Missoula, MT #3

Saturday we went downtown and went to see the Missoula carousel. It is the fastest carousel I've ever seen! I think those ponies thought they were in the Kentucky Derby! I wanted to ride, but didn't, as it was so fast that I feared the onset of vertigo. The story of the carousel is really awesome.

In 1991 a Missoula cabinet-maker named Chuck Kaparich made a promise to the City Council that he would build a carousel for Missoula IF the city would give it a home and promise that no one would ever take it apart. He had already carved 4 ponies, and had purchased an antique frame in pieces. The Council agreed, and Kaparich's dream of a carousel became the dream of the community. He taught others to carve the ponies and mechanics started restoring the 16,066 pieces of the frame and motor. Stained glass artists and painters were recruited, and on May 27, 1995 the carousel was opened in it's permanent brick home. It has 38 ponies, 14 gargoyles, two chariots, and a band organ. The band organ is the largest band organ in continuous use in the United States. Now the volunteers carve ponies for other carousels and local not-for-profit organizations, and restore ponies for antique carousels. The mechanical crew donates time to keep the machine in tip-top shape.

In 2001 4000 volunteers gathered to Create Dragon Hollow Play area next to the carousel.

They accomplished their task in just 9 DAYS! A 3-headed dragon guards a castle and the play area features an obstacle course, swings, slides, phone systems, musical instruments as well as a totland for children under 5.

The complex is in a beautiful grassy park on the banks of a fast-moving river and adjacent to a walking path. It's a very active place on a Saturday morning!!!

We stayed in camp today -- cleaning the inside and outside of the trailer. It sparkles! We leave tomorrow for Polson. We've truly enjoyed the Missoula area!