Columbia Carousel

Carousel Columbia (also known as Columbia Carousel) is a pair of double-decked carousels at Six Flags Great America and at California's Great America (the parks were built by the Marriott hotel chain as sister properties but later sold to separate owners). To this date they are the world's tallest carousels. The first Columbia opened in the Santa Clara park in 1976 and the Gurnee Columbia opened later that year. They opened as the world's biggest... more

Carousel Columbia (also known as Columbia Carousel) is a pair of double-decked carousels at Six Flags Great America and at California's Great America (the parks were built by the Marriott hotel chain as sister properties but later sold to separate owners). To this date they are the world's tallest carousels. The first Columbia opened in the Santa Clara park in 1976 and the Gurnee Columbia opened later that year. They opened as the world's biggest carousel and continues to hold that title to this day. Each horse on the carousels was a replica of one of the world's most famous carousel horses. In front of the carousels was a large reflecting pond with historic replicas of American flags flying along the sides. Today the flags still fly. The Columbia is often associated with the Carousel Song, produced especially for the Marriott's Great America theme parks by Gene Patrick. A clip of the Carousel Song can be heard here. The Carousel Song still plays at the Gurnee park every evening when... less