The Silver Beach Carousel is a very special place brimming with dreams and magical moments. None of the glittering lights, the happy music, the magnificent menagerie or the spinning memories would be possible without the extraordinary dedication and passion of our treasured friends. You’ll find some of their stories here. We hope they will inspire you to live your dreams, too.
If you were talking about Silver Beach with Robert “Bob” Warren, he was likely to remind you that he once owned the slice of Lake Michigan shoreline. That is, before he transferred it to Berrien County. Bob wanted to make sure the beach was properly developed and could always be enjoyed by the community.
He felt that way about all his work — whether it was his company or not.
As the son-in-law of CEO Charles E. Schultz, Bob led the second generation of local family business LECO with his wife, Elizabeth, until 2016. Thanks to his vision, the company has sales and service representatives on nearly every continent. Today LECO’s innovative analytical equipment for metals, energy, environment, foods and geology are unsurpassed in the industry.
According to carousel legend, the lead horse is always the biggest and most decorated figure on the deck. You will find it on the outside row behind the last figure in the circle, a chariot.
True to the legend, the lead horse on the Silver Beach Carousel is a dazzling white figure, with flowing mane and its armored face and breastplate sparkling with 350 colorful jewels. It is a replica of the lead horse on the original Silver Beach Carousel (circa 1910). Bringing up the rear of this magnificent row of figures is the beautiful rocking peacock chariot. The lead horse is fittingly called, “Marcie,” named after one of the most generous and happy leaders that Southwest Michigan has ever known, Marcella “Marcie” Gast Schalon.
Dagne Schoenbach loved carousels almost as much as she loved her husband, Al. As collectors of antique figures, the couple possessed an immense knowledge of the lives and styles of master carvers. This knowledge proved invaluable as they co-designed the Silver Beach Carousel with Carousel Works.
Dagne has since “gone glimmering” – what we say when a friend of carousels dies. But her legacy lives on in every painstakingly carved figure, for no detail was ever too small...
A young boy, about six years old, presses his nose against the glass case and his eyes widen. He says to his mother, standing behind him, "Look Mom, that's what it was like in the old days." She smiles as she watches her son peer deeply into the 2-foot by 6-foot model of Silver Beach Amusement Park.
We often say that the music in our carousel house is the happiest on earth. So it is with deep indebtedness that we pay tribute to Alice Donaldson who, on April 14, has "gone glimmering." In July 2001, Alice, her late husband, Benjamin Franklin Donaldson, Jr., and their family donated the last band organ to play at Silver Beach Amusement Park (1945-1971) to the Silver Beach Carousel Society. What an invaluable gift it has been for us!
Stop in The Brass Ring Gift Shop to find the perfect Carousel-themed souvenir or gift. Or shop here online and we’ll send your selections wherever you want to make someone happy.
The Silver Beach Carousel is located at the Silver Beach Center — one of the most fun places to be year round! See what’s along our boardwalk.
Read more ...This magnificent Carousel wouldn’t be here without the generosity of our donors! Please help us make happy memories for generations to come.
Read more ...See all 48 unique carousel figures and two chariots. Pick your favorite and come ride beneath 1000 twinkling lights.
The Silver Beach Carousel, with its brass ring machine and 44 hand-carved, life-like horses began thrilling crowds of visitors in 1910.
Read more ...Hang out at our house year round and make some of your happiest memories at our special events. They’ll bring out the giggles and grins for all ages!