The world's oldest galloping carousel returns to La Ronde!

[WadeJ]

Is this a sign of things to come from Six Flags?  Really cool stuff!

The world's oldest galloping carousel returns to La Ronde!
Thursday March 15, 11:02 am ET


Entirely renovated, this Montreal heritage gem will be reinstalled as a La Ronde feature attraction in May
MONTREAL, March 15 /CNW Telbec/ - As part of its 40th anniversary celebrations, La Ronde, in collaboration with the head office of Six Flags, is bringing back the renowned antique carousel.
 
Constructed in Li?ge, Belgium in 1885, the carousel was bought by an American group in 1964 to embellish the recreated historic Belgian village at the New York World's Fair. In 1966, the Montreal World Exposition corporation acquired the carousel in order to install it at Expo '67's Carrefour international (international crossroads). The ride was located in three different places between 1967 and 2002. During Expo '67, it was located in the Carrefour international next to the Bavarian restaurant. In 1968, it was relocated to Le Monde des petits (children's world) and it was last moved in 1984 to La Petite Ronde. In 2002, battered by the elements, the carousel was removed from the site. Following numerous assessments, Six Flags decided to return this heritage treasure to service. Six Flags president and CEO Mark Shapiro is delighted with his firm's involvement in returning the antique carousel - a major Montreal heritage symbol - to its place of prominence at La Ronde.

Many times over the past years, La Ronde's management and Heritage Montreal discussed restoring the antique carousel to its former glory. After five years and an investment of more than $75M, Six Flags decided to repair the ride, taking great care to maintain its yesteryear appearance.

"We are proud to be celebrating this year the 40th anniversary of Expo '67 and La Ronde and are delighted that the park's management has taken the initiative to give this architectural jewel back to Montrealers," said Heritage Montreal's policy director Dino Bumbaru. "This object of great value significantly contributes to Montreal's prestigious heritage."

Extremely pleased to be able to offer Montrealers this grand ride, which they will be able to admire in all its majesty, La Ronde's new president, Marc Tremblay, enthusiastically announced the long-awaited return of this one-of-a-kind apparatus and priceless world heritage object.

"The fact that this type of carousel is unique in the world has reinforced our desire to bring such a ride back into the spotlight," Mr. Tremblay said. "We will create a complete area in which the carousel will take pride of place and a wooded garden will be laid out as an oasis of beauty and rest. This choice location will enable visitors to discover the history of the antique carousel," Mr. Tremblay added.

The antique carousel's official reintroduction to the La Ronde site will take place May 19.

About Six Flags: Six Flags Inc. is the world's largest regional theme park company. Owner of La Ronde, Six Flags, Inc. is a publicly-traded corporation (NYSE: SIX - News) headquartered in New York City.

For further information

Nadia Goyer, Public Relations Manager, La Ronde - Member of the Six Flags family, (514) 397-2001, ext. 2703, ngoyer@laronde.com