Collector Tokens
2025
"Magic" the Arabian Horse
Collect this year’s commemorative token featuring Magic, one of the most intricately carved Carousel horses. This gray steed stands out on the Carousel deck with a black tail, flowing mane, fetlock and hooves. He is adorned with dazzling blues, bright reds, shimmering golds, tassels and gemstones. Magic’s donors, Merlin and Carolyn Hanson, once raised Arabian horses — look for their family crest carved into a plaque on his right hip.
Arabian horses are known for racing with the desert winds. Climb on and see where the Carousel’s magic takes you.
2024
"Shadow" the Circus Horse
Step right up to the Greatest Carousel on Earth and meet Shadow, our featured token figure. With the generous help of donors Dennis and Lynn Bowen and Bill and Jane Marohn, Shadow escaped the circus and now gallops here. A magnificent steed, its shadowy dappled grey coat, smoky black socks and a flowing silver mane exude an air of alluring mystique.
Climb onto the bright red saddle over a brilliant blue blanket trimmed in gold tassels. Count the ruby jewels adorning the purple chest piece and admire its feathery plume. Then, imagine cantering into the center ring, greeted by the cheers of an enchanted circus crowd.
Collect the 2024 Shadow token and return often for more magical circus performances.
2023
"Lillybet" the Clownfish
Spotting our featured token figure, Lillybet, on the Silver Beach Carousel is much easier than finding Nemo in the deep blue sea! With her dazzling orange and white stripes glistening under the lights, she’s impossible to miss as she “swims” round and round.
Lillybet is a popular part of the Carousel deck, generously donated by Frank (former St. Joseph city manager) and Shar Walsh in honor of Mardell Walsh, the beloved matriarch of their family. Mardell’s middle name? You guessed it — Lillybet!
Add the 2023 clownfish token to your collection and take a whirl on Lillybet to honor Mardell. And remember … just keep swimming, swimming, swimming!
2022
"Patriotic Horse"
We're getting patriotic with our next token. There's no better choice than featuring the Patriotic Horse on the 2022 token! This horse is an emblem of America, as it carries our country's flag, charging forward as it waltzes to the organ. The Krenek Family of Krenek RV in Coloma sponsored the Patriotic Horse. The husband and wife duo both rode on the original Silver Beach Carousel back in the day. Scott Krenek's parents actually met one fateful night in the early 1940s at the Shadowland Ballroom. So when a new carousel was being built, he and his wife loved the idea of giving back to a place their lives had been intertwined with. Scott said the words, "In God we trust," painted onto the horse, is what drew the couple to sponsor the Patriotic Horse over others.
2021
"Benton Harbor Tiger"
We’ve celebrated St. Joseph in 2020 and we chose it’s twin city, Benton Harbor, next! Our 2021 token featured “Benton Harbor Tiger.” The “Benton Harbor Tiger” was incorporated to honor Benton Harbor Area Schools. It was sponsored by several Benton Harbor alumni and past educators who had a lot of Benton Harbor pride. Now that it’s part of your token collection, they can share it with you! This ferocious feline can’t be missed on the Carousel. He’s large, orange and black, perpetually on the prowl for a fun ride.
2020
“Sir St. Joseph” the Armored Horse
We celebrated the Carousel’s 10th anniversary by featuring “Sir St. Joseph” on our 2020 token. The City of St. Joseph played a huge role in bringing the Carousel back to our community in 2010, so we offered this token of appreciation! “Sir St. Joseph” is a replica from the original Silver Beach Amusement Park. This armored, black horse, glides like a gladiator through the Carousel air.
2019
“Bear” St. Joseph HS Mascot
“Bear,” the St. Joseph High School mascot figure is the star of our 2019 token. This masterfully hand-carved figure was sponsored by the SJHS Class of 1969 which celebrates its 50th Reunion this year! There is nothing cute and cuddly about our dark brown bruin. Its ferocious stance represents generations of fierce pride in everything it means to be a St. Joseph Bear. You will find “Bear” in the front row on the Carousel deck sporting its bright maize-and-blue saddle. “Go Bears!”
2018
“Rotary Raptor” Velociraptor
We proudly featured “Rotary Raptor”on our 2018 token. It commemorates the100th anniversary of the St. Joseph-Benton Harbor, District 6360, Rotary International Club. (This local club, along with a private donor, sponsored “Rotary Raptor.”)
Throughout the Club’s century of service, its members have provided countless volunteer hours to local nonprofits and schools. In just the last 25 years, they have raised and donated nearly a million dollars to help improve local health, education and economic and community development projects as well as funded international initiatives to end polio and provide safe drinking water. However, for our riders who love dinosaurs – the Rotarians’ best gift to our community is “Rotary Raptor!”
