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In addition to focusing on each horse every part of the Grand Ole Carousel from the rounding boards down to the platform is getting attention.



It is great getting to see the building that houses the Grand Ole Carousel getting attention as well.  Part of the plan that is going to take a few years will be to enclose the Grand Ole Carousel to keep the entire ride in a climate controlled environment to preserve all of the work that they have done.

It is fascinating seeing where they are pulling design inspiration from throughout the creative process.  With the Grand Ole Carousel seated in the parks Britannia section pulling inspiration by medieval structures.



Each of the horses and chariots on the Grand Ole Carousel began their journey by being stripped down to the bare wood for the first time since they were carved back in 1915.



Once stripped the next step was to repair worn out parts of each horse.  Steve Read who has been a member of the maintenance department at Six Flags St. Louis since he was eighteen, pushed back retirement and carved all of the replacement wood.  The wood to repair the horses were taken from the trees that were removed around the parks old entrance plaza for the horses.



Once the horses were repaired the painting process began with several layers of primer and other paint to seal the wood from exposure.
 


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Paul B. Drabek