Best of 2001: Best Carousel

Broadway Flying Horses

Seaport Village

The carousel at Seaport Village is one of two permanent carousels in San Diego and is the more enjoyable of the two. The other carousel, at Balboa Park, with its diverse animals, might be a contender, except for its filthy condition and broken organ, which leaves riders listening to recordings of polka music. Seaport Village's carousel was originally built in Coney Island, New York, in 1890 by Charles Loop and has been beautifully restored. The restoration began in the planning stages of Seaport Village in 1976, when the carousel was purchased from Salisbury Beach, Massachusetts, where it had operated since 1914. The horses are newly painted and clean. The floor is lowered at the center and flares upward to the edges to create a flying effect. The Gebruder-Bruden band organ, also restored, plays the kind of bright, crisp music of a bygone age. Bruce Pier helped with the three-year restoration and has been its operator for 21 years. Rides are one dollar and last about four minutes. Open every day 10 a.m.-8:50 p.m.