Discover Our Hand-Carved Carousel Animals

The Johnson family invites you to share in the delight that Adonnis will bring to carousel riders. Adonnis was adopted in honor of Johnson’s granddaughter, Ahzha, who provided the specific details to make certain that the finished animal would look like the one she leased, rode, and trained. The stable in Corvallis where Adonnis lived is pleased that their animal is part of the carousel. This handsome horse is a dark, dappled gray Arabian with a flowing mane and sweeping tail. He wears a light blue saddle blanket with a scalloped edge trimmed in gold. His light brown saddle has a dark blue skirt with symbols of the sun, moon, and star. Pink roses trim the saddle skirt and there are red rosettes on his bridle. ​Adonnis is a middle-row jumper on the carousel. He is one of the three animals the Johnsons adopted for their three grandchildren.

Prana, a mythical winged horse, is a white stallion gracefully flying around the carousel. Pegasus, of Greek mythology, as well as the Ellison Family’s own beautiful Arabian horses, provided the inspiration for Prana, meaning life force or breath. The three smiling fairies, clinging to Prana with magical ease and glee, represent the Ellison’s three daughters who, while growing up in Albany, trained, showed, loved and cared for the champions of Springhill Arabians. Prana, a middle row flyer, invites all ages to climb aboard. Then try closing your eyes and breathing with the subtle rocking to and fro motion; feel the magical rise and fall, and imagine soaring through blue skies to unknown destinations astride the beautiful Pegasus, Prana.

Sponsors Peter and Rosalie Johnson adopted this salmon for their grandson Bryce who enjoys fishing. Named “Chinook” for his resemblance to the mighty Chinook or King Salmon that are native to the West Coast, he swims around the middle row of the carousel. King Salmon are large, strong and hard-fighting fish. It is an awesome experience to fish for these wonderful creatures. Our Chinook is bright red with a hooked jaw – signs he is headed upstream to spawn in one of the many Oregon rivers. Each of his scales was individually hand carved to add to the authenticity of the animal. Can you guess how many there are? A strand of seaweed is caught in Chinook’s mouth. A dragonfly flutters between a water lily on his back and a yellow lotus at his side. Did you notice the frog jumping near Chinook’s tail?

Fredrick is full of meaning for the Kirbey family, who adopted him in memory of Wendy’s young son, Donald Fredrick Wagner. A rabbit in this pose was a popular animal on Dentzel carousels. So Wendy thought it would be a wonderful memorial for her son who loved animals. Fredrick carries one of Donny’s favorite books, “The Chronicles of Narnia”, which is strapped to his saddle. The book’s cover features the Great Lion Aslan. A daisy serves as the bookmark. Other daisies and daffodils on the rabbit’s purple saddle remind Wendy of sweet memories when her children would bring bouquets of those flowers to her. Fredrick is a peaceful creature on the carousel but riders need to be ready for the adventure he has planned for them and himself!

Hope is a baby Masai Giraffe, and at a height of 7′ 6″, she is the tallest animal on the carousel. Hope’s likeness was a little giraffe spotted by the Darby’s while they were on safari in Africa. The giraffe was peeking between Acacia branches trying to hide. The Darby’s knew not to get any closer. She had the look of “hope” in her eyes though, and they knew they wanted her memory preserved. A pair of Southern Yellow-billed Hornbills are cleverly perched on Hope’s back to make a level saddle area. Both Hornbills have black and white plumage with yellow bills. The male has a red patch on his throat. A green Red-billed Oxpecker is peeking around Hope’s neck, obviously taking a free ride.

Watch out Shamu! Here come Geno, the Orca Whale, sponsored in memory of beloved husband and father, Gene Tanselli. Geno swims around the carousel showing off in the middle row as he is leaping from the water. The Tanselli famil vacationed at the Oregon Coast during the years when Keiko was a star at the Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport.. The Tanselli's though that an Orca whale should be a part of the Carousel, entertaining children and families like Keiko did. All of the animals on Geno remind the Tanselli family of their trips to the Coast. A brown otter and Geno's dorsal fin make the saddle area. Sea life, including an orange starfish, a sand dollar, an octous, and a red crab can be found in a strand of seaweed clinging to Geno's side. Gene Tanselli loved baseball, in fact he was Oregon State's baseball coach from 1966 to 1972, which is why the starfish is holding an OSU baseball. A fish swims along side Geno. The "shiny fish" is part of the story too.

Elaine had dreamed of sponsoring a dragon on a carousel since she rode a Dentzel menagerie carousel in Meridian, Mississippi. She particularly wanted a land dragon because she and Jack were both born in the Chinese Year of the Dragon. When it came time to name the dragon they settled on the combination of the word ‘ignite’, as in to combust or set fire, and ‘knight’, as in shining armor. So was born Igknighter, affectionately known as “Iggi”. Igknighter is an outside row animal standing noble and majestic. The Zodiac symbols of the sponsors’ birth months are carved into this magical dragon’s tail. He has fire in his mouth and a time capsule in his tummy. In 2009, Igknighter received “Best in Show” honors at the Chinook Winds Coastal Carvers Woodworking Show in Lincoln City. “Long live Igknighter, our carousel Dragon! It’s fun to watch the joy on the faces of others as they ride around and around. Life goes around…enjoy the ride”.

