This 100-Foot Double-Decker Carousel In Gurnee, Illinois Has Carried Three Generations Since 1976

A merry-go-round stands 100 feet tall, and it greets every family that walks through the gates. Two full stories of horses and chariots turn beneath more than 1,000 lights.

Yes, a carousel. In northern Illinois.

I love that it has spun in the same spot since 1976. That means some grandparents rode it as teenagers, then brought their kids, and now bring their grandkids.

Same ride, same plaza, three generations of the same family.

The park around it is famous for screaming steel coasters. Still, this gentle giant is the picture most people carry home.

I can’t imagine a better symbol for a place built on summer memories.

So how does a slow, old-fashioned ride hold its own next to all that speed? And why does a song at closing time matter so much?

The Giant Merry-Go-Round Waiting Just Past The Front Gates

Few theme park rides double as a welcome sign, but this one does the job beautifully. The Columbia Carousel sits right inside the entrance of Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois.

Gurnee sits in Lake County, close to the Wisconsin line and an easy drive from much of the Chicago area. That makes the park a classic summer day trip for northern Illinois families.

Most theme parks open with a gift shop or a big sign. Here, you get a towering double-decker carousel framed by the front plaza, and it’s hard to look anywhere else.

Plenty of park fans call it the unofficial logo of Six Flags Great America. That feels fair, since the carousel shows up in countless family photos taken in the first five minutes of a visit.

The ride itself is a calm one. No loops, no drops, and no screaming required, which makes it a rare spot where toddlers and grandparents can share a seat.

So before you sprint toward the coasters, slow down for a second. The Columbia Carousel is the reason the entrance feels like a celebration instead of a turnstile.

Spinning In The Same Spot Since The Bicentennial Summer

The year was 1976, and America was throwing a 200th birthday party. That same year, a brand-new park opened in Gurnee as Marriott’s Great America.

The Columbia Carousel debuted on opening day. Its name and patriotic flair fit the bicentennial mood, and the park’s whole theme leaned into American history.

Plenty has changed since then. The park changed owners, picked up the Six Flags name, and added coaster after coaster over the decades.

The carousel, though, never packed up and moved. It still turns in its original location, which is a big part of why it feels like a family landmark.

Think about what that means for Illinois families. A teenager who rode it in the 1970s could now be a grandparent walking a little one to the very same platform.

That kind of continuity is rare at a theme park, where rides often vanish to make room for the next big thrill. Nearly five decades in, the Columbia Carousel remains one of the park’s original 1976 attractions.

Not bad for a ride with no speed records to brag about.

Wait, Wasn’t There A 1920s Carousel Here Too?

Good memory, longtime park fans. Six Flags Great America really did have an antique carousel, and its story deserves a quick detour.

The ride was called the Ameri-Go-Round. The Dentzel Carousel Company built it in 1922 for Fontaine Ferry Park in Louisville, Kentucky.

Great America later brought it to Gurnee. It was a three-row Deluxe Menagerie model with 43 horses and five menagerie figures.

Many of those figures were carved by Daniel Muller, a name carousel lovers still respect. Wood carving like that is a true art form from another era.

Here’s the bittersweet part. The Ameri-Go-Round operated until 2003, then was disassembled after the park closed for winter that year.

A different ride took its place in 2004. So if someone tells you the 1920s carousel still spins in Gurnee, you can gently set the record straight.

The good news? The park’s other carousel, the 1976 Columbia Carousel, is still turning today.

It’s the one carrying grandkids around now, and it has its own long list of happy memories.

Two Stories Tall And Proud Of Every Foot

One hundred feet. That’s the height of the Columbia Carousel, and it ranks among the tallest carousels in the world.

Most of us grew up with carousels at county fairs and shopping malls. Those are single-level rides you can walk around in a minute.

The Columbia is a double-decker, with riders on both an upper and lower level. That second story changes the whole experience.

From the top deck, you get a slow, turning view of the entrance plaza and the crowds heading into the park. It’s a gentle way to get your bearings before the big rides.

The tall crown on top helps the carousel stand out from far across the plaza. It acts like a giant meeting point for families who get separated.

Some riders wish the animals moved higher or faster. Fair enough, but speed was never the point of this ride.

The point is the scale. Standing at the base and looking up, the Columbia Carousel feels more like a building than a ride, and kids tend to notice that right away.

Bring a wide-angle camera setting.

Horses, Chariots, And A Very Big Stable

Counting animals is a fun game here, though you’ll need patience. The Columbia Carousel carries 106 fiberglass animals, including horses and chariots.

