A Carousel for Missoula

About

A Carousel for Missoula sits in Caras Park along the Clark Fork River in downtown Missoula, at 101 Carousel Drive. Cabinet maker Chuck Kaparich started the project in 1988 after visiting an antique carousel in Spokane and deciding to carve his own instead. Volunteers carved 38 ponies and two chariots from basswood over several years, and the carousel opened on May 27, 1995, built onto a 1918 frame from the Allan Herschell-Spillman Company.

Riders climb aboard hand-painted ponies or one of two chariots while a restored 1918 band organ, built with more than 400 wooden pipes, plays through each ride. One chariot, the Eagle Chariot, has a basket-woven oak body and was adopted by the Missoula Building Industry Association, which designed it for wheelchair riders so they can ride without transferring out of their chair. Kids can also try to grab a brass ring from a hand-carved dragon named Lucky Red Ringer mounted beside the platform. A single ride lasts a few minutes, and most families stop for two or three rides at a time.

Rides cost $1 for riders 11 and under and $2 for riders 12 and older, based on 2024 pricing, and people with physical or mental disabilities always ride free. Hours run seasonally: roughly 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. from September through May and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. from June through August, though it's worth calling 406-549-8382 to confirm before a visit since hours can shift. A gift shop next to the ride sells souvenirs, with proceeds going toward upkeep of the carousel.

The carousel sits inside downtown Missoula, a short walk from the University of Montana and from the restaurants and shops along Higgins Avenue. Dragon Hollow, a free playground with poured-in-place rubber surfacing and equipment built for kids of all abilities, is next door, and the Ron MacDonald Riverfront Trail runs along the Clark Fork behind the park. Caras Park also hosts a summer farmers market and events on its pavilion lawn.

Accessibility

A Carousel for Missoula is wheelchair accessible: two of its chariots were built specifically so wheelchair users can ride without transferring out of their chair, and anyone with a physical or mental disability rides free. The carousel does not publish a full accessibility page, so call ahead if you need something specific confirmed.

The carousel sits in a circular building in Caras Park with roll-up doors that open onto the plaza, so the entrance is at ground level with no steps. The building is heated and enclosed, and operates rain or shine. There is no dedicated accessible parking area at the carousel itself; visitors typically use a nearby parking garage or street parking, so check current signage or call 406-549-8382 if you need a marked accessible space.

Caras Park added an ADA-accessible riverfront terrace and two accessible ramps as part of a 2025 river access project, and the paths connecting the park to the carousel and to the Ron MacDonald Riverfront Trail are paved. Dragon Hollow, the playground next to the carousel, uses poured-in-place rubber surfacing instead of loose material, which works better for wheelchairs and walkers.

Public restrooms are available in Caras Park, and Missoula's downtown accessibility guide states that ADA-compliant restrooms are standard throughout the area, though the layout of the restrooms near the carousel building is not published.

Practical tips: the 1918 band organ plays throughout each ride, which is worth knowing if you're planning around sound sensitivity. Mountain Line's fixed-route buses, which have lifts or ramps on every vehicle, serve downtown Missoula and stop within walking distance of Caras Park. For anything beyond the wheelchair-accessible chariots, such as sensory accommodations or advance notice for a group visit, call ahead since the venue does not publish a separate accessibility page.

Checked by Accessible America, August 2026. Report a change

More accessible places in Montana

• Missoula Art Museum (Missoula)
• Splash Montana Waterpark (Missoula)
• Yellowstone Art Museum (Billings)
• Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site (Deer Lodge)
• Big Hole National Battlefield (Wisdom)
• Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area (Fort Smith)