Have you ever seen a bear with eyeglasses? Meet Grizzly Berry, the inside row bear who can see you just fine thanks to his wire-rimmed spectacles. He is a brown grizzly bear with a tan muzzle and black nose and represents this family of optometrists. The Berry’s four granddaughters’ names, Annie, Maggie, Molly, and Elsa, are etched into the bear’s fur. In his mouth is a wicker basket containing a ruler and an apple depicting the teachers in the family. The outside of the basket is decorated with both a grouping of straw-“berries”, and the optometric caduceus. The bear also carries pink ballet slippers and an eye chart as well as a block “U” for the family’s Utah heritage. The Berry’s hope generations of people will enjoy taking a ride on their friendly Grizzly Berry!

This beautiful creature is a Hippocampus, a mythological animal that is half horse, half fish. Greek and Roman mythology described him as a horse that pulled the sea god’s chariot. Little girls who visit the carousel call him a mermaid horse! He is a sea-horse, not seahorse – which is a kind of fish! Admired by Corey, Nina, and Paris Barton while he was being carved, they determined to sponsor him and named him Guardian. Guardian is perfect! Daughter Paris loves fantasy, mermaids, and princesses. Guardian is bright turquoise, Paris’ favorite color. His bridle is made from light green kelp which flows down his neck. He has a long sweeping tail that curves back on itself and splits into two fins. Colorful tropical fish and a mermaid (painted to resemble Paris) ride along on his tail. The Barton’s added the mermaid’s armband with the name ‘Paris’ and a medallion with the initial ‘B’ on Guardian’s chest. He swims gracefully around the outside row of the carousel guarding all who are near.

“Tyger Tyger burning bright, In the forests of the night”….so begins a famous poem penned in 1794 by William Blake. Reminded of this poem, carousel carvers named this magnificent jungle animal “Blake.” Blake wears no saddle or bridle, appropriate for a wild Bengal tiger. Hidden in the stripes toward his flank on the romance side, are the names of the sponsors’ grandchildren, Andrew and Caitlin. He is a jumper animal located on the inside row of the carousel.

Diane Hunsaker came home to Oregon after 17 years in California to help carve and paint Crunchy, her childhood pony, and one of the first animals adopted on the carousel. (Crunchy’s sponsorship came simultaneously with Honey Bear). Mau, the Hunsaker family cat, sleeps behind Crunchy’s saddle. The green saddle blanket with autumn leaves represents the love Morris Hunsaker, Diane’s father, had for Oregon’s natural beauty. Crunchy was a typical Shetland pony — a bit ornery. He delighted in finding new ways to rid himself of his riders. Diane’s brother suggested that the carousel install a tree branch that would fall in front of Crunchy’s passengers and sweep them out of the saddle so that they would have a more realistic experience. Potential riders will appreciate knowing this idea was rejected.

Sir Hugo Page is a griffin (gryphon), an ancient mythical creature with the body, tail, and back legs of a lion, the head and wings of an eagle, and an eagle’s talons as its front feet. The Griffin was thought to be an especially powerful and majestic creature. They were also known for guarding treasure and priceless possessions. Sir Hugo Page is an outside-row-standing animal. Cliff Page, the father of sponsor Scott Page, carved Sir Hugo and made this a family project. Cliff, who passed away in 2018, was the only carver on the Albany project who also carved on Salem’s Riverfront Carousel. Sir Hugo Page holds a scepter in its left front talon. A chest plate with the Page family crest is attached around his neck with a gold chain. According to Page family records, the first person to use this crest was Sir Hugo Page in 1260. The motto, “Make Life Work”, is on the crest.

Yun Hsiang, the Chinese Dragon, is a middle-row jumper. Yun, Cecilia’s given name, means sea foam, and Hsiang means harmony in Chinese. He is painted in eye-catching colors of rich blue, gold, and red. Yun Hsiang is holding a large pearl-like orb with Cecilia’s maiden name, Chen, illustrated in a black Chinese character within the opalescent luminous layering of the sphere. Traditionally, dragons are often represented with a giant pearl that symbolizes wealth, good luck, and prosperity. Yun Hsiang may look a little intimidating but he is a typical Chinese dragon, always kind, gentle, and wise. He also loves celebrations and he gives great rides on the carousel.

Nellie is a special animal for our carousel. She is our “measurement horse,” determining whether young potential riders can ride on the carousel by themselves or need to be accompanied by an adult. Sponsored by Linda and Steve Gallon in memory of Linda’s mother, Nell, Nellie stands on her hind legs, asking children to pass underneath a front hoof to check their height. A rearing brown horse with white mane and tail, Nellie is decorated with items that Nell loved. A lavender scarf flows around her neck. A favorite perfume is tucked in front of the saddle. A Canadian maple leaf and an ice plant represent Canada. The heart-shaped breast place reads “ART & NELL.” She also has books behind her saddle representing knowledge and a smaller heart with clasped hands symbolizing friendship. Nell loved bougainvillea, music, and the seaside – all found on her namesake, Nellie.

Angel, the Peacock: Sponsored by Doug and Karen Engel