Eldridge Park Carousel Preservation Society, Inc.

What Eldridge Park Carousel Preservation Society, Inc. does

The Eldridge Park Carousel Preservation Society, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2002 by Elmira dentist Bob Lyon and headquartered in Elmira, New York. The society restores, operates, and expands the historic Eldridge Park under a partnership with the City of Elmira, which owns the park land. Its core asset is the restored 1890s Looff carousel — one of fewer than 20 carousels remaining in the United States with a working brass ring feeder mechanism and rumored to be the fastest carousel in the world — which reopened on May 27, 2006 with 20,000 attendees after a four-year restoration. The organization also operates additional rides (Thunderbirds, Tilt-a-Whirl, Jasper II motor boat, paddle boats, Pony Carts, Kiddie Boats, Turtle Chase, Mini-Train), a Mark Twain-themed miniature golf course, and a 2,500-square-foot splash pad added for the 2023 season.

Revenue is generated through a $2.00 per-ticket model for rides and attractions (1-ticket and 2-ticket tiers, plus mini-golf at 3-4 tickets), venue rentals for events (Dance Hall, Corporate Pavilion, Creekside Pavilion, Lakeside Building available May 15 to September 30), and a layered donation/sponsorship program ranging from $50 memorial bricks to $10,000+ carousel animal sponsorships, supplemented by AmazonSmile affiliate contributions. The amusement park operates seasonally from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, while the broader park (walking trails, sports fields, dog park, disc golf course) is open year-round from dawn to dusk. The organization is staffed by approximately 9 employees with substantial volunteer support across operations, maintenance, ticketing, and landscaping.

The customer base is local and distributed: families with children, Elmira and Southern Tier residents using the park for recreation, event organizers booking venues, and corporate clients hosting outdoor gatherings. Marketing is community-led via Facebook, an events calendar with email and calendar subscriptions, and print flyers. Distribution is purely on-site — tickets are sold at the shop inside the carousel building, and venue bookings are handled by phone and email. The society is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors with no venture capital or private equity backing.

Name

Eldridge Park Carousel Preservation Society, Inc.

Legal name

Eldridge Park Carousel Preservation Society, Inc.

Website

https://eldridgepark.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Eldridge Park Carousel Preservation Society, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that restores and operates the historic 1890s Looff carousel and seasonal amusement attractions within Eldridge Park in Elmira, NY, serving local families, residents, and event renters in partnership with the City of Elmira.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Amusement Park and Historic Carousel Operations

NAICS

Amusement and Theme Parks (71311), Amusement Parks and Arcades (7131)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Amusement Parks (Regional/Local Ride Parks & Funfairs) (THAJAEAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Seasonal & Special-Event Parks (Halloween/Christmas, Pop-Up Experiences) (THAJAEAH), Amusement Parks & Theme Parks (THAAAAAA)

Keywords

• Historic carousel preservation
• Community amusement park
• Event venue rentals
• Family entertainment rides
• Nonprofit park operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Elmira

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Ride tickets sold at $2.00 each at the carousel building shop. One-ticket rides cost $2.00, two-ticket rides cost $4.00, and mini golf ranges from $4.50-$8.00 depending on age.
2. Venue Rentals: Dance hall rental at $250 for up to 4 hours, Corporate Pavilion at $125, Creekside Pavilion at $50, and Lakeside Building at $200. Additional hours available at $25-$50 per hour.
3. Donations and Sponsorships: Memorial brick sponsorships ($50-$75), bench sponsorships ($1,500), Tilt-a-Whirl cart sponsorships ($200-$500), miniature golf hole sponsorship ($250), and carousel animal sponsorship ($10,000+). Direct donation portal available.
4. AmazonSmile Program: Amazon donates a percentage of purchases when customers shop through AmazonSmile with Eldridge Park set as their preferred charity.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Eldridge Park Carousel Preservation Society, Inc. operates a historic community park in Elmira, NY that combines a seasonal amusement park (Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day) with year-round outdoor recreation amenities. The core attraction is the restored 1890s Looff carousel featuring one of fewer than 20 working brass ring feeders remaining in the U.S., surrounded by classic rides (Thunderbirds, Tilt-a-Whirl, Paddle Boats, Jasper II motor boat tour, Pony Carts, Kiddie Boats, Turtle Chase, Mini-Train) and the Mark Twain Mini-Golf Course. The society also rents event venues (Dance Hall, Corporate Pavilion, Creekside Pavilion, Lakeside Building) and maintains walking trails, sports fields, a dog park, a disc golf course, and a splash pad for community use.

