Nunley’s Carousel returns to awe new generation of riders

They were large mechanical carousels, populated by gorgeous wood-carved representations of horses with strong and aggressive manes, open mouths and batwing saddles.

They were named after the Brooklyn landmark that inspired them — Coney Island — and Solomon Stein and Harry Goldstein shipped a number of the carousels across New York over a century ago.

Few of them still exist, but one particular carousel, which would start its journey in Brooklyn’s Canarsie neighborhood before moving to Baldwin in 1940, not only remains, but is now part of a permanent attraction at the Long Island Children’s Museum on Uniondale’s Museum Row.

Nunley’s Carousel returned to service last week, and spins once again on select days — indoors — for $4 a ride. It gets is moniker from Nunley’s Amusement Park, on Surise Highway, where it was a fixture until the park closed in 1995.

Relocating it to the children’s museum, which was once part of the Cradle of Aviation operations next door, took years. The carousel continued the Long Island tradition until Covid-19 flared up a couple of years ago, and had been closed ever since.

That is, until last week, when the museum officially re-opened Nunley’s Carousel, and its fleet of more than 40 horses, a lion and two chariots. It is now one of only three Stein & Goldstein-manufactured carousels still intact, and in 2020, was awarded the National Carousel Association’s Historic Carousel Award.

Gary Grasso represented that very association during the grand re-opening, finally able to bequeath the plaque for the award over to the children’s museum in-person. Established to promote, preserve and appreciate the classic wooden carousel, Grasso said Nunley’s is one of 150 classic carousels still operating. And even more impressive with its original band’s organ, ticket booth, and ring machine.

Transitioning operational control of Nunley’s Carousel from Cradle of Aviation on Charles Lindbergh Boulevard was a smooth one, said Suzanne LeBlanc, the children’s museum director.

Fitting into the museum’s mission of connecting children to a lifetime of wonder, imagination and exploration, the carousel is an excellent exercise in analyzing options and exploring sensations as children choose the perfect horse to ride on their magical adventure.

“The colors and lights and music and motion create an unforgettable multi-sensory experience that will become part of the memories passed down through the generations,” LeBlanc said.

Susan Harlin was one of the first people in line last week to ride Nunley’s Carousel once again. But it’s hardly her first time.

“Oh, my goodness, I was probably about 10 — 57 years ago — the last time I rode the carousel,” she said. “I grew up in Roosevelt and we’d go to Nunley’s all the time. We’d lean out and get that golden ring so we could ride it again.”

Harlin’s adult daughter, Elizabeth Bock, said seeing it reopening reminded her of her mother, and she decided to take her two children, Evelyn and Thomas, for a ride the whole family could enjoy.

Even Nassau County executive Bruce Blakeman has own fond memories of driving with the family to Nunley’s. He joined Harlin and others last week to celebrate its reopening with the children’s museum.

“I was one of those kids that grew up at Nunley’s,” he said. “On a Sunday, if we were really good, me and my three sisters and brother would be treated to going to Nunley’s,”

Back then, the Baldwin attraction featured roller coasters, games and, of course, the carousel.

“The highlight was always the carousel,” Blakeman said. “It brings back so many childhood memories.”

Saving the carousel was pushed by then-Nassau County Legislator Joseph Scannell, who redirected $420,000 through county funds and through money raised by nonprofit Pennies for Ponies in 2008.

The restoration process started a year beforehand by Carousel Works in Ohio, that largest manufacturer of wooden merry-go-rounds in the world. It then opened in 2009, spending the next 11 years run Cradle of Aviation.

While Nunley’s Carousel may have spent more time in Baldwin than anywhere else, Gary Farkash — president of the Baldwin Historical Society — says the ride was too big for just any one single community to claim.

“It was more than just Baldwin iconic, this was something that people from all over Nassau County came to enjoy,” he said. “It’s a very proud moment for us, especially Baldwin. It was a labor of love, and having this day for us, is priceless. That’s the only thing I could say: Priceless.”