The Riverfront Park Carrousel, also known as the Looff Carrousel and the Natatorium Park carousel, is a carousel in Spokane, Washington, built in 1909 by Charles I. D. Looff as a gift for Looff’s daughter Emma Vogel and her husband Louis Vogel, who owned Natatorium Park in Spokane. It remained at the park until 1968 when the park closed. The carousel was relocated to its present location at Riverfront Park in 1975 where it continues to operate. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 19, 1977. The carousel still contains its original 1900 Ruth & Sohn band organ, which plays 87 key B.A.B. rolls, although due to deteriorating player rolls, a digitized recording is played during the carousel’s operation. The organ was manufactured in Waldkirch, Germany and imported by Looff around 1900. The carousel contains 54 horses, 1 giraffe, 1 tiger, 1 goat and 2 chariots, all hand carved by Looff himself. It also has a ring dispenser that allows the outside riders to grab a ring during each pass and then toss the ring at a clown with a hole for his mouth.
One of the most visited attractions in Spokane welcomes all ages to feel like a kid again and take a ride on our famous and historic Looff Carrousel. This fun and favorite attraction creates and brings back memories.
Riverfront Park’s 1909 Looff Carrousel is on the National Register of Historic Places and is one of America’s most beautiful and well preserved hand-carved wooden carrousels. Our Looff Carrousel proudly features 54 horses, 1 giraffe, 1 tiger, and 2 Chinese dragon chairs and a brass ring to catch. It can also accommodate wheelchairs.
Looff Carrousel
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Looff Carrousel, 507 N Howard St, Spokane, WA 99201, USA