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Union Park is one of Des Moines’ largest parks, complete with a famous Rocket Slide, a splash pad for those scorching Iowa summers and an attraction that is open from May through September called The Des Moines Heritage Carousel. Union Park has been home to the carousel since its debut in 1998.  Jackie Cacciatorie, the executive director of The Des Moines Carousel Foundation, said that in the first couple of years of the carousel’s operation, the carousel was enclosed by a giant tent such as the ones you would see at the circus.  She said ‘Buz’ Brenton and the other founders of the carousel purchased that tent from Waterloo Tent and Awning Company of Waterloo, Iowa, for $17,000.  Today we see the permanent structure that shelters the carousel, which was a public partnership between the city and the foundation.  

This structure is not unlike a short version of a grain silo you would see on a farmstead around the Iowa countryside. The main difference is this structure has garage doors that are hand-cranked open to allow a full 360-degree view of the hand-painted and hand-carved carousel. ‘Buz’ was very involved in choosing who built the carousel, what animals were depicted on it and which Des Moines landmarks were portrayed. Under the awning is an employee who charges 50 cents for children and a dollar for adults to ride.  Surrounding this employee is a display case that was donated by Younkers in 2018, which houses merchandise you can purchase with the carousel’s namesake.  

During the operation of the carousel, you can hear the music that accompanies its counterclockwise rotations that was produced by Don Stinson of the Stinson Band Organ Company of Bellefontaine, Ohio. The tune brings about the feeling of nostalgia and thoughts of carnival games and smells of cotton candy and popcorn. 

Lois Bennett of Indianola said, “It’s inexpensive entertainment for kids of all ages,” as she watched her daughter and grandkids ride the carousel on a calm Saturday afternoon. The mirrors on the carousel reflected some of the sunshine creeping through the trees as the children were spun slowly on the beautifully painted animals.  

When Cacciatorie was asked about the painting of the carousel, she said: “The foundation has a local artist, Sandra Gustafson, and she has been working on the carousel for about 14 years. She comes in the spring and does touch up for any of the animals that need it. We are hoping to get funding so that she can come in the fall, as well.”  

The budget to operate the carousel is 100% donations, “animal” adoptions and grants that they receive from individuals and the city. Cacciatorie explained that the carousel operates on around a $50,000 a year budget to include employee wages, repainting, maintenance and any other expenses that arise with its summertime operations. To help bolster that budget, the carousel is available to rent for holidays, parties and special events which allows those patrons to ride the carousel and utilize the facility for their event. The carousel also offers season passes for $49, an all-day pass for $10, and an hour pass for $5 and is open from Memorial Day through the start of the school year.  During May and September, it is open on the weekends only but is still available for rental during the week.  

The carousel vaunts events such as Programs At The Park that kids can enjoy stories, songs and rhymes together along with a craft and a free carousel ride. These events are sponsored by Des Moines Public Library and the City of Des Moines Parks and Recreation.