Midway Carousel
1946

Midway Carousel is Cedar Point's oldest existing ride. 

The 1930's and 1940's was a really bad time for Cedar Point. The world was in a state of depression. The park really didn't have money to make general improvements because the guest didn't have a lot of money to go to the park. During this time, park attendance dropped to an all time low. It was Cedar Point's 1906 ballroom that kept the park going. In 1939 Cedar Point renovated it and turned it into an Art Deco style dance hall. 

Midway Carousel was added to Cedar Point in 1946. During the 1940's, very few things were added to Cedar Point. When the ride first opened, Cedar Point didn't own their rides. Anything added to Cedar Point before the 1960's was owned by an outside party. The park would rent space to people who would run their attractions. 

The ride was placed at the end of the midway. Over the years the park would expand all around the ride. 

Midway Carousel was built in 1912. the ride was built by Daniel Muller. The ride opened at Revere Beach in Revere, Massachusetts. 

The ride was brought to Cedar Point in 1946 by the Holzapfel family. The Holzapfel family would operate a few rides at Cedar Point over the years. The Holzapfel family was from Sandusky Ohio. They would operate the ride until they sold it to Cedar Point in 1963. 

On Wednesday, September 1, 1993 Cedar Point announced it was building Raptor. To make room for Cedar Point's 12th roller coaster Midway Carousel would need to be relocated. 

Midway Carousel closed in September 1993. The ride was carefully taken apart and began its restoration.  It would take 8 months for the park to restore the ride. The restoration cost $250,000. The building was not moved with the ride because it would take too much work to fix it up then it would to build a new one. 

Midway Carousel would be moved to the former Sky Wheel location that had been empty since Sky Wheel left in 1980.

Midway Carousel reopened on Saturday, May, 7, 1994 in its new location.  

Midway Carousel is located right inside the front gate at Cedar Point. 

The ride looked much better in its new location. Midway Carousel is located in the front of the park just inside the Front Gate.

Midway Carousel is a great ride for the entire family to enjoy together! 

Ride Experience

The Midway Carousel ride experience begins with guest entering the line for the ride. 

​The entrance is on the backside of the ride. 

The longest line for Midway Carousel is usually 5 minuets. 

On Midway Carousel guests choose the house they wish to ride in. 

Midway Carousel features 60 horses that are arranged in 4 rows. The horses on the outside row do not move up and down. 

​The ride also has 4 chariots for guest who wish to ride the ride but don't want to sit on a horse. 

Midway Carousel is equipped with a live band organ. The band organ plays classical carousel music. 

Once the ride starts, it moves in a counter-clockwise circle. 

The horses move up and down giving the illusion that they are actually moving. 

Midway Carousel is a 1 minute and 50 second ride. The ride doesn't move very fast. 

When the ride comes to a stop guest exit to the Main Midway. 

Midway Carousel was very popular at Cedar Point. It was added during an era when the park around it was falling around.  Cedar Point would add: Turnpike Cars (1959-2014), Wild Mouse (1959-1963), Cadillac Cars (1960),  Scrambler (1960-2022), Kiddieland (1960-1992), Dodgem 1 (1960-2001), Cedar Classic Miniature Golf (1961-1991), Rotor (1961-1964), Sky Wheel (1961-1980), Riverboat Cruise (1961-1963), Satellite Jets (1961-1986), Scamper (1962-1969), Sky Ride (1962), Mill Race (1963-1993), Cedar Point and Lake Erie Railroad (1963), Blue Streak (1964), Calypso (1964-1969), Broadway Trip (1964-1964), Western Cruise (1964-1986), Space Spiral (1965-2012), Earthquake (1965-1984), Pirate Ride (1966-1996), Trabant (1966-1990), Fun House (1966-1981), Frontier Town (1967), Shoot-the-rapids (1967-1981), Sealand (1967-1998), Rotor (1967-1984), Cedar Downs Racing Derby (1967), Frontier Lift (1968-1985), Sky Slide (1968-1991), Antique Cars (1969-2021), Cedar Creek Mine Ride (1969), Cedar Point’s 100th Anniversary Celebration (1970), Frontier Trail (1971), Jumbo Jet (1972-1978), Matterhorn (1972), Giant Wheel (1972), Cedar Point Cinema (1975-2001), Corkscrew (1976), Troika (1976), Witches’ Wheel (1977-2018), Gemini (1978), Gemini Chilrden’s Area (1979-2013), Wave Swinger (1979), WildCat (1979-2011), Oceana (1980), Ocean Motion (1981), Kid Arthur’s Court (1982-2005), White Water Landing (1982-2005), Demon Drop (1983-2009), Avalanche Run (1985-1989), Berenstain Bear Country (1985-1998), Thunder Canyon (1986), Iron Dragon (1987), Soak City Water Park (1988-2016), Magnum XL-200 (1989), Disaster Transport (1990-2012), Mean Streak (1991-2016), Challenge Park (1992-2016), Snake River Falls (1993-2024), Kiddy Kingdom (1993), Raptor (1994), Cedar Point’s 125th Anniversary Celebration (1995), RipCord (1996-2016), Mantis (1996-2014), Chaos (1997-2011), Swan Boats (1997-2003), Power Tower (1998), Camp Snoopy (1999), Millennium Force (2000), Lighthouse Point (2001), Wicked Twister (2002-2021), Good Time Theatre (2002-2014), Top Thrill Dragster (2003-2021), Castaway Bay Resort (2004), maXair (2005), Skyhawk (2006), Maverick (2007), Planet Snoopy (2008), Shoot the Rapids (2010-2015), WindSeeker (2011), Dinosaurs Alive! On Adventure Island (2012-2018), GateKeeper (2013), New Gemini Midway (2014), Rougarou (2015), Valravn (2016), Cedar Point Shores Waterpark (2017), Steel Vengeance (2018), Forbidden Frontier on Adventure Island (2019-2022), Cedar Point’s 150th Anniversary Celebration (2021), Snake River Expedition (2021-2023), The Boardwalk (2023), Top Thrill 2 (2024), and Siren’s Curse (2025)​All of these attractions have helped make Cedar Point what it is today.

Midway Carousel is a great ride for families! It has been very popular over the years. 

In 2021 Sarah had the opportunity to be the supervisor of the Midway Carousel for the  celebration of Cedar Point's 150th anniversary. 

​Jake was also cross trained in 2021 and had the opportunity to work on the Midway Carousel for a few days. 

To ride Midway Carousel: Children under 46" must be seated in a chariot or on the middle row of horses and be held by a supervising companion who is standing on the platform between horses.

Photos by: Jake Hamons, Russ Hauden, Bruce Cassi, and Cedar Point. 

Last Updated: 05/01/2025