles of bike and walking trails. It's going to be an awesome park when finished.

My grandson loves this carousel and makes it a point to visit at least once a month. Very reasonable price for a good amount of time. All the carved horses are beautifully restored with bright colors.

Great (wonderful) place to take children, wide open spaces for children to play, meticulous grounds, beautiful scenery, right by the river, close to shops, etc and the carousel is a bonus. During the holidays its all lit up. One more bonus, the have many"side markets" and events.

Totally enclosed hand carved animals. Beautifully executed and painted. A thill for all ages young and old. Soon a new building to show off the carving and painting of these animals will be constructed.

The park was beautiful that the carousel was located at. Very green, lawn is immaculate and always love the Carousel! Brings back so many childhood memories, they have maintained it very well.

We have been taking our grandchildren and young friends to the carousel for ten years and they always have a wonderful time. It is clean and very well kept. Well worth a visit.

My kids always loved ridding the carousel. Now my youngest, now 4 still loves it too. They don’t charge adult for ridding with child. Then you can spend some time at the park.

The horses are designed and carved by local craftsmen and women and are just beautiful. Small kids will love it! Adults are allowed to stand next to small kids on animals.

This is pretty much the ultimate carousel. It's surrounded by a nice park on the river and in a covered enclosure. The kids will have a blast riding their favorite animal from the wide variety and adults are bound to be super impressed by the astonishing craftsmanship needed to create them. Horses, elephants and others are products of absolute artisans. They also have the usual overpriced gift shop.

The Carousel is just amazing. Each horse or animal is handcrafted. They all have names and you can buy a postcard with the name of the horse you rode. There are displays showing how the horses are made. Rides are not expensive and they have an adorable gift shop with a very friendly staff. There were a lot of people enjoying the park area but we only did the ride.

Our Son and Grand Daughter came up from California to visit. Spent the afternoon at Riverfront Park - she enjoyed the Carousel - my wife and her shopped in the gift store - My Son and I walked the grounds - We all enjoyed sitting, relaxing, and watching the River. Great family fun and togetherness...

The carousel is very close to the children's museum, so they can both be done in the same day. The area has plenty of parking, and a small gift shop.

It's a really fun place to take kids, grandkids or if you're a kid at heart! It's really interesting to go when the carvers are at work. They are very good at explaining the process to you.

Went here on date in which she brought her kid during a festival. The carousel is very artful and beautiful and did have historical details specific to this area. We did have a good time but there was not much to do for adults inside- it was more for kids. There is a shop onsite and it was very cheap for the ride- $1.50 per person.

Very fun, easy to access, lots of seating and great handicap access. We have 5 people aged 2 to 80 and we all had a great time and a great ride.

Grandkids love this place. It's always a treat when they visit. On a nice day, we hit Riverfront Park and playground as well as the carousel. Inexpensive and such fun

I have been taking my children to the Salem riverfront Carousel for years. When we arrive we are greeted by the young man who runs the Carousel with "Welcome home."

It is an inexpensive treat with rides costing $1 to $1.50 and children with disabilities get to ride free. Just ask at the gift shop.

There is popcorn and cotton candy for sale usually. The man who sells the popcorn is very nice. His name is Mel. He is always kind to the children.

The Carousel itself is beautiful with locally hand carved horses.

After riding a few times, we often go to the play ground nearby.

It's one of our favorite places in Salem!

This is a very cute carousel for the kids. I just wish they had better concessions. Bring a picnic lunch.

Accidentally pushed button - didn't attend - can't "undo" choice on reviewing! (Oh for Pete's sake! It won't let me exit without a longer "review" - Moderators? Just remove this!)

The carousel is magical. Hand carved horses made with love. A great experience. Beautiful waterfront with walk paths and playground.

This has to be one of the prettiest carousels. The paintwork is beautiful. Wasn't thrilled with the music, though. Expected at least an organ or something.

The horses are very unique and each have their own detail. A very fun outing for family and children to go.

This place was beautiful! They hand carved and painted all the horses and rides. They allow visitors to watch the carving and painting. The rides are affordable and the staff is absolutely wonderful.

Nice place for a picnic, walk or to attend one of the many events held spring through fall on the banks of the Willamette. You can also take an afternoon lunch or evening dinner cruise on the Willamette Queen.

We attended a company holiday party here. It was nice to see the kids enjoying the carousel and the sound of the music added a festive atmosphere. The two side rooms made of pop out tents were heated and gave a quieter place to sit and enjoy our catered food. We had too many people for the size of the place though, so that made it difficult to find a seat to eat. But that was our company's planning issue, not the carousels. Even though we were too big a group for the place, the carousel staff did a good job and the setting was great.

This carousel is all handcarved. Animals go from imaginary to real and on to icons of the state. Rides are very reasonable in price. Everyone from grand parents to the youngest child enjoy this ride. It is in the Riverfront park on the bank of the river.

