Carousel

Lake Forest Park, once one of the largest recreation areas in East Texas, opened to the public in 1948. About 5,000 people from all around came to celebrate the opening of this wonderful park.

Among the activities were speedboat rides, fishing, a large playground, and a petting zoo, to name a few. Later, a swimming pool and a miniature golf course were added next to the lake. Among the bigger attractions was a one-half-mile miniature train ride around the park, through tunnels, and over bridges. The Depot Museum was fortunate to acquire the train engine on display on the museum grounds.

The carousel has a deep, rich history. The original carousel was a sight to be seen and heard. A canvas top and wood floor supported wooden horses with real hair tails and fancy benches in the shapes of animals all illuminated by colorful lights. Riders were delighted by the sounds of authentic carnival music. Through the years, many changes were made to the carousel. The canvas top was replaced with a fiberglass dome, the wooden floor was replaced with a fiberglass one, and the wooden horses were replaced with cast aluminum. Art students from the high school created original artwork on horses.

In 2009, the carousel was moved to the Depot Museum grounds. The horses have been repainted and most still resemble the students' designs. Residents and clubs adopted all the horses and benches to restore the carousel. The adopters could name their adopted steed and have their names placed on the horses and the benches.

The lights still work, and carousel music is still heard at special events at the museum. For a small donation, visitors can ride this fantastic unit, reminisce about their youth, and share stories about their memories of riding the first one. Today, children can experience a delightful ride on an excellent piece of Rusk County history.