BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The Birmingham Zoo’s Protective Carousel is scheduled to reopen Wednesday, Oct. 28, returning a longtime family attraction to service after an extensive restoration of its handcrafted wooden animals.
The reopening comes earlier than expected. Zoo officials previously anticipated having the ride ready by Nov. 21, in time for the annual Glow Wild holiday celebration, but installation progressed quickly enough to allow its return during regular zoo hours Wednesday.
The project included restoring the carousel’s 36 wooden animal figures and refinishing its wooden floor. The attraction also features two chariots.
The restoration required more than a fresh coat of paint. Workers at Carousel Relics, an Ohio-based restoration company, stripped the figures down to bare wood, repaired damaged joints and wood affected by mold, repainted the animals and applied a protective clear coat.
The first restored figures arrived back at the zoo Oct. 12. Crews then worked to reinstall the animals and prepare the attraction for riders.
Built in 2002 by Carousel Works, the ride was originally known as the Endangered Species Carousel. Its animal figures distinguish it from traditional carousels featuring horses and connect the attraction to the zoo’s conservation mission.
Located in the Junior League of Birmingham–Hugh Kaul Children’s Zoo, the carousel includes figures representing threatened or endangered wildlife, including species visitors can see during their zoo visit.
“Usually, carousels have horses—but ours features animals, including some species that are here at the Zoo! It gives us an opportunity to teach children about endangered species and why we need to protect them,” zoo historian Patty Pendleton told Bham Now.
The carousel predates the children’s zoo, which opened in 2005. That area later expanded to include a splash pad, a barn, a petting area and play spaces, making the ride part of a larger collection of attractions for young visitors.