C.W. Parker1 Carver-edited.jpg
1904
The Jantzen Beach carousel was built by C.W. (Charles Wallace) Parker, the "American Amusement King," in Abilene, Kansas, for the St. Louis World's Fair. The carousel was one of five large, extravagant machines Parker built to be installed in large amusement parks. According to the Leavenworth Historical Museum Association in Kansas, the Jantzen Beach carousel is only one still in existence.
Courtesy Restore Oregon
1950 carousel.jpg
1928
The carousel was sold to Hayden Island, Inc. for $28,000 and moved to the Jantzen Beach Amusement Park, which operated on Hayden Island from 1928 to 1970.
In this 1950 photo, Janet and Jean Hoke, known as the Jantzen Beach twins, take a ride on the carousel with Jantzen Beach amusement park employee Jerry Campbell in 1950.
Photo by Herb Alden/The Oregon Journal/Courtesy Oregon Historical Society
jantzen_amusement_park.002.JPG
1970
The once-popular amusement park closes due to low attendance.
Photo by Herb Alden/The Oregon Journal