The Carousel of Happiness will celebrate the life of Tom & Glenna Carline on March 23, 2025 with free carousel rides for all. Carousel hours are 10 am to 5 pm on Sunday, and local residents, as well as visitors are encouraged to come by for a spin in honor of Tom & Glenna Carline.
Tom and Glenna both grew up in Nevada and were high-school sweethearts. Their love of the outdoors, and especially the high country, led them to the mountains of Colorado. They formed a real-estate agency and worked as brokers in the area for over 40 years, including developing the Sunnyside subdivision and helping to build ‘The Lodge,’ a large wood cabin in Old Town.
Their involvement in the town and community is much more than can be mentioned here, but their passion for this community’s history was evident, with Glenna serving as a founding member of the Nederland Area Historical Society. Glenna also served on the Boulder County Board of Realtors and the Women’s Council of Realtors in Colorado. Tom served on various boards throughout his time here, including as President of the Nederland Chamber of Commerce.
We thank them for their years of service to our community, and honor them with free rides on Tom’s birthday, March 23. We ask that visitors help us keep spinning by donating what they can to the carousel with a small cash donation.
The Carousel of Happiness, located in downtown Nederland, opened in 2010. Since then, it has brought joy and happiness to over 1 million riders. The fully functional carousel features an original Charles Looff-designed frame from 1910 and over 50 hand-carved and original animals by local resident, Scott Harrison.
During a difficult time in his life, the idea of a carousel came to carver and creator, Scott Harrison. While on the battlefield in Vietnam, he found solace and comfort in the image of a carousel in a mountain meadow; the daydream helped him cope with the chaos around him. When he was injured and returned home, he created the carousel of his dreams in his hometown of Nederland, Colorado.
Adults and children alike are welcome to spin on the carousel, play in the puppet theater, peruse the small gift shop, or soak up the history of the carousel in its small museum. The Carousel of Happiness also hosts a weekly podcast, where we spin yarns and tell tales about the carousel itself, the people who keep it spinning, and the over 1 million visitors who are fundamentally changed as a result of their visit. Not sure how a carousel ride can change your life? We’ll show you how on the podcast.
The Carousel of Happiness is a non-profit arts and culture organization whose mission is to inspire happiness, well-being, and service to others through stories and experiences. Rides are regularly priced at $3. For hours and other information, visit www.carouselofhappiness.org.
Author: Mile High Mamas
