Le Galopant – known to be the “oldest operating carousel in the world” – will not be in service for the La Ronde summer season.
The ride built in 1885 will not be discarded or dismantled, said Carole Bricault, marketing director of the Montreal amusement park.
“Its maintenance requires a lot of work by specialized craftsmen, since everything has been done by hand for this magnificent carousel,” she explained in an email.
The La Ronde team has not yet made any decisions regarding the future of this ride, which has been in the park since Expo 67.
“All possibilities are considered; undertake the manufacture of the parts to be replaced or even donate them to a museum”, underlined Ms. Bricault.
Saying to herself “very attached” to the carousel, the mayor of Montreal assured that the City would follow this file closely.
“I like to think that the City of Montreal, with other partners who love heritage as much as we do, we will come to the defense to protect it and install it elsewhere,” said Valérie Plante during a point morning press.
“I can’t tell you in the morning that the City is buying it, but everything is to be seen,” she added.
It is therefore another emblematic carousel of La Ronde on which visitors will not be able to board. Also dating from the 1967 Universal Exhibition, La Pitoune was permanently closed in 2017, when the minirail was dismantled last year.