BUTTE — A major fundraiser for Spirit of Columbia Gardens coming up will help ensure the horses keep spinning.
“We try to keep our costs down the best we can, but we do need some additional money to pay the light and heat this time of the year,” said Ed Curran, manager of the carousel.
The carousel opened in the summer of 2018 at Stodden Park. It was built over a period of 20 years by volunteers as a replica of the former carousel at Butte’s famed Columbia Gardens park which closed in 1973.
The new carousel is run by mostly volunteers and public donations.
“Now, our heat and electricity during the winter runs pretty close to $700 a month,” said Curran.
Organizers say the facility has been very popular with guests since it opened and draws people from all over.
“We have a guest book there, you can go through it, it’s just amazing, you know, from Alaska to the East Coast,” said Curran.
And those who run the carousel say this facility does more than just bring people to Butte. It also brings fond memories for a new generation.
The fundraiser gala will be on Jan. 18th at the Star Lanes Banquet room and admission $50 per ticket which includes a meal.
