A Carousel For Missoula in Caras Park is currently closed down for some routine maintenance. Executive Director Theresa Cox explains the need for the closure.

“We always close for about 12 days in January,” Cox said. “During that time, the ponies get their paint touched up. If mechanics have something major to do on the machine, they can do it during that time. We also clean the building from top to bottom. The ponies are really well loved. I think of it as a velveteen rabbit kind of thing. The better they are loved, the worse they start looking. When they are really loved, we have to make sure we take care of them every year.”

Cox says the ponies are loved so much that some kids are really disappointed when they can’t go for a ride.

“Sometimes we have little kids press their little noses against the door and it makes us very sad,” Cox said. “That is why we really like to get the information out to people before they come down to the carousel, but if they come on down, Dragon Hallow is still open every day if the weather is good enough. It is kind of fun to come in and watch the painters as long as they don’t get in the way.”

According to Cox, the carousel will open back up on Saturday, January 19 at 11:00. They will resume their regular winter hours of 11:00 to 5:30 every day.

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