The Crown Carousel was one of the earlier carousels to operate at Alton
Towers, arriving at the park for the 1985 season. Instead of the
more traditional versions, this carousel allowed guests to ride on a
range of modern vehicles, under a colourful canopy. It was named
after the distinctive crowns that were painted onto the ride's
headboards.
The ride
originally operated in Aqualand in roughly the same area that is now
occupied by the Eastern Express restaurant. Making way for new
developments in Aqualand, the ride moved to Talbot Street in 1987 to
operate alongside the Motor Museum.
It survived
Talbot Street's makeover into The Land of Make Believe and also the
subsequent change to Cred Street, as the perfect companion to the
Vintage Car Ride at the end of the street. Eventually the Crown
Carousel's simplistic entertainment value caught up with it though
and the ride was removed at the end of the 1999 season, as the park
upgraded to the double deck Cred Street Carousel, which arrived at
the park from Thorpe Park.
