Rare 1927 Dentzel Carousel Seeks Nonprofit or Government Steward to Complete Historic Restoration
Snoqualmie, WA —May 6, 2026 — Snoqualmie Valley Carousel (SVC), a Washington State nonprofit, is seeking a mission-aligned nonprofit organization or government entity to take ownership of a 1927 Dentzel-Muller Grand Amusement Carousel. This carousel, thought to be the last Dentzel ever produced, has undergone three years of meticulous restoration. SVC asks that the new caretaker have long-term storage options, a permanent public location, and enough funding to see this historic project through to completion.
What a new steward inherits
A new owner would receive not just a carousel, but a fully mobilized restoration program:
Approximately 100 skilled volunteers, including engineers, traditional carvers, painters, and carousel enthusiasts, eager to continue under new leadership
The carousel’s 48-foot mechanism with a complete mechanical catalogue; components were cleaned, measured, and test-fitted from 2022 to mid-2025
The carousel’s original artistic features: sculpted cherubs, hand-painted antique panels, rosettes, inner drum and mirror walls, ceiling elements, and elaborate outer rounding boards. Many of these pieces have been fully restored following an established restoration methodology.
A century’s worth of preserved hardware representing early twentieth-century American amusement park craftsmanship
Why now
SVC has reached a pivotal transition point. The next major phase requires securing new storage space and a permanent public location — resources that exceed the organization’s current capacity. Rather than allow momentum to stall, SVC’s leadership believes the right path forward is to transfer ownership to a partner with the infrastructure and capital to see this restoration through to a working, publicly accessible carousel.
“We are incredibly proud of what our team has built — the skills, the knowledge, and the loyalty of our volunteers. We believe now is the right moment for a new caretaker with fresh energy and resources to take this organization and this treasure to the next level.”
— Beth Burrows, President, Snoqualmie Valley Carousel
Timing
Interested parties are invited to contact us at info@SnoqualmieValleyCarousel.org no later than May 31, 2026. Our objective is to select a successor by June 30, 2026, with subsequent arrangements for ownership and physical transfer to follow.
About Snoqualmie Valley Carousel
Snoqualmie Valley Carousel is an arts organization based in Snoqualmie, Washington. Its mission is to restore the artwork, menagerie, and operating mechanism of a 1927 Dentzel-Muller Grand Amusement Carousel while teaching traditional carving, painting, and industrial arts through partnerships with local youth, seniors, and craftspeople.
The carousel’s history begins in 1970 near Chester, West Virginia, at Rock Springs Amusement Park. When the park closed due to a nearby highway expansion, all rides were sold at auction. The Dentzel-Muller carousel with its mechanical components, hand-painted panels, and sculpted ornamentation, was preserved intact until its horses were eventually separated from the collection.
In 2020, North Bend Art & Industry (NBA&I), a nonprofit in North Bend, Washington, received the carousel as a charitable donation from Larry and Gail Freels, organized by carousel historian Tobin Fraley. By 2022, Snoqualmie Valley Carousel became an independent organization with NBA&I’s support, enabling focused restoration work to begin.
The carousel featured three rows for animal figures and panels depicting scenes from early twentieth-century America, reflecting the era when carousels were centerpieces of amusement parks across the United States.
Media & Partnership Inquiries
Pamela Alexander, Treasurer
Snoqualmie Valley Carousel
Email: Info@SnoqualmieValleyCarousel.org