HAMPTON, Va. — After nearly two years of being closed, the iconic Hampton Carousel is up and running again. The grand reopening was on Saturday after it was rescheduled because of the weather.
The iconic attraction was closed back in 2022 for repairs. People waited about 700 days and this beauty is over 100 years old.
"They’re so few of them around the country now we’re really fortunate to have such a piece of history in town," said John Hutton, who attended the reopening celebration.
The grand reopening was filled with food, fun and face paint.
Mayor Donnie Tuck calls the attraction special.
“It’s one of those icons that the city has...folks enjoy it and generations enjoy it,” Tuck said.
Mary Dill rode the carousel back in the 60s. On Saturday, she came to ride with her granddaughter.
“I’m glad to see that over the generations. I get to share it now with my children and my grandchildren,” she said.
Originally located at Buckroe Beach Amusement Park in the 1920s, the carousel was disassembled when the amusement park closed down in the 80s. In 1991, it was relocated to its current location and just a year later the Hampton Carousel is on the National Register of Historic Places.
The carousel is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, except Mondays, when it is closed. Rides are $1.