Hershell Spillman Merry-Go-Round

One of the jewels of the Tilden Park crown is their vintage carousel — complete with hand-painted horses and other animals and the unforgettable sound of a festive calliope.

Hershell Spillman Merry-Go-Round

You’ll feel like you’re at Coney Island without the beach on this antique gem of a carousel. Built in 1911 and fully restored in 1978, the Hershell Spillman merry-go-round is now on the National Register of Historic Places.

Complete with its hand-carved, beautifully-painted animals, this carousel on Tilden Park’s Central Park Boulevard is open for riding from 11 am to 5 pm on weekends and many holidays (but it’s closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas, New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day), and also is open on weekdays during school spring and summer vacations.

Have a birthday? Call or email at least two weeks in advance to book a party at one of the tables in the grassy area behind the merry-go-round!