The Carousel of Happiness Podcast
Welcome to the Carousel of Happiness Podcast!
It all starts with Scott Harrison, a Vietnam veteran, who channelled his grief into art by hand-carving and restoring a 1910 Charles Looff-designed carousel that actively spins today.
On the podcast, you’ll hear stories about how the carousel came to be and how it found an unusual home 8,000 feet above sea level in the quirky mountain town of Nederland, Colorado.
The Carousel of Happiness Podcast is your weekly hub of positivity where we’ll spin yarns and tell tales about the carousel itself, the people who keep it spinning, and the over 1 million visitors who are fundamentally changed as a result of their visit.
Not sure how a $3 ride ticket can change your life? We’ll show you how on the podcast.
In the meantime, take care. Be well. And don’t delay joy. We’ll see you next time around.
The Carousel of Happiness is a nonprofit arts & culture organization dedicated to inspiring happiness, well-being, and service to others through stories and experiences.
If you enjoy the podcast, please consider donating to keep the carousel and its message alive and spinning ’round and ’round!
Special thanks to songwriter, performer, and friend of the carousel, Darryl Purpose (https://darrylpurpose.com/), for sharing his song, “Next Time Around,” as our theme song.
Listen wherever you find your favorite podcasts!
Meet Your Host: Allie Wagner
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Do You Have A Story To Tell?
How has the carousel or it’s story impacted your life?
What does this ride-able piece of moving art mean to you?
What is your connection to Nederland, to the Carousel, to Joy?
Do you have a story you’d like to share?
The magic of our carousel shines brightly in the stories we capture here each day. And you are a piece of that magic! We’d love to hear from you, to catch your story, and share the carousel magic with everyone.
Send us a message on social media, use the form on this page, or email us at outreach@carouselofhappiness.
Of course, our carousel is a magical place. But why? What makes this hunk of metal and wood bring a smile to faces of children of all ages? What is the meaningful take-away of a visit to the carousel? Why does every adult in Nederland tell you that you just HAVE to take a ride?
While we can’t answer what makes it special to you individually, we do know some common themes we hear from riders:
- The story is inspiring! Scott, a young Marine in the Vietnam war, was able to envision a place of happiness and joy, something that was the opposite of what he was then experiencing. And decades later, he made that dream come true and built a carousel “in his backyard,” here in Nederland. We know many visitors walk away thinking about how they can bring something positive, something meaningful, or maybe just a little bit of fun, to their own community.
- The animals are beautiful! This moving piece of art is a treasure for the Nederland community. The carousel animals each have a unique personality carved into them, and the many decorations throughout the building add to the exquisite scenery.
- The Carousel is ADA accessible! An amusement ride is not something that most people with disabilities can experience, but here at the Carousel of Happiness, we envision a place where all are welcome, even our riders that come in on wheels.
- It’s a special piece of history! Originally spinning in Saltair Park, Utah over 100 years ago, our carousel is one of less than one hundred wooden antique carousels that remain in the United States today. Of course, our carousel is unique because it does not have its original set of animals from the Looff factory, and instead is filled with a menagerie of contemporary animals. The carousel is also filled with other decorations, like our rounding board paintings, that came from other carousels so they can be preserved and appreciated by our visitors.
