Kit Carson County Carousel

05/09/2026

Who's getting excited for another magical summer at the Kit Carson County Carousel?

Join the Angel Pony and her friends daily Saturday, May 23 through Monday, September 7, 11 am to 6 pm. They'll take you on a spin you'll never forget!

05/08/2026

Meet the Pioneering Plains 🤠🌾

Northeastern Colorado is where endless grasslands, rich agricultural roots, and deep Indigenous history come together. Explore wide-open beauty at the Pawnee National Grassland, discover small-town gems like the historic Kit Carson County Carousel , and experience the region’s Western spirit through traditions like the Brush Rodeo.

05/02/2026

The Angel Pony and all of her friends want to remind you that it is only three weeks until the Kit Carson County Carousel is open for the 2026 Summer Season.

Join the menagerie for a magical ride 11 am to 6 pm daily beginning Saturday, May 23. After you ride, take a peek at our museum and gift shop.

It's going to be a wonderful summer at the Fairgrounds!

04/25/2026

Just 4 weeks until the 2026 Summer Season begins.

It's going to be a marvelous summer at the Kit Carson County Carousel! Come take a spin on PTC #6 and a stroll through our museum, then stop by the Hoofbeats Gift Shoppe.

The Angel Pony and her friends are getting ready to welcome you!

04/04/2026

The restoration of the Kit Carson County Carousel continued through 1976 and beyond. Donations and grant money was sought to restore the paintings. A trip to Denver to visit 3 different artists was made by several of the Centennial Committee. We took the painting of the monkey from the carousel along with us to show the artists. (That picture is the monkey shown below.) The committee unanimously asked John Pogzeba, consultant, conservator and appraiser of fine arts to take on this project. Mr Pogzeba made a trip to Burlington to appraise the paintings around the carousel. In his written evaluation he gave a cost estimate of $80,000 in 1977. This met the committee along with the 4-H clubs, Extension Homemaker Clubs and individuals had to get to work fund raising and filling out grant requests to help raise the money.

Mr Pogzeba contacted Will Morton Vlll to assist with the restoration. In Will’s own words “The phone rang. “”Vell, you haf to tell me if you can help restore some pictures on an old merry-go-round—45 of them!””. “. Thus the odyssey began.

The contract was awarded and John and Will took 5 or 6 paintings at a time back to John’s studio in Denver. When those paintings were restored they were brought back to the carousel and 6 more paintings were taken back to Denver.

The paintings were dirty, some had tears and punctures, some were water damaged.

Mr Pogzeba became ill, Will took over most of the work and benefited greatly from Mr. Pogzeba’s tutoring and lots of practice. The work was tedious, but gratifying.

The black and white pictures below and some of the information is from the Magic and Memories cook book. The colored pictures are from the carousel today.

03/25/2026

The Angel Pony and all of her friends are counting down!

In less than 2 months, the Kit Carson County Carousel opens for the 2026 Summer Season. The hours will be 11 am to 6 pm daily beginning Saturday, May 23, and we'll be open through Monday, September 7.

Come out to enjoy a magical ride, a stroll through the museum, and a stop at our gift shop. We're looking forward to another great summer!

03/13/2026

Kit Carson County Carousel.

🎠 In 1927, Elitch’s Gardens ordered a new carousel from the Philadelphia Toboggan Company to replace their original 1905 model. But instead of demolishing the old one, it was sold to an unusual buyer: Kit Carson County, out on the Eastern Plains. Local officials wanted a new feature for their county fairgrounds and got a pretty good deal on it, too, paying only $1,250.

Today, the Kit Carson County Carousel is still operational, and even boasts some of its original paint. It has a fully functional 1909 Wurlitzer Organ—one of only three still in existence. At more than 120 years old, it’s one of the oldest amusement park rides in the country and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. It opens for a new season on May 23!

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Image: The Kit Carson County Carousel, inside its protective pergola, in a postcard from the 1980s. History Colorado 89.331.1

03/09/2026

Kit Carson County Carousel, Burlington CO is hiring.

Wanted: Summer tour guides/operators for the summer of 2026 at the Kit Carson County Carousel and Museum. The ideal candidate would be a retired or semi-retired person that can commit to a minimum of three days a week Memorial Day through Labor Day. Workday is 10:30-6:30. Students are welcome to apply but must be able to work after school and on weekends through Labor Day. Starting wage is $15.16 an hour. Applications are due by April 10 and should be completed and submitted online: www.kitcarsoncountycarousel.com.
Click on the bars in the upper right hand corner. Then click on Work or Volunteer at the Carousel.

02/09/2026

The Kit Carson County Carousel located on the county Fairgrounds in Burlington, Colorado

In 1976, Kit Carson County Centennial Bicentennial committee selected the 1905 PTC #6 carousel as their project for the years celebration. Needless to say it took longer than a year to complete the total restoration of the carousel

In February of 1976, the 1909 Wurlitzer Monster Military Band Organ was delivered in pieces viva a horse trailer to renowned organ restorer Art Reblitz, in Colorado Springs. The Kit Carson County Commissioners had contacted him in 1975 asking him to restore the band organ which had not played for about 40 years. The estimated cost of the restoration would be about $3,000 and was to be completed by June 1, 1976.

Reblitz’s contract included restoring the pumps, reservoirs, pipe chests, self playing mechanisms, the many wood and metal organ pipes, drums, drum mechanisms and roll mechanism, and the assembling, tuning, testing and carefully regulating the organ. After more than 1,000 hours of work, Reblitz and his staff completed the organ in late July, just in time for the 1976 Kit Carson County Fair. If you were there that day at the county fair like I was and heard the band organ play for the first time in 40 years, what a wonderful sound it made to the large crowd surrounding the carousel.

Much of this information is being taken from the Magic and Memories cookbook 1905-2005 and the most recent booklet from the carousel. Below are some of the pictures from that time. Sad to say, I haven’t found any pictures as the band organ was delivered to Reblitz.

01/20/2026

50 years ago, 1976 Colorado was celebrating it’s Centennial. In 1975 the state legislature granted each Colorado County, $8,000 to “do something” to celebrate the upcoming Centennial-Bicentennial. The Kit Carson County Commissioners selected the 1905 Philadelphia Toboggan Company Carousel #6 as their “do something” project. The Wurlitzer Monster Military Band Organ, located on the county fairgrounds, Burlington,CO had been silent for over 40 years. Thus started the restoration of PTC #6 which was planned to be completed in 4 years.

This fb site is dedicated this year to going back and discussing the 50 years since the restoration began. I lived the restoration and some of my thoughts may come out this year in talking about the ups and downs of this project.

Come spinning with us this year.

12/23/2025

Merry Christmas and Happy 2026 from the Kit Carson County Carousel, PTC #6 located at the County Fair Grounds in Burlington, Colorado.

We look forward to seeing you in the New Year.