Product overview

Eldridge Park Carousel Preservation Society operates a historic community park in Elmira, NY with two main offerings: a seasonal amusement park with classic rides and attractions, and year-round outdoor recreation facilities. The core product is the restored 1890s Looff Carousel, one of fewer than 20 remaining in the world with a working brass ring feeder. The amusement park operates from Memorial Day to Labor Day with rides including the Carousel (1 ticket), Kiddieland attractions (Pony Carts, Kiddie Boats, Turtle Chase at 1 ticket each), Thunderbirds and Tilt-a-Whirl (2 tickets each), Jasper II boat tour and Paddle Boats (2 tickets each), and Mark Twain Mini-Golf (3-4 tickets). Year-round outdoor amenities include a 1.4-mile paved walking trail connecting to the 8.5-mile Lackawanna Trail, sports fields, a skate park, dog park, and 9-hole disc golf course. Event venue rentals include a Dance Hall (up to 250 guests), Corporate Pavilion (up to 100 guests), Creekside Pavilion (up to 20 guests), and Lakeside Building (up to 88 guests). The society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit working in partnership with the City of Elmira.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 1890s Looff Carousel Historic Looff carousel originally from the 1890s, brought to Eldridge Park in 1924 and fully restored by the preservation society. One of only 20 remaining carousels in the United States with a working brass ring dispenser. Operates as a 1-ticket ($2.00) attraction for park visitors.
• Thunderbirds A Sail Planes-type plane ride restored and returned to the park in 2012, originally soaring over Eldridge Lake. Operates as a 2-ticket ($4.00) attraction for park visitors.
• Jasper II Motor Boat Tour All-electric motor boat tour on Eldridge Lake featuring dragon mythology theme, introduced in 2008 as a tribute to the Native American myth of sea serpent Gaspara. Operates as a 2-ticket ($4.00) attraction.
• Paddle Boats Foot-powered sea dragon paddle boats on Eldridge Lake, introduced in 2009. Life jackets provided and required. Paddle boats accommodate 4 riders with combined maximum weight capacity of 600lbs. Operates as a 2-ticket ($4.00) attraction.
• Tilt-a-Whirl Vintage Sellner-manufactured Tilt-a-Whirl ride, fully restored and opened in 2021. Originally operated at Bushkill Park until 2004. Operates as a 2-ticket ($4.00) attraction.
• Mark Twain Mini-Golf Course Victorian-style miniature golf course opened in 2010, decorated in the style of the original Victorian Walking Park. Features Mark Twain quotes, classical statues, fountains, and a miniature train. Costs 4 tickets ($8.00) for ages 12+ or 3 tickets ($6.00) for children under 12.
• Mini-Train Electric vintage-style steam engine train added in 2010, providing tours around the outside of the Mark Twain Mini-Golf Course. Operates as a 1-ticket ($2.00) attraction.
• Pony Carts Children's ride where riders must be under 54 inches and max 200lbs per cart. Originally a centerpiece of Eldridge Park's Kiddieland in mid-20th century, returned in 2013. Operates as a 1-ticket ($2.00) attraction.
• Kiddie Boats Young children's ride where kids captain their own mini ships on water. Riders must be under 54 inches and max 200lbs. Operates as a 1-ticket ($2.00) attraction.
• Turtle Chase Mini roller coaster ride for young children, allowing them to enjoy thrill without fright. Adults can ride as well. Operates as a 1-ticket ($2.00) attraction.
• Dance Hall Venue Rental Event venue converted in 2007 from the old Whip building, accommodating up to 250 guests (140 seated, 250 standing). Rental costs $250 for up to four hours, $50 per additional hour. Available May 15 - September 30. Booked via email ([email protected]) or phone (607-732-8440).
• Corporate Pavilion Venue Rental Outdoor event venue accommodating up to 100 guests (80 seating) with 10 large picnic tables. Rental costs $125 for up to four hours, $25 per additional hour. Available May 15 - September 30. Booked via email ([email protected]) or phone (607-732-8440).
• Creekside Pavilion Venue Rental Small outdoor event venue accommodating up to 20 guests with 2 large and 1 medium picnic table. Rental costs $50 for up to four hours, $25 per additional hour. Available May 15 - September 30.
• Lakeside Building Venue Rental Indoor event venue accommodating up to 88 guests. Rental costs $200 for up to four hours. Includes 10ft long wooden tables and chairs. Available May 15 - September 30.
• Disc Golf Course Nine-hole disc golf course free for public use everyday during daylight hours. Disc rentals available at gift shop during business hours. Disc golf set rentals cost $5 plus $5 deposit ($10 total).

