Silver Beach Carousel
Silver Beach Carousel
Silver Beach Carousel
5
About
MAKE A MEMORY ALL YEAR ROUND! The horses, the tigers, the hippocampus, the panda, the clown fish - in all, 48 unique carousel figures and two chariots - are whirling with excitement to see you. Come pick your favorite and ride beneath 1000 twinkling lights as the band organ's music happily soars and dips with the gears. Each figure is beautifully hand-carved and hand-painted by the artisans at The Carousel Works. Around the top of the carousel you can learn about our local history - told as no one else in the world has told it on a carousel - using historic photographs. As you gaze at those 18 rounding boards, you'll become part of our story, too.You'll find all the magic and wonder of the Silver Beach Carousel below the bluff in St. Joseph, just yards from Lake Michigan's Silver Beach, named one of the top 10 family beaches by Parents magazine.
Duration: < 1 hour
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
588 reviews
Excellent
476
Very good
94
Average
12
Poor
3
Terrible
3
Terry T
Indianapolis, IN18 contributions
Sep 2021 • Solo
I reviewed the website & reserved a ticket. It was $8 for 1 hour to ride. I had no interest in riding, did not need 1 hr, & only wanted to take pics. I arrived between admission times at 1:00 w/a reservation for 2:00. The door was locked & a volunteer opened the door a crack. I explained my visit, asking if I could sit somewhere & wait. I was told no. It was a hot day w/no place nearby to wait. The volunteer said she would ask someone else and told me I could probably come in 5 minutes early. A mgr soon came to the door & asked "Can I help you?" I explained again my interest and that I wanted to take some pics. She very sternly told me that images of the carousel are strictly protected,, cannot be sold, published,, or used as inspiration for any type of art. I said that I was not going to sell or publish the photos.This carousel is open to the public, is in the public domain,, so no such restrictions exist. She is incorrect, misinformed, and certainly should not be greeting visitors with such a statement..There is no such info on the Carousel's website.. After delivering her spiel,, I was quite put off,, and had to sit on the concrete walk outside for an hour waiting to get in. I was admitted at 1:55, spent 5 minutes before a few children came in, and left, all for $8.
Written September 21, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jarIndiana
Muncie, IN387 contributions
Aug 2021
Planned a vacation to St. Joseph and had told our 10 year old granddaughter that we would take her to the splash pad and carousel near the downtown area.
Thank goodness she was able to enjoy the splash pad because the carousel was closed every day we were in St. Joe after driving for over 4 hours to get there?
A man came to the door that we were trying to open (as directed by signs) and he explained that "due to staff and volunteer shortages, the carousel is now only open on weekends only?"
This should be posted on all doors and also on their website. We will not return....ever!!!
Thank goodness she was able to enjoy the splash pad because the carousel was closed every day we were in St. Joe after driving for over 4 hours to get there?
A man came to the door that we were trying to open (as directed by signs) and he explained that "due to staff and volunteer shortages, the carousel is now only open on weekends only?"
This should be posted on all doors and also on their website. We will not return....ever!!!
Written August 21, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bertram S
5 contributions
Apr 2023
We are members of the National Carousel Association and live about 90 minutes drive away. We come here periodically to ride the carousel. It's excellently crafted, the choice of animals is marvelous. As normal, we had several wonderful rides. It has a great gift shop too.
Written August 2, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Have Camera, Will Travel
South Bend, IN3,807 contributions
Aug 2022
For my birthday, my partner took me to St. Joe for lunch and to walk around. While wandering around, we decided to take a spin on the carousel. We had a blast. Go ahead and take time and enjoy the simple things with the people you are closest too. This is one of those things.
Written October 21, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DrSkippy
Indiana1,642 contributions
Sep 2018 • Friends
A must! Silver Beach Carousel. $3/person.
Silver Beach Amusement Park Museum (Free) is in the same building. Also, check out Michigan’s largest Kaleidoscope (free) (also in the same building).
