Tucked in a corner of Downtown St. George sits the St George carousel: a lovely little novelty ready to whisk you back to the carefree days of youth.
Even if you haven’t ridden the St George carousel lately, if you’re from the area you’ve likely heard of it. Although such an attraction sounds like a harmless addition to the community, when the idea for adding this particular element into the Town Square, it was met with mixed reactions. Many were thrilled at the prospect, imagining the joy and nostalgia that people would soon associate with downtown St. George. Others were not convinced. They saw the St George carousel as an unnecessary expense, a strain on their tax dollars. Some heated discussions ensued, playing out in the public discourse and via letters to the editor in the local newspaper. In the end, the city determined that the desire for nostalgia and attraction to downtown should win out over the naysayers and the St George Carousel became a charming part of the landscape in March 2014.
Now the St George carousel is a part of many gatherings taking place in downtown St. George.
Although it is new to the Southern Utah landscape, the St George carousel itself is not new. This carousel is a fully restored antique from Chicago, Illinois.
One of the purposes of the St George carousel is to provide another draw for people to the Town Square. In addition to the St George carousel, the area boasts a splash pad, wading river, Children’s Museum and library. And the large, grassy field near the St George carousel is home to a wide variety of events. The St. George Art Festival, is just one example of the popular events taking place in this portion of downtown.
The appeal
The appeal for many, both old and young, to the St George carousel is the carefree way it makes them feel. For children, there’s nothing like the chance to pick your favorite, brightly painted horse. Climbing onto the saddle, the laughter and joyful cries fill the air as the attendant outlines the rules.
For adults, there is something nostalgic about the chance to gently glide up and down while the world and all its cares swirl away in the space around you. It is not uncommon to witness multiple generations of families enjoying a ride — making memories together and reliving ones from the past. 
The hours
The St George carousel is operating during the following days and times:
March 3-31 — Tuesday-Thursday 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Monday, Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
April 1-May 26 — Tuesday-Thursday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Monday, Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
May 27-Aug. 12 — Monday-Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Aug. 14-Sept. 30 — Tuesday-Thursday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Monday, Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Oct. 2-Dec. 1 — Tuesday-Thursday 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Monday, Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
St George carousel is located at 50 S. Main, St. George. The cost is $1 per ride or $15 for 20 rides. Children under 42 inches tall are free with a paying adult.
There are lots of homes available within close proximity of this quaint downtown area. Check them out here.
