Saranac Lake is not on Saranac Lake.
Not long after seeing the carousel in Syracuse, we visited the little town of Saranac Lake. There is a very pretty lake there. It is called Lake Flower. Saranac Lake is actually up the road a bit — I don’t know why.
But near the railroad station in the town of Saranac Lake is the Adirondack Carousel.
This beautiful little carousel has twenty-four hand-carved animals all representing wildlife from the Adirondacks region in New York.
Unlike the carousel in Syracuse (see last week’s post), it is new. Local carver Karen Loffler came up with the idea. But it was not an easy accomplishment. In 2001 she persuaded others in the community they needed a carousel. The land was donated by the community in 2006, they broke ground in 2011 and officially opened in 2012. Today, a 3600 square-foot pavilion houses the carousel, a gift shop, workshop and classrooms. All is in a park-like setting. The pathways are paved with bricks engraved with personal messages, a fund-raiser to support the project.
We love these small community projects (see a Carousel for Missoula). Many years ago we began sending a one-time small Christmas donation to such community-based projects we had seen on our travels during the previous year. They aren’t just carousels. I think our first gift supported a ferry across a Pennsylvania river. Another year, it was a local effort to preserve a revolutionary-era fort.
Fundraising paver
Do you like the idea? Perhaps you too might like to support some local effort you enjoyed even though it isn’t in your home town.
Click on photos to enlarge.
RalieTravels 
nice photos!
xoxo,
arlene
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Don’t you guys ever sit still in one place for even a week?
Mark
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These posts the last few months were al from last fall’s trip. They should run out in a month or so, but we leave Saturday on another drive.
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Thanks Ray, for another great story and beautiful, unusual carousel. How neat that they used local animals for the riders. I think having a theme for a trip might be fun….to visit all the carousels you can find, lighthouse, trolley museums, running rains, etc. The best of the trolley museums was in Kennebunkport, Maine. We have visited several times. Atlantic City – where I was born – had trolleys run right down the middle of Atlantic Avenue and in Philadelphia, on 52nd Street right passed my grandmother Foley’s house. I loved them all.
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I have never seen anything like this for a carousel. How unique!!!! Very interesting information and thanks again. Love these history lessons.
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Good idea on support. I always appreciate it when a small community goes the extra mile to add interest and art. The animals looked great. Reminds me of wood carvings I’ve seen in British Columbia. –Curt
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