Old time carousel (fairly new construction, hand-made animals, beautiful building) that brings joy to my children. Trying to grab the brass ring for a free ride keeps even the slightly older ones interested. Always fun in the summer.

It is a fun, well maintained carousel. All the horses were hand carved here. It's always popular, but never too crowded when I've visited.

This is a wonderful experience in a wonderful park at the edge of the Willamette River. Popcorn and snow cones and gold rings to grab. There's also a room available for parties. All in all a nice compliment to Riverfront Park.

Our grandbabies always look forward to visiting the Carousel. It costs $1.00 to ride. There's a cute gift shop. You can also visit the workshop where the Carousel horses are made. There's a children's park outside and a nice path to walk along the river.

We don't live in the area but every time were able to make it to Salem, we have to spend an hour or so at the Carousel. Our child is so excited to ride it over and over again. They have a nice gift shop and the staff is super friendly.

There is also a wonderful park area outside so they can enjoy playing on all the swings and playground equipment.

This is highly recommended on our family's list!

Kids have come to ride since they've been toddlers and are now 9 and 12. They still love it! Whether it's cold and wintery or a hot summer day, it's some quick fun.

We buy a monthly pass as this is our granddaughters favorite place to go. She get's off the carousel and gets right back in line.

We took our 20 month old grandson for his first carousel ride on January 1, 2017. They were offering free carousel rides on New Year's day. He also played in the park on the swings and climbed on the equipment which is located next to the carousel. It was a great time had by all!

For a supposed highlight of a visit to Salem this was very disappointing. Mainly in that there was no organ music that is a characteristic of carousels of the past.

Very inexpensive and magical for kids as well as kids at heart! This carousel will take you back to a time in your life when you had no cares in the world. An absolute must for any age!

I love this lovely carousel. It is it’s own attraction. It is located along the riverfront where you can bring the kids to play on the playground and have a picnic on the vast areas of green grass.

It's not as grand as the Children's Creativity Carousel or San Francisco Carousel at Pier 39 of California. It's a very beautiful and magical place for kids and all young at heart. All the animals were nicely crafted. They all have name and story. The gift shop was also a must visit if you wanted to bring home a postcard of your favorite animal on the ride. They do have crafted gifts for serious collectors in there. The crafted gifts might be a little pricey but the workmanship was pretty good. There were more toys for kids of all ages. You can also get an ice cream for USD$2 each. They may have popcorns as well. There's a water park within walking distance. Hence you could proceed onto have a cooling shower after the ride and shopping. The nearest washroom to the park is in this building.

My granddaughters loved the beautifully carved, colorful horses and other animals. They rode many times during several visits.

What a beautiful carousel. We liked seeing the dragon in progress in the workshop. It's going to be a great addition to the carousel. Riverfront Park is so pretty!

Great venue for kids, grandkids, and their parents/grandparents. Located on beautiful Riverfront Park in the middle of Salem, this venue has easy access and parking. It's close to the State Capitol Building, which has a "Golden Pioneer" on top that is an easily seen landmark.

People come from all over the world to experience this carousel. That's one of the reasons I know it is World Class, because carousel experts travel here and rave.

I felt it was special, because the hand-carved animals are each a work of art. The carousel is located in a delightful venue that is as open or rain tight, as the changeable Willamette Valley weather dictates.

Bring a picnic to consume in the Park, or grab something to eat at one of the many fine and diverse restaurant venues.... or do both, bring some take out to the River Front. Ride a stern wheeler on the lovely Willamette River. Visit the iconic Eco Earth globe, which was once appropriately called the "acid ball," because it was a huge storage tank for chemicals used in the paper mill on the site. Gone is the paper mill, and it's place is a unique structure of businesses and residences and plaza's and fountains, adjoining Riverfront Park. There is a World Class Childrens interative toy museum also adjacent.

We went to this carousel mainly for my four year old son, but I ended up loving it more than he did. The building is open and airy and the carousel is beautiful. It has only been there for 15 years and the horses are well cared for. We learned that each one was hand carved specifically for that carousel and each one is incredible. I would definitely recommend it and we will go back if we are ever in the area again.

We visit this Carousel and surrounding park frequently. There is a nice gift shop inside and a play area just outside. A new bridge was opened recently that takes you to Minto Brown Park; there are lots of walking trails there.

Great place for little ones. There is the carousel, a great gift shop. And, River Front Park is right outside. Great playgrounds! A fantastic way to burn off some energy#!

There are carousel's and merry-go-rounds, but few like this one located at Salem's Riverfront Park. Usually the figurines that are ridden are small for young children. Well this gorgeous carousel has some of the largest horses or animals I've ever seen on a carousel. They can easily be ridden by a large adult or any sized child. There's no cost to view the carousel or watch it turn around, only a small fee to ride it. Fun place for families to visit, with free parking available.

This is an old-fashioned carousel filled with wonderfully painted animals and appropriate music. Seats available too. Take a walk around the park before or after and enjoy the river as well.

