Pullen Park - Rides

Rides

The park features 4 rides with a nominal charge for each. Tickets are purchased from the office near the park entrance. Adults are welcome on all rides with the exception of the kiddie boats which are intended for small children and circle in a small pool. Pedal boats are available for rental by the half hour. There must be one person aged 16 or older and boats can accommodate up to four people.

A miniature train, added to the park in 1950, goes through a tunnel and around the park. The tunnel and a second train were added in 1971. The C.P. Huntington Train is a one-third sized operational miniature train has thrilled children of all ages since it was added to the park in the 1950s. The engine is a near exact replica of a locomotive that was built in 1863 at the Danforth-Cook Locomotive works in Paterson, New Jersey which eventually found its way to San Francisco (by way of Cape Horn) when it was purchased by Central Pacific Railroad where C.P. Huntington was then Vice President. On April 9, 1864 it was christened the C.P. Huntington C.P. #3 after its first run. It was slated to be destroyed in 1914 but was saved, restored and renamed and now resides in Sacramento, CA.

The Pullen Park Carousel was made circa 1900 by master carver Salvatore Cernigliaro of the Dentzel Carousel Company of Germantown, Pennsylvania. It contains 52 hand-carved basswood animals, 2 chariots (or sleighs), 18 large gilded mirrors and 18 canvas panels and a Wurlitzer 125 organ made in 1924 by the Rudolph Wurlitzer Company of North Tonawanda, New York. The Dentzel Carousel Company was the first American carousel company and while thousands of carousels were made in the U.S., there are only approximately 200 antique carousels left today and fewer than 25 of those are Dentzel carousels and only 14 of those remain in operation. Unfortunately, the carousel is often closed for repairs but it is a small price to pay to continue to be able to enjoy this beautiful antique ride when it is in good working condition. Many generations of park visitors have enjoyed riding a giraffe a pony or an ostrich and continue to pass the tradition along to their own children. It is considered to be the park's most popular attraction.

This particular carousel was originally located in Bloomsbury Park (also in Raleigh near what is now known as Five Points) and was moved to Pullen Park in 1921 when the City Board voted to replace the steam powered antique merry go round. Bloomsbury Park, an amusement park founded by Carolina Power & Light (CP&L), was apparently in financial trouble and Pullen Park was able to acquire the carousel for $1,425 - one tenth its original cost. This expenditure angered many Raleigh residents, but they soon acquiesced after it began running.

The carousel underwent restoration from 1977 to 1982 during which time the original factory paint was uncovered, documented and conserved. It was the first time such an attempt had been made. Each hard carved animal was restored to its exact Munsell Color System paint color preserving the original paint underneath a layer of shellac while enabling the animals to look just as they were originally painted (#sign). In 1976 it was added to the National Register of Historic Places and it is also a designated Raleigh Historic Landmark.