Coolidge Carousel

Had a great experience with my grandkids at the water park at Coolidge. I was expecting a crowd and it was busy but not overly crowded. The water was ice cold but felt great. Our grandchildren went BONKERS and were so FUNNY when they informed us “what about bathing suits?” We assured them we had them covered and they convinced me to get in with them!!! Had a super time - as did lots of other families with children!! It was great to see all the smiles and hear laughter from everyone of all ethnicities and languages. I will definitely come back again!! Don’t forget to ride the carousel, if you have time!! Affordable!!!!

Hand-crafted animals are unique, lively, and beautiful. So creative! My favorite was the frog with the suit and tie and the leaping tiger. Kids had a blast. Very well preserved!

Daughter loved the Carousel! 2 free rides, you start to pay for them on the 3rd. Also, she loved the interactive fountain right outside as well, lol. Maybe common sense, but I didn't know the rules about not riding the Carousel while wet (which makes sense, seeing as each animal on the Carousel is a wooden beautifully hand carved and painted work of art). But for the other scattered, brained people like me, Carousel first, then fountain lol. If you forget, they had a large fan inside for drying your children, lol. Save yourself some time, and toddler melt down and just do the Carousel first, lol.

A cute little vintage carousel. Each animal is hand crafted with the artist’s name at the bottom. The rides are free but they accept donations. We enjoyed it a lot

This is amazing and a must-do! Tickets are only a dollar. I lucked out as the ticket machine was broken and road twice for free! 100+ year old carousel, enclosed, in the heart of Coolidge Park. Every child’s dream (and adult’s!) It is warm inside, but once it starts moving, you catch a breeze. The ride lasted for a significant amount of time as well.

We stopped in here while passing thru Chattanooga, and I’m so glad we did. Our two grand daughters loved it. And I do believe this is the prettiest carousel I’ve ever seen. It’s beautiful. If we had longer we would have ridden it more than twice. Especially since it was only $1. This was awesome.

It's free and it's wonderful. The children loved the unusual hand carved animals on the carousel. Great for families with free street parking centrally located.

I have been a fan of carousels all my life, my favorites so far being in Boston and in Nashville. This one was really neat to visit while in town. It was large, a very long ride for only a dollar and I enjoyed seeing the variety of each hand carved animal. Can be a bit loud to sensitive ears, but they also use the original music box type, which has its own fun charm.

Randomly came across this park with the carousel and they were doing free rides! Fun for kids and cool vintage style carousel!

A carousel with history, it was constructed in 1894 in Philly by the renowned Dentzel Company and later its pieces were sent to Chattanooga and restored by Bud Ellis. Maintenance today is now done by Larry Ridge and his volunteers on a monthly basis. This antique carousel has a lot of character & its intricate detail and craftsmanship is evident. It's a carousel for all ages, for the young and the young at heart. Located in Coolidge Park, Payment is a $1, credit card only. The payment machine is to the right close to the fencing. Punch in the number of tickets you want to purchase and then insert your credit card and leave it in (it takes a while- be patient) until it states to remove it. Be sure to have your tickets on hand. There is an employee manning the entrance to ride the carousel. The ride itself is sheltered from the elements & a bathroom is located in the same building. I found it really fun and entertaining as an adult.

This was such a nice surprise! We had no idea it was here and just stumbled across it while walking around. It's super cute. I was so happy to take my kids on a carousel. I hadn't been on one myself in years. Love that they are still around.

We took a couple spins on the carousel during our Mother's Day Weekend outing. This was our first time here and weren't sure what to expect. We walked over the Walnut Street Bridge and found the carousel building fairly easily. The ticket machine is automated, and there is only one machine. Some had trouble with it and took longer than others to purchase. The price is $1 per person, I believe under 2yo is free. We paid for two rides and my girls had the tough choice of which beautifully carved animal they wanted to ride. The outer edge animals are stationary while the interior animals rotate up and down. There are bench seats as well. There are some rocking chairs for those who choose not to ride, a water bottle refill station and clean bathrooms (although small). There is even a small room that looks like it could be for private events.

Super easy to buy tickets, which were $1 each, with cash or card. Tickets are only needed for kids and adults over the age of 2. We got to ride with our one year old, who enjoyed himself immensely, while we relived our childhood.

I found this place scrolling through what seemed like touristy websites, and decided to check it out. So worth it! It was SO CUTE!! My sister and I (15 &12) LOVED it! It only costs $1 to do, so we rode like four times. Each round is easily 5 minutes! Definitely a cute, chill place, plus it gives parents a break Fun plus-each animal has a spot on the ground in front of it with its band :)

A fantastically fun carasoul. It's only $1 to ride this old timey carasoul which is a great value. The family can go multiple times without braking the bank. They have both moving and not moving options to sit and the artistic detail is fantastic. The animals to ride are very varied and go from the standard to absurd but all have character. This will be a staple stop each time we come.