This was made with hand painted horsed and is pretty detailed everyone worked really hand and put there heart and soul into make this very beautiful ride it's fun and diffintly something you should do if you come to salem.

This was on the Oregon trip's bucket list. Fun for not only children, but also adults. Not far from our Grand Hotel, it is near the river. The parking lot is a bit away from the carousel. The horses and animals are, I'm told, hand painted. Adults can go on free if the child is under age 2.
My expectations were met.

We stopped in to see the carrousel...we had heard about it from a couple of Uber drivers...Lots of kids having a good time and lots of smiles...nice little gift shop and a couple of snack stands.

Fun little adventure down on the river front, perfect for all ages and easy to access. Worth a visit if you are in Salem

This carousel is a gem in the heart of Salem. It is special because it is a completely volunteer endeavor by local artisans and philanthropists. I take my grandson regularly. We had his third birthday party here and all the kids had a blast. I love this carousel and the riverfront park, it is an asset that Salem needs to support.

The carousel figures are kept in prime condition and has a repair/workshop in the building. The artwork is beautiful and the horses and other figures have a wonderful history. They are located at Riverfront Park in Salem with playgrounds, amphitheater, spacious green park grounds, and is next to the Willamette River. There is a paddle wheel riverboat called The Willamette Queen and two bridges that cross the river into two different parks (Wallace Marine Park and a new bridge to Minton-Brown Island Park).
• [Carousel is open on Weekends and Special Events] •

Very fun and very reasonably priced. And I'm far from being a kid but I can't pass up a carousel. There was no line at 11:00 on a weekend Saturday morning, guess there was not much else going on in the park. Riverpark walk was very pleasant.

I went with my kids (ages 12 and 10) and we loved it! It was really fun to try to catch the rings and hope you caught the brass ring. We rode the carousel a few times which is very reasonably priced at only $1.50 per ride. We also went in the store and saw some of the artisans were carving and painting new carousel horses. They were carving a dragon and the level of detail was incredible. It was really fun to see that and a partially painted carousel horse. The lady that gave us a mini-tour of the carving and painting areas was so friendly and it was very informative. We also enjoyed walking around the riverfront park.

We stop here almost every time we pass through Salem. Surprisingly it hasn't been too busy any of the times that we have been. The line is either very short or there is no line at all and they just let us stay on our horses during unload/reload! The park looks very pretty too although we have never really walked through it. Great inexpensive and quick indoor activity for a family.

This is a huge carousel that is an immediate draw to passers-by or children who are in starry-eyed amazement by the experience.

We rented a room for our grandsons birthday (5 yrs. old) and invited some of his friends. They had a marvelous time riding the carousel and playing with one another. Kids of all ages enjoy the wonderful craftsmanship of the artists that created the carousel animals.

The carousel was fun for the kids, it was pretty affordable. The location of this business is beautiful and you can see the new Salem bridge that they built. There is a playground nearby.

This is a wonderful place for kids. Old fashioned carousel that kids love to ride on. Pack a lunch, go picnic at the park then enjoy the Merry-Go-Round before going home. Great place to spend some family time together.

Kids love this carusel, it is only 1.5$ a ride and there was a line waiting for the ride.
The carusel is in a very good shape and it was fun to watch the smiles on the kids faces.

We were out of town and we needed a place to meet family with elementary school aged children. We chose the Carousel as it was indoors, should it rain, and there is a nearby park where the children could play, assuming it didn't rain.

We had children 7 years to 21 years. They all enjoyed the ride. The facility is well maintained, which isn't always typical for carousels. The kids had fun trying to reach for the ring in the mouth of a fish, in hopes of getting a free ride on the carousel.

There is a vendor selling popcorn, which the kids enjoyed. There is also an adjacent gift shop with inexpensive items for the children to spend a few dollars.

The children enjoyed themselves which is exactly as we hoped.

the carousel is fun for the kids!! The carved animals (which are carved on site) are amazing!! Plus, the riverfront park is right there and the kids can play on the swings...

This is a beautiful carousel and the artwork on the animal pieces is gorgeous. The studio where they create the animals is part of the building.
It was fun for all ages. The man operating the carousel was kind, friendly and lovely, perfect for running such a fun activity.
Prices were very reasonable! Well worth going to do in Salem!

We were on our way up to Portland and stopped off here to stretch our legs before dinner. We didn't have time to ride the carousel but we loved the walk around the park and gift shop. They were also selling popcorn, snow cones, and cotton candy.
A great place for a stroll or picnic.

Took 2 granddaughters ages 7 and 12. They had a blast. Beautiful park area and water near by. The carousel is beautiful. Only issue is for us visitors to Salem it was not well marked where to but tickets.

I have three grandsons and have taken all of them to the carousel many times in their lives. They love it; it's a low-key relaxing activity with beautifully carved horses and other animals. Most of the carvers are from Salem. The carousel is located in Riverfront Park, a great place to take your family members, canine or otherwise.