2017
“Raffe” the Giraffe
“Raffe” the Giraffe, featured on this token, is one of our riders’ favorite figures. It is a stander so it does not move up and down as the Carousel turns. This makes it an especially popular choice for infants and young children. “Raffe” was sponsored by community leader and philanthropist, Lou Gast. Her fondness of giraffes has led to a large private collection that she shares with family and friends. One of her grandchildren, as a small child, could not pronounce “giraffe” and called the world’s tallest land animal, “Raffe." When Lou sponsored the tallest figure on the Carousel, she immortalized her grandchild’s endearing story.
2016
“Marcie,” the Lead Horse
The Carousel’s lead horse, “Marcie” is named after Marcie Schalon, one of our strongest advocates and supporters who celebrated her 90th birthday in 2016. It is one of six white horses that are replica carvings from the original Silver Beach Carousel (circa 1910) created by master carver Charles Carmel. You’ll easily spot this beautifully bejeweled horse in the first row on the Carousel!
2015
St. Joseph Lighthouses
Three iconic landmarks in St. Joseph are the inner and outer lights and catwalk on North Pier. This year’s token honors the Lighthouse Forever fund drive that raised $2.1 million to restore and preserve the lighthouses. Thanks to the generosity of people, businesses and organizations from across the country, the lighthouses were restored to their 1932 appearances. Now you can take lighthouse tours during the summer months, weather permitting. Come see these century-old beacons of light all year around and become part of their story.
2014
“Ringo” the Rooster
This token honors “Ringo” the Rooster, a figure donated by Ken Kaszubowski, who has served for years as the Carousel’s lead operator and head of maintenance. Ken chose the rooster figure to honor his grandmother. She owned a rooster called “Ringo,” named after Ringo Starr, the world-renowned drummer for the legendary Beatles. If you look closely at Ringo’s side you will see a painting of Ken’s grandparents’ farm. There Ringo would chase Ken and his cousins up to the farmhouse porch. Now, just as the original “Ringo” did, our rooster chases the other figures and riders round and round the Carousel House.
2013
“Tracey” the Butterfly Horse
When community leader Tom Stark’s wife died, he and his young children wanted to memorialize the joy she had brought to their family and Southwest Michigan. One of the master carvers at The Carousel Works had envisioned creating a stargazer horse figure with a butterfly on its nose and a saddle shaped like butterfly wings. Since butterflies are a symbol of hope going forward and this original design elicited such happy feelings, Tom chose to sponsor it and named the figure “Tracey.” It has always been one of our most popular figures for all ages to ride and this token commemorates the smiles Tracey Starks keeps giving.
2012
National Carousel Association Conference
This token commemorates the first time the National Carousel Association (NCA) came to St. Joseph, Mich. The conference was held Sept. 19-23, 2012. More than 150 carousel owners, operators and volunteers from across the United States and from Canada participated in the “Up & Down the Coasts Midwest Tour and Technical Workshop.” In addition to seeing and learning more about the Silver Beach Carousel, the tour included a rare visit to the European Eden Palais Carousel on a private estate in Illinois, plus stops at the C.W. Parker Carousel at Crossroads Village in Flint, Mich., Spillman Carousel at the Public Museum in Grand Rapids, Mich., the DeBoer Brothers Carousel at Windmill Island, Holland, Mich. and a viewing of the Allan Herschell (Half and Half) Traveling Carousel at Eden Springs Park in Benton Harbor, Mich. This proved to be one of the most unconventional conventions in the NCA’s history
2011
Silver Beach Carousel Logo
The Silver Beach Carousel Society solicited the talents of a local marketing company to create the new Carousel’s logo. The graphic artist who designed the logo grew up in St. Joseph and rode the original Silver Beach Amusement Park’s carousel many times as a child. She chose bright, happy colors (red and gold) for the background and featured one of the original white carousel horses, hand-carved by Charles Carmel in the “stargazer” pose. This horse figure reminds us to look to the stars and follow our dreams.
Make a Memory: Silver Beach Center (depicted on reverse side)
The Silver Beach Carousel is located at the Silver Beach Center – one of the best, year-round entertainment venues in Southwestern Michigan. It’s a fun place for all ages! An indoor boardwalk connects the Carousel House to Shadowland on Silver Beach, a bright and airy ballroom that hosts public and private celebrations and special events, and Curious Kids’ Discovery Zone by Curious Kids' Museum where ages 3 to 12 years old have a blast interacting with hands-on educational exhibits. You’ll make a memory at every turn while you’re here!
2010
Opening Year
In 2003, the Silver Beach Carousel Society, Inc., began the monumental task of raising funds to create a new, million-dollar Carousel near Lake Michigan’s Silver Beach in St. Joseph, Mich. It would feature two chariots (a wheelchair-accessible sea serpent and a rocking peacock) plus 48 horses and menagerie figures, hand-carved and painted by The Carousel Works in Mansfield, Ohio. Around the top of the Carousel would be 18 rounding boards that would tell the area’s history using montages of computer-colorized historic photographs. It is believed to be the first time a carousel would use photographs instead of paintings. On Jan. 2, 2010, the new Carousel thrilled its first riders ... and it has been doing so ever since!