The historic Ovid Hazen Wells Carousel will give its final ride at Wheaton Regional Park today.
The carousel, which has delighted thousands of children, will be refurbished and moved to its new location at the Ovid Hazen Wells Recreational Park in Clarksburg.
A new carousel will be installed at Wheaton Regional Park in spring 2025.
The Ovid Hazen Wells Carousel, built in 1915, features 33 hand-carved horses, three zebras, and two chariots. Concessionaire Jim Wells operated it on the National Mall for the Smithsonian Institution from 1967 to 1981, when the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission purchased it.
According to Montgomery Parks, Wells’ aunt, Hallie Wells, donated her farm in Clarksburg to create a future park dedicated to her late husband, Ovid Hazen Wells. The land gift stipulated that the carousel would eventually be moved to that park.
The carousel was on loan to Wheaton Regional Park while Ovid Hazen Wells Recreational Park was being developed.
“We know how much this carousel means to the thousands of families who have ridden on it over the years,” Montgomery Parks division chief Christy Turnbull said. “But it is time for this beloved attraction to go to its intended home and we will bring a new carousel to Wheaton starting in the spring of 2025. This really is a win for both parks.”
The Wheaton miniature train will stay at Wheaton Regional Park and will not be affected by the carousel replacement.
Photo: “Wheaton Regional Park” by ssfaulkn is marked with Public Domain Mark 1.0.