Quantifiable outcome

• One of fewer than 20 remaining carousels in the US with a working brass ring feeder
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• City of ElmiracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Eldridge Park Carousel Preservation Society works in partnership with the City of Elmira to maintain the Midway and Amusement Attractions within the park. The city owns the park land and the preservation society manages the attractions and midway.
• AmazonSmileminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAmazonSmile donation program where Amazon donates a percentage of eligible purchases to the organization when customers select Eldridge Park as their preferred charity (EIN: 83-0350759).
• Millennium Pipeline CominorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent sponsor for Roundabout BBQ event.
• Crystal City Wedding & Party CenterminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRecommended party rental company familiar with Eldridge Park venue setup for table and chair rentals.
• Cloud 9 Party RentalsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRecommended party rental company familiar with Eldridge Park venue setup for table and chair rentals.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• The National Carousel Museum: Museum in Mansfield, OH dedicated to the preservation, restoration, and documentation of historic carousels. Directly comparable as a carousel-preservation nonprofit, though focused on exhibit/education rather than operating a ride.
• Carousel Works: Ohio-based manufacturer of custom and restoration carousels, founded by a fourth-generation carousel craftsman. Comparable as a specialized participant in the carousel-preservation ecosystem and a potential partner for future restoration work at Eldridge Park.

Broad incumbents

• Silver Dollar City: Missouri-themed park with deep 19th-century craft/heritage preservation focus and a collection of restored historic rides and structures. Comparable thematically through its emphasis on preservation of historic Americana and craft traditions.
• Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk: California seaside amusement park (1907) with a National Historic Landmark Looff carousel and a portfolio of classic wooden rides. Comparable as a historic park built around an original Looff carousel and vintage ride preservation.

Direct peers

• Idlewild & SoakZone: One of the oldest operating amusement parks in the U.S. (1878) located in Ligonier, PA. Comparable as a heritage-focused regional park combining classic rides, family attractions, and storybook/character themes.
• Seabreeze Amusement Park: Historic (1879) family amusement park in Rochester, NY — same state as Eldridge Park — operating vintage rides including a 1916 carousel. Directly comparable as a long-running regional New York amusement park with classic-ride preservation as a core identity.
• Lakemont Park: Historic 1894 amusement park in Altoona, PA, home of the original Leap-the-Dips wooden roller coaster. Comparable as a heritage preservation-focused regional park operating classic rides on a modest scale.
• Knoebels Amusement Resort: Family-owned, free-admission Pennsylvania amusement park famous for its collection of historic wooden and classic rides, including vintage carousels. Operates as a regional ride park on a similar scale and vintage-ride ethos to Eldridge Park.
• Quassy Amusement Park: Family-owned Connecticut amusement park founded in 1908 with a vintage carousel and classic ride lineup. Closely comparable as a small, multi-generational regional park with historic wooden/classic rides and lake-based attractions.

Regional players

• Clementon Park & Splash World: Long-running New Jersey amusement park (1907) featuring classic rides and a historic carousel. Comparable as a Northeast regional park with similar vintage-ride identity, though larger in scale and more commercially operated than Eldridge.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/EldridgeParkElmira
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/eldridge-park-carousel-preservation-society-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Eldridge Park Carousel Preservation Society, Inc.