Silver Star Carousel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Silver Star Carousel |
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| Ride statistics | |||||||||
| Manufacturer | William Dentzel Company | ||||||||
| Designer | William Dentzel | ||||||||
| Speed | 3 mph (4.8 km/h) | ||||||||
| Duration | 3:00 | ||||||||
| Height restriction | 42 in (107 cm) | ||||||||
The Silver Star Carousel is a super cool ride at Six Flags Over Texas. You can find it in the Star Mall part of the park. This amazing carousel first opened its doors to riders on April 20, 1963.
This carousel is special because it has 50 horses that look like they are jumping! It also has 16 horses that stand still, and two special chariots. These chariots have cool dragon carvings on them. All the horses and chariots are made of wood and were carved by hand.
Because of its long and interesting history, the Texas Historical Commission named the ride an official historical site in 1966. This means it's an important part of history!
Contents
Carousel's Journey Through Time
Early Days at Rockaways' Playland (1928-1962)
The Silver Star Carousel was the very last carousel made by William Dentzel. He was a famous carousel maker from the Dentzel Carousel Company in Philadelphia.
This carousel first started spinning in 1928. It was set up near the beach at Rockaways' Playland Amusement Park in Long Island, New York. When it was new, William Dentzel owned the ride himself. A friend of his helped run it for people to enjoy.
After William Dentzel passed away in March 1928, Rockaways' Playland bought the carousel from his family. They operated it for many years, until 1937. Then, the carousel was put away in storage for a while. It came back out and started running again at Rockaway’s in 1945.
Moving to Six Flags Over Texas (1962-Present)
In late 1962, a company called The Great Southwest Corporation bought the Silver Star Carousel. This company is now known as Six Flags. They bought the carousel from Rockaway's Playland for $25,000.
When Six Flags Over Texas talked about their new carousel, they said it was incredibly valuable. They explained that its true worth "could not be estimated." This was because it was one of the few hand-carved carousels still left in the country.
Big Renovation in 1988
On March 5, 1988, the carousel reopened after a big three-year renovation. During this time, it got a new look and a new name. It was changed back to "Silver Star Carousel." The ride also moved from its old spot in the Boomtown area. It now sits in the Star Mall area, closer to the park's front gates.