Pretty awesome find in Chattanooga. One of the few original wooden carousels that is still fully functional! The ride will cost about $1 and you'll get about one minute of pure nausea fun. The ride does move fast for an antique, but nothing too crazy for the timid amusement ridee. If you find yourself in downtown Chattanooga near Coolidge park, ride the carousel!

As I was searching for Coolidge park on Yelp, I noticed there was also a separate page for the carousel in the park, which actually kind of makes sense. So here's my review for just the merry-go-round and not the park in general. No, I am not a child, but yes, I rode the carousel. It was mainly just an on-the-whim decision, because why not?! I didn't expect much from it, but it ended up being one of my favorite things at Coolidge Park. It was actually a pretty good ride. It wasn't super boring either. I mean yeah, it's just going in a circle a bunch of times, but if you get on one of the seats that goes up and down it adds some more fun (which I'd recommend). They go up and down enough to where it's actually a noticeable enough height difference. It was still repetitive (again, you just go around in circles) but somehow it seemed more fun than others I've been on before. And the price is right for sure... For just $1 you go around for honestly a decent amount of time. The ride lasted much longer than I thought it would (especially considering how little it costs). I think that's a great deal for an extra little thing to do at the park, and it's fun enough for it to be worth it in my opinion!

Fun little gem of a find. Cheap, classic, and cool (it was cooler inside by the fans by the carousel than outside in the heat) There are also bathrooms right next to the carousel.

We love the Carousel! $1 per person and kids 3 and under (I am pretty sure it's 3 and under) ride free! Anytime we are near Coolidge Park, we always ride at least once or twice! The staff are always very nice. There are rocking chairs if you don't all want to ride the carousel. It is in a climate controlled building and there are bathrooms. 5-stars for the price, friendly staff, cleanliness and the fact that our three-year old always wants to go!

Buster Duncan, 91 of Manchester, TN worked with a great group of carvers in Chattanooga for three years. Very fond memories for generations to come.

Totally worth the dollar ride. Gives you a break from the heat and there are bathrooms inside. Nothing special about the carousel itself though.

OMG...I wish I had a kid with me so I could have an excuse to Ride the Merry go Round..I loved this carousel...it is under roof in a building to keep it GORGEOUS!!! The art work is amazing...I can't wait until my little Niece Dakota Rose visits this upcoming Spring Break..she is 3 and says riding the Carousels make her feel like a Fairy Princess...me too Dakota...me too and I am almost 50!!!! The rides are only $1 each... Cheap clean family fun and a Great Memory maker for all ages!! A Chattanooga MUST!!! located in the park below the Walnut Street Bridge

This place is mostly for kids if you ask me. So, if you have some little kids and they like carousels, then this area is the place to come while enjoying Coolidge park. If you get hungry or thirsty, you and your family can go to numerous restaurants, ice cream shops, and stores within walking distance. Parking, well I park at a meter after 4pm. Don't forget to bring a camera.

The vintage carousel is interesting to visit. We didn't take it for a ride (there was no one else there, and we felt a little silly, as two adults with no children, taking a ride on the carousel), but tickets are only $1. It was an interesting stop to look at and take a few pictures. I wish there was more history about the carousel in the room it's housed in - we wandered around the room before leaving and I finally find one little sheet of paper with information about the carousel tacked to a board with posters of events around town. That's how I learned that the carousel isn't native to Chattanooga and learned its year and a little bit about its history. Worth a look.

Well worth the visit! Fall hours: open at noon. Carousel is GORGEOUS! PROS: free park, parking nearby $2 for 4 hours or $4 all day, fountain for kids to run and play in, $1 carousel rides, tickets from Kiosk take cash or debit CONS: hours posted were wrong, $1 rides means anyone that steps onto the carousel (even if you're spotting a toddler), staff not very attentive (ride at your own risk)

The carousel is closed indefinitely. I understand but it was still a disappointment. If you want to take your kids here, come back after the virus restrictions are lifted.

This is my favorite place in the summer. The fountains are free for kids and adults. The restrooms are always clean. They have a place to change your clothes. And of course who don't like a ride on animals of your choice for a dollar?

