Wheelchair users will soon find it easier to enjoy rides at the Hazel Patton Riverfront Carousel thanks to a grant funding accessibility upgrades.  

With a recent $21,250 grant from Travel Oregon, the nonprofit attraction plans to make the carousel more accessible for disabled users. The improvement project includes a new wheelchair ramp and adjustments to carousel fixtures. 

Founded in 2001, the carousel is a key Salem tourist destination, attracting nearly 200,000 visitors each year. It offers affordable daily rides on an old-fashioned carousel featuring hand-carved horses and other animals. The carousel doubles as a venue for weddings, proms, birthdays and holiday celebrations.

The grant will cover the cost of adjusting the carousel railings, constructing a portable wheelchair ramp, reconfiguring the operator’s station and adding a new entry sign. The most costly of these changes is the wheelchair ramp. 

The carousel sees wheelchair users daily, said Marie Bradford-Blevins, executive director. 

The old ramp was retired in November 2024, leaving the carousel’s disabled guests with the option to be transported by a caretaker or, for semi-mobile users, to transport themselves. 

Bradford-Blevins said before it was retired, the ramp was difficult to use and too heavy for most carousel staffers.

The new ramp will be made of lightweight aluminum and have wheels for portability.

“I’m very excited for this new wheelchair ramp,” Bradford-Blevins said. “We’ve been wanting to do it, actually, for a while.”

The carousel will be closed for a couple of days in August while the ramp is installed.

Bradford-Blevins was instrumental in applying for the grant. It’s a part of her ongoing effort to make the carousel a welcoming place for everyone, regardless of disability, age and financial situation.

The carousel was recently ranked among Salem’s accessible travel destinations by Wheel the World, a travel booking service that determines the accessibility of travel destinations. 

Accessibility remains a year-round priority with the “Carousel Cares” program. Through the program, guests with disabilities can ride the carousel for free using a complimentary pass from the gift shop. 

The program also includes a “Sensory Hour” on the first Monday of each month from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., where guests can enjoy a music-free ride without lights upon request.

Have a news tip? Contact reporter Hailey Cook: [email protected] or (208) 515-4097.

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