Forty-eight antique wooden horses are the new attraction at the Woodland Park Zoo when a historic carousel opens on July 22.

The Philadelphia Toboggan Company was commissioned to build the carousel and horses for the Cincinnati Zoo in 1918. The zoo operated the carousel for 56 years before selling it to the Great American Theme Park in Santa Clara, California in the mid-1970s. In 1999, the park sold the carousel and horses to Linda and Tom Allen with the Allieniana Foundation. The Allens donated them to the Woodland Park Zoo in 2000.

Master Craftsman John Zalar carved the horses by hand and was considered one of the greats of wood carving. He became famous for his highly realistic details and humor in his work, which is evident in the dramatic pose and distinctive faces of each of the carousel horses.

Over 5,000 carousels were built by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company. Only 150 of the company's creations remain in operation today.

Both Linda and Tom Allen wanted people to ride the horses again. They are involved in the National Carousel Association (NCA) and travel each summer with other carousel preservationists to visit carousels around the country.

Fundraisers were held to restore the carousel and build a new 5