The Stewart Park Carousel is open Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day.
Spring Schedule: May 22nd - June 14th Weekends Only (Friday-Sunday and Holidays),
11:00am-7:00pm (last ride boards at 6:45pm)
Summer Schedule: June 19th - September 7th, Tuesday-Sunday and Holidays,
11:00am - 7:00pm (last ride boards at 6:45pm)
Special Events and Sponsored Days: The carousel may operate on days and times outside of the typical
schedule for certain special events or sponsored days. Watch for announcements.
Single rides are $1. Multi-Ride passes can be purchased
from the operator at the Carousel or in advance HERE.
Accessibility
Everyone should get to experience the joy of
riding the Stewart Park Carousel!
With the help of Play By Design and volunteers, Friends of Stewart Park adapted the carousel for users with mobility aids by adding a ramp and adaptive chariot where a wheelchair can be secured next to a seated caregiver.
New in 2026! The first ride of each hour will be a sensory-friendly ride where we will not play the classic carousel music and will operate at a reduced speed; reducing auditory overstimulation and offering predictable, low-speed movement.
About the Carousel
The historic Herschell Carousel is a unique park attraction. Opened in the park in 1952, the carousel ownership and management have changed over the years, but is now owned and operated by the City of Ithaca.
FSP has spearheaded efforts to restore the classic merry-go-round while providing enhancements to both preserve it and make it more accessible to visitors.
The Carousel in 1952
Volunteers building wheelchair-accessible ramp
Horses repainted in 2015
Carousel History
Friends of Stewart Park has been researching Carousel ownership through the years. The merry-go-round was installed under the ownership of Robert L. Cochran. Walter W. Willis bought the carousel from the Cochran estate in 1965. Ellie and Montgomery May owned and ran the ride from 1983-1998 During this time, he made many improvements, including having artist Annie Campbell repaint the horses in 1986. Thanks to an anonymous 1998 donation that allowed the City of Ithaca to buy the Carousel.
The whimsical horses were hand-painted by local artists Christi Sobel and Julia John in 2015, with a nicer fence added the following year. With the help of Play By Design and volunteers, FSP adapted the merry-go-round for users with mobility aids by adding a ramp and adaptive chariot where a wheelchair can be secured next to a seated caregiver. 2020 brought the installation of a permanent open pavilion style cover for the carousel, which allows the structure to remain in place year-round while protecting it from the elements.
See a video presentation of the history of the Stewart Park Carousel here.