This carousel is GORGEOUS. It was originally made in 1894, but then it fell into disrepair and this dude Bud Ellis discovered it in the 1980s and fell in love and got some craftspeople together who trained a bunch of volunteers to make it sparkle again. Each animal is a work of art--it's not a bunch of halfassed boring My Little Pony horses; there's camels, fish, half horse/half mermaids, and a bunch of other beautifully executed surreal-looking creatures to choose from. It's super super cheap ($1), especially compared with the unexpectedly pricey stuff in Chattanooga (Rock City, WTF?). And the staff are very helpful, and patient (there was an old lady in front of me who scanned the bar code on her ticket like 10 times out of confusion, and they were very sweet about it). I guess the only negatives are that it is indoors (seems to lose a little bit of magic that way), and that the ride itself isn't particularly thrilling, in a roller coastery way, unless you're the type of person for whom an escalator provides an adrenaline rush, in which case I'm not sure if I should be jealous or sad for you.

A family fun activity. Beautiful carousel. They provide party rentals too. Inexpensive fun. Children 2 and under are free. This is housed down by the river.

I'm 21 and still ride this carousel. Hand carved animals all decked out in beautiful technicolor inside an air conditioned building. $1 rides...I want to ride all day. Large expanses of green grass await you just outside of the carousel, as well as a little water park for kids. Coolidge Park is full of whimsy...the carousel is the cherry on top.

You can not find a better deal. One dollar to ride this amazing carousel is a steal. Each animal is hand carved and while you ride loud music plays which is perfect atmosphere. Staff is also friendly. Go check this out for sure.

A historic part of Chattanooga and a must on every tourist's list of sites. Carousel is $1 per ride. I believe we rode for a good 3 minutes? Not sure. But it was fun and brought out the kid in me again!!! And it's indoors and air conditioned. There was a group having a party in a room (floor to ceiling glass windows for easy viewing) next to the carousel. Seems like it'd be fun to have a kid's party here. No worries, if you're too scared to climb a horse or zebra or some other animal, there are seats. Very beautiful! Come inside the venue to purchase a ticket at the machine. Cash or credit and I believe you can buy more than one at a time. Located inside of Coolidge Park and adjacent to the Walnut Street Bridge. Clumpies and Good Dog, along with a few other boutiques are literally right behind the park. Perfect treats after a park visit.

Yay! I'm a Fan my family spent an hour riding this Carousel. My kids just loved it and it was only 1 dollar per ride with very long rides. Lots of kids to enjoy this with. Coolidge Park also had water play area but we didn't have suits Luckily the water park was surrounded by bushes and my kids didn't see it. Lots of bathrooms and a heavy police presence. Great Family atmosphere. Free Parking on Sundays only. Only 1 dollar to park on regular days.

We loved riding this carousel with our son! Super old, antique carousel. So pretty! Can't beat the cost either only $1 per ride and little ones under 2 were free! No line or wait the day we were there.

It's indoor. What kind of a carousel is entirely indoor? Sure, they all have roofs, but they aren't normally enclosed. I can only imagine how hot it gets in summer. It's not very appealing to the eye. It seems like Coolidge Park ought to have its own listing, but I can't find one. I'll hold off on reviewing the park. It's a lot better than the carousel.

Vintage old carousel from the 1800s restored wonderfully. I loved that it is indoors and air conditioned. It makes a huge difference on a hot summer's day! You also can't beat that it is only $1 to ride. We also loved that it isn't all horses. We rode an ostrich in an Uncle Sam hat. We saw a frog in slacks, a zebra, giraffe and plenty of other animals. Such a good time!

This was so much fun! When we visited in September 2012, it was closed for repair, but on our trip in July 2016, it was fully operational and we rode with our 5-year old daughter 5 times! It was warm but did have some air movement with a fan - still much cooler than out in the sun. I nice break from the heat. The carousel is very authentic and beautiful. My daughter loved choosing from so many different ornate animals to ride on each time. It was very nostalgic and we made great memories that day! The location is super convenient, so I suggest planning it along with the splash pad (just steps away) around a meal since you can walk up the hill (Northshore) to find a variety of great restaurant and treat shoppes.

My husband and I took our two daughters on the carousel and we had such a good time. I know it's mainly for kids, but there's something about the music and the indoor carousel that makes me feel nostalgic! It wasn't the greatest weather outside, so the indoor aspect was beneficial for us! I loved seeing the smiles on my kids' faces!

A classic carousel. No line. Indoors. $1. Even rocking chairs for those who just want to watch. A fun destination after walking across the Walnut Street Pedestrian Bridge.

Wide swaths of lawn outside this venue, make it an easy place to take the kids and let them tire themselves out. Take a stroll down to the Delta Queen riverboat while you are there.

The carousel is such a great place for kids and at a buck a ride, it's a steal. We always head to the splash park after riding the horses. A fun time to be had by all.

My kids loved this, it's close to everything else in downtown, and it was only $1 per person to ride. We overpaid for a child who was too young for admission price, so they let us ride again for free. Fun fountain for kids to play in right outside too.