Chris and Denali Rode a Carousel in Every State

October 24, 2026

Congratulations to father and daughter, Chris and Denali Dallin, who rode a Carousel in every state! What a fun way to explore all 50 states! Chris said it was the best thing ever he did as a Dad - it was much more than just the excitement of each carousel ride; it was precious, intentional time spent together with his daughter. May this list inspire you to add a carousel ride to your next state adventure or perhaps find another theme for your travels.

First Carousel Ride: Disneyland, California, when Denali was 6 months old.

Article by Chris Dallin (originally printed in the National Carousel Association’s quarterly member publication "Merry Go Round Up")

Over seventeen years ago, my baby girl was placed in my arms. I made a commitment to love, protect, teach, discipline, encourage, and experience life together. As a classic midway fan, we found ourselves on a Dentzel Carousel at Disneyland six months later. We randomly rode the prancing horse with the name of Emerald. My daughter’s first carousel ride was full of joy and excitement. I wanted to replicate the experience, so a goal was set that day to visit at least one carousel in every US State. I had heard about others visiting ball parks, national parks, driving on specific roads, or catching a fish across the US. So, why not a carousel? It was hard to find some of them; certainly, eating an ice cream cone in every state would have been easier. After each ride, we would ceremoniously add a picture of our carousel ride to a map that my wife had given us to track our progress. It seemed slow at first, then nearly every year our family vacations would be planned around the next state or more, further accomplishing our goal. We could never have imagined the joy and adventure ahead that took over 17 years to complete.

We rode carousel horses galore, a lobster in Massachusetts, a baseball bat in Missouri, a St. Bernard in Colorado, we rode a Hippocampus (half horse/half fish) in Iowa, a Cutthroat Trout in Idaho, a pig, a bear, a tiger, a giraffe, rabbits, an elk, a sea monster, a likeness of George Washington’s horse, Blue Skin, in New Jersey, and a steam propelled carousel in South Dakota, we hand cranked the oldest carousel at the CW Parker Carousel Museum in Leavenworth Kansas and enjoyed trips, people and adventures that we would have never experienced otherwise. We rode a carousel horse in Washington, D.C., which is a civil rights monument, and we talked about it. We caught rings on a few carousels in Washington state, Montana, and Flying Horses in Rhode Island and more. We met family and friends along the way to ride a carousel together, a perfect reason to meet. We learned about carousel manufacturers and carvers with names like the Philadelphia Toboggan Company, Dentzel, Looff, Herschell-Spillman, Carousel Works, and many more. The people who were lucky to run these classics, to pull the lever and to ring the bell were so fun to meet and enthusiastic about what they do. A woman running the Kit Carson County Carousel in Burlington, Colorado (PTC #6) told us about how a local group of citizens cleaned away corn and wheat stored in the carousel structure from the Depression and how it preserved the carvings and art, keeping it 90%+ original; indeed, a group of citizens and people passionate about their hometown carousel was a common theme.

When we rode our first carousel together in California, my daughter was full of laughter and wonder. When we rode our last carousel, of the goal, on Rehoboth Beach in Delaware (a Herschell Carousel), tears streamed down our faces, tears of joy, knowing that we had accomplished something special together that no one can take away. We spent time together on carousels, we talked, Denali said it well, “It was not about the carousel itself; it was about the memories that we made.” We learned, we laughed, we saw America from the back of a carousel horse. The goal was a dream. Isn’t that the whole point of a carousel in the first place? And a little like life too… If only for a few minutes, a carousel is a chance to ride a beautiful piece of art carved by talented people, bejeweled with gold and gems; with a little imagination it becomes a magical creature destined for a better time, a great adventure, up and down, round and round, with beautiful music and happy families. Imagination allows you to go anywhere, to a better place and then, ironically, you realize, that at that very moment… there is no better time or better place than on a carousel with someone you love.

When we finished our goal on June 30, 2024, there was no band playing and no car parade; there was no photographer. Just a little nudge and slide off of the carousel with a fist bump, but we both knew that our lives had been changed forever, because we were intentional about spending time together, on a carousel.

Chris and Denali’s Carousel Rides in All 50 States + DC

Alabama – Riverchase Galleria, Hoover

Alaska – Pioneer Park, Fairbanks

Arizona – McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park, Scottsdale

Arkansas – Arkansas Zoo, Little Rock

California – Disneyland, Anaheim

Colorado – Kit Carson County Carousel, Burlington

Connecticut – Lighthouse Point Park, New Haven

Delaware – Funland, Rehoboth Beach

Florida – Walt Disney World, Magic Kingdom, Orlando

Georgia – Georgia Mall, Savannah

Hawaii – Hawaii Children's Museum, Kaka'ako

Idaho – Silverwood Theme Park, Athol

Illinois – Navy Pier, Chicago

Indiana – Davis Mercantile, Shipshewana

Iowa – Coral Ridge Mall, Coralville

Kansas – Carousel Museum, Leavenworth

Kentucky – Gatti Town, Lexington

Louisiana – Carousel Bar, New Orleans

Maine – Old Orchard Beach

Maryland – Glen Echo Park, Glen Echo

Massachusetts – Wharf District Park, Boston

Michigan – Saint Joseph Carousel, Saint Joseph

Minnesota – Cafesjian's Carousel, Como Park, St. Paul

Mississippi – Highland Park Carousel, Meridian

Missouri – Kauffman Field, Kansas City

Montana – Great Northern Carousel, Helena

Nebraska – North Platte City Carousel, North Platte

Nevada – Circus Circus, Las Vegas

New Hampshire – Canobie Lake Park, Salem

New Jersey – Military Park, Newark

New Mexico – Cottonwood Mall, Albuquerque

New York – Coney Island, Brooklyn

North Carolina – Pullen Park Carousel, Raleigh

North Dakota – Wahpeton

Ohio – Cedar Point, Sandusky

Oklahoma – Oklahoma City Zoo, Oklahoma City

Oregon – Riverfront Park, Salem

Pennsylvania – Hersheypark, Hershey

Rhode Island – Watch Hill, Westerly

South Carolina – Family Kingdom, Myrtle Beach

South Dakota – Prairie Village, Madison

Tennessee – Dollywood, Pigeon Forge

Texas – Mahnke Park, San Antonio

Utah – Historic District, St. George

Vermont – Shelburne Museum, Shelburne

Virginia – Busch Gardens, Williamsburg

Washington – Riverfront Park, Spokane

Washington, DC – Langley Carousel

West Virginia – Camden Park, Huntington

Wisconsin – Bay Beach Amusement Park, Green Bay

Wyoming – Evanston County Fair, Evanston