Years, and years ago, Nashville had a World's Fair - in 1897. One would think it would have a carousel - but no it had a giant see-saw! The only things remaining from the Fair is the building in the middle - a model building of the Parthenon and part of the lake to the right.
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Nashville has had in the rest of it's history a carousel or two - still have one, and are supposed to get a new one sometime in the near future. There was an early one at Glendale Park, a trolley company owned park that closed in the 30's. When it closed a forward thinking department store owner Fred Harvey bought it and installed the animals in his stores. When new managers took over his control, they deemed that they wanted to get rid of them and Mr. Harvey gave them to schools, museums, etc.... Every once and a while you'll see one.
Another thing, unrelated that Mr. Harvey did was this grand and exceptional Christmas Display that was annually set up at The Parthenon - the only remaining (sort of as it was originally wood and plaster, but later rebuilt of concrete and stone) building from the above-mentioned Tennessee Centennial Worlds Fair. He gave it to the City, who promptly let it decay and destroyed it. I've been trying to revive it, but the City will not let it be there on City Property. So need to do it at another place. Gonna meet someone in a couple of weeks that I hope will fund it and to allow it to be displayed on his property.
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Then Opryland Theme park opened and they had a grand carousel. However when Gaylord Entertainment closed the park in 1997 to build Opry Mills, their big shopping mall, they sold all the rides except one - the carousel. You would think they would have the foresight to install the carousel in the mall, or next door at their Opryland Hotel. But no, it has supposedly been in storage since 1997.
Then Red Grooms (born in Nashville) was commissioned to do one that sat at Riverfront park at the end of Lower Broadway on the river. Like he is, it was kinda quirky. Instead of animals it had all kinds of nostalgic things and people that were Nashville related. It only lasted a few years in the late 90's, and like many non-alcohol- related stuff it is now gone. It was given to the Tenn State Museum to eventually erect it again. But there it sits in a secret storage place. Guess they have not found out a way to dispense alcohol from it.
The Nashville Zoo was created, and it eventually built a carousel - The Wild Animal Carousel. As it is named, all wild animals. Have not ridden it, just don't go to the zoo anymore.
We are scheduled for another one soon, but not holding my breath as it depends on developers to build it. At a very old building(s) that was once a wood-burning stove factory/foundry, turned Mattress factory. It was destined for demolition when a guy bought it and turned it into a multi-use facility with local shops, restaurants, theaters, etc... but not on a Class A basis - he did not have deep pockets. Then a billionaire bought it, but didn't have any real interest in running it. When he ran it, he allowed a carver (Ken Means) to occupy one prominent space to carve carousel horses. He would also have classes in carving the animals. When the billionaire decided he had had enough, a group of local developers (one a close friend of mine) bought it, and is supposed to upgrade it. They are, but they've definitely disappointed me on a number of levels. They made Ken give up his space, so they could build this huge bar and relegated him and his carvings to a non-descript and way out sight storeroom with no windows. Ken's daughter (she is some sort of hollywood type) has gotten involved and is supposedly going to foot at least some of the bill to highlight her Dad's carvings on a carousel. That's been a few years, and still no plans on paper yet. - Here's to hoping.
