Each summer, thousands of people of all ages flock to Story City to ride the most unique carousel left in Iowa.

On May 6, the carousel will open it’s doors for the summer.

“It’s old-fashioned fun tucked away in a small town,” Leigh Adcock, marketing director for the Story City Heritage Festival, said. “It’s like going back in a time machine.”

The carousel was built in 1913 by the Herschell-Spillman Company of New York and was then purchased by a private owner until it was sold to Story City in 1938.

The carousel houses hand-carved poplar figures including 20 horses, two chickens, two pigs, two dogs, two chariots and a whirling tub.

The community enjoyed the carousel until deterioration forced it into temporary retirement in 1977.

However, community interest in the antique sparked again in 1980, and a series of fundraising events helped raise money to restore the masterpiece.

“People in the community always felt that the piece was unique and because there weren’t many left in the United States they knew that it would be a great tourist attraction,” Adcock said.

The community organized everything from bake sales to car washes.

“Every organization in town got involved in this project and did something to help out,” Karen Hermanson, executive director for the Story City Chamber of Commerce, said. “It was a real community effort.”

The biggest fundraiser was a $50 a plate dinner that raised $10,000.

“An anonymous donor said that he would give $10,000 if the community could raise $10,000 too,” Hermanson said.

It took $140,000 for the entire restoration project. The figures were stripped, repaired and repainted in their original colors.

“They were restored by a local woodworker and painter,” Hermanson said. “It took 30-50 hours to complete each piece.”

An eight-sided pavilion was built for the carousel and it was moved to Story City’s North Park.

The carousel was reopened in 1982 with a huge dedication ceremony.

An auction was held, and the first rides were auctioned off to the highest bidder. Art Cox, of Des Moines, paid $400 to be the first to ride the newly remodeled carousel.

It’s the finest example of a restored portable carousel to be found in the county, John Hayek, former president of the National Carousel Association, said.

People come from all over to experience this small piece of history.

“It’s really a focal point for our community,” Hermanson said. “We’ve got a guest book, and all 50 states and about 18 foreign countries are represented.”

The carousel is a popular attraction for families, because the rides only cost $1 and they sell bags of popcorn for 50 cents, Adcock said.

“It’s a very affordable and fun attraction and also offers a sense of history and heritage to Story City,” Hermanson said.

Matt Andrews, sophomore in music, worked at the carousel during the summer.

“I think that it’s really a keystone to our city,” Andrews said. “Lots of grandparents bring their grandchildren maybe in the hopes to relive their own childhood memories.”

Carousel hours are: May and September, Saturday and Sunday from noon to 8 p.m.; Memorial Day through Labor Day noon to 6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, noon to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.