Community
Griffith Park begins multi-year merry-go-round restoration
Los Angeles city staff and volunteer amusement-industry specialists have begun assessing and planning repairs to the century-old Griffith Park carousel.
The Los Angeles Times reported October 12 that the city-owned merry-go-round is expected to need at least two years of restoration work. Los Angeles purchased the attraction for $1 million in 2025 after it had remained largely closed since the pandemic, aside from a limited 2022 run.
Built: 1926; moved to Griffith Park in 1937
Collection: 66 wooden horses remain
Estimated restoration: More than $3 million to $4 million
Next step: A detailed assessment is expected in the coming weeks
Repairs, accessibility and fundraising
The work is expected to include removing layers of old lead paint, repairing cracked wood and carved details, restoring painted panels, updating ride controls and making the attraction accessible under current standards. Volunteers with theme-park engineering experience are helping examine the machinery and historic finishes in their personal capacity.
Fundraising will be coordinated through Friends of Griffith Park after the assessment defines the scope. The restoration team has not announced a reopening date, and the current timetable is measured in years rather than months.
Source: Los Angeles Times — October 12 →