That’s a big herd. Picking a favorite horse quickly becomes part of the ritual, especially for kids who insist on the same one every visit.

Fiberglass figures made sense for a busy 1970s theme park. They’re tough enough to handle summer after summer of excited riders.

The chariots matter more than you might expect. They give grandparents, parents holding babies, and anyone who’d rather sit a comfy spot on the ride.

That mix is what makes the carousel so friendly for multi-generational outings. Nobody has to stand at the exit gate holding the bags.

With two levels to choose from, you can also make a game of switching decks. Ride the bottom first, then climb up for round two.

Little ones can grab a horse while Grandpa claims a chariot right beside them. Everybody rides, everybody waves, and everybody ends up in the same photo.

That’s a pretty good deal for a ride that never leaves the ground.

Over 1,000 Lights That Steal The Evening

Daytime is lovely, but evening is when this ride really shows off. More than 1,000 lights trim the Columbia Carousel.

As the sky darkens over Gurnee, those lights turn the entrance plaza into something close to a jewelry box. It’s one of the prettiest sights in the park.

Families leaving for the night walk right past it. That glowing farewell makes the long walk to the parking lot feel a little shorter.

Fall adds another layer. During the park’s Halloween season, the carousel has been part of the festive fun with a light show that matches the spooky mood.

Fright Fest nights draw a different crowd than a summer Sunday. Still, the carousel works as a calmer break for anyone who wants a few minutes without monsters.

Photographers, take note. The best carousel photos tend to happen right around dusk, when the lights pop and there’s still some color in the sky.

Little kids especially love the sparkle. For them, a lit-up carousel can be the highlight of the whole day, even after the bigger rides.

Time your exit well and the lights become the last thing everyone remembers.

The Closing-Time Song Families Wait All Day For

Music can hold a memory better than any photo. At closing time, the Columbia Carousel has long played what fans simply call the Carousel Song.

The tradition dates back to 1976. For a few years the song went missing, and some riders noticed that the ride felt too quiet.

Then the park brought it back. For longtime visitors, hearing it again felt like an old friend showing up at the door.

Plenty of families have built rituals around this ride. Some ride once when the day starts and again before they head home, like bookends on a great day.

That kind of tradition costs nothing extra once you’re inside the park. It just takes a few minutes and a willingness to slow down.

I like how the ride works as a natural wind-down. After hours of coasters and lines, a slow spin is a soft landing for tired kids.

Grandparents get something too. They get to share a ride they may remember from their own younger days, now with a small hand holding theirs.

Start that tradition once, and the kids will probably insist on it forever.

Know Before You Go To Gurnee

Planning matters, because this carousel keeps a seasonal schedule. You’ll find it inside Six Flags Great America at 1 Great America Parkway, Gurnee, IL 60031.

A park ticket or season pass is needed to ride. There’s no separate carousel fee, so once you’re in, you can spin as often as your family likes.

Recent operating hours show the ride open on weekends. Friday runs 10:30 AM to 6 PM, Saturday until 8 PM, and Sunday until 7 PM.

Monday through Thursday were listed as closed during that stretch. Hours shift with the season, so check the park’s calendar before you load up the car.

Getting there is simple for most of northern Illinois. The park sits just off Interstate 94, making it an easy drive from Chicago suburbs and Lake County towns.

Arrive early and you can ride the carousel first, while the plaza is still fresh and calm. Save a second spin for the final minutes of the day.

Budget-minded families can stretch value with season passes and frequent visits. One gentle ride, repeated every trip, adds up to plenty of memories.

Why This Slow Ride Still Wins The Day

Speed gets the headlines at Six Flags Great America. The Columbia Carousel gets the hugs, the photos, and the family stories.

Is it thrilling? Not in the coaster sense, and some riders find it a little too slow.

That’s exactly why it works for so many Illinois families. It’s the one big attraction where a three-year-old and a seventy-year-old can ride side by side.

It also carries real history. Opening in 1976 with the park, and staying put ever since, gives it a staying power few rides can match.

The double-decker design, the 100-foot height, the 106 animals, and the glowing lights all add up. Together, they make a ride that feels classic without feeling worn out.

I believe the best family outings mix big thrills with quiet moments. This carousel handles the quiet part beautifully.

Next time you’re headed to Gurnee, give it a spin at both ends of the day. Pick a horse, wave at the crowd, and wait for that closing song.

Somebody in your family might be telling the story about it fifty years from now.