Exploring Downtown Saint Joseph. Michigan. 9/1/18.
Silver Beach Amusement Park Museum (Free) is in the same building. Also, check out Michigan’s largest Kaleidoscope (free) (also in the same building).
Exploring Downtown Saint Joseph. Michigan. 9/1/18.
Written September 9, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Terri F
Chicago, IL44 contributions
Aug 2019 • Couples
I loved seeing this. Brought back my childhood. What person wouldn't love a carousel? Craftmanship was amazing. The small animated displays around it were cute too. Enjoyed my visit.
Written August 3, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TIffany
Pekin, IL138 contributions
Jul 2019
Super cute carousel and little gift shop. If you forgot beach toys the gift shop there has a few cute small beach toys.
Written July 14, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MacGrumpy46
Kirkby Stephen, UK39 contributions
Nov 2018 • Family
This attraction is more of a gift shop with carousel attached. The entry fee includes a ride on the carousel I believe. The actual ride has a height restriction so small children need to have an adult with them. The ride is surrounded by other small attractions, some hands on for kids.
Written November 27, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MzMBB
Chicago, IL72 contributions
Sep 2018 • Couples
So much fun, anytime you ride a Carousel, it caters to the kid in us and the kids are having fun! Everyone is going around in such a good mood, laughing, smiling, eating ice cream or cotton candy, again such FUN!
Written September 7, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sara S
12 contributions
Aug 2018 • Family
We must have ridden this carousel 100 times by now. I'll be sad when the kids outgrow it, but for now, it's a summer tradition
Written August 8, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
How far away is the carousel from a lighthouse? A stroller walk? We have 2 toddlers and will be going there in late November.
Written November 18, 2017
Yes and no. It is within walking distance but I would NOT do it with young children. We had theee kids with us when we did it but the youngest was 10. It’s too far for little ones
Written November 18, 2017
They have a website. Looks like 2.00 a ride.
Written June 3, 2017
Ho! Ho! Ho! It's Christmas in July at the Carousel! We're decking the House and making everything merry and bright for a week of holiday cheer! Come ride Noel the Christmas Horse. Sing along to joyful Christmas tunes. Take photos with Santa for your holiday cards. Play corn hole with Grandma. Watch with Dad the Civil War era miniature train chug, chug, chug around the track. There is no happier place to be mid summer! Christmas in July Hours are: Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sun., noon-10 p.m. (EDT).
Visit Santa and Mrs. Claus. It's true, the famous North Pole pair to vacation at Silver Beach in St. Joseph. Check our Facebook page for the times each day that Santa and Mrs. C. will be holidaying at our happy house.
Snowballs! Have a blast tossing our plush snowballs in the Activity Room. (Heads-up to parents: it'll be hard to get your kids to leave!)
Early-Christmas Shopping. There are only 157 shopping days between July 20 and Dec. 24 and one of the most fun places to find gifts for all ages is our newly remodeled The Brass Ring Gift Shop! There are toys, Christmas ornaments, housewarming gifts, music boxes, a Magical Memories Coupon Book and a wonderful picture book about our very own Noel the Christmas Carousel Horse. Stop by ... you can be sure Santa will be checking his list here, too!
More fun just outside our doors! While you're here, plan to see all of the Splishin' and a Splashin' outdoor art around downtown St. Joseph — giant rubber ducks, frogs, whales and tubs (the Boardwalk Barker Duck is at our Broad St. entrance). Cool off in the Whirlpool Compass Fountain across the street or at Silver Beach just yards from our doors. There are free music concerts along the bluff on Wednesday at noon, Friday at 7:30 and Sunday at 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. Stop by the Carousel Saturday night to buy bags of popcorn and fresh-spun cotton candy and watch Annie (the 2014 version) on the big outdoor screen in Whirlpool Centennial Park across the street (it's free for the whole family ... just bring blankets and chairs).
Need more family fun ideas? Ask our greeters!
Wishing you a merry Christmas in July and a happy rest of the summer!
Written July 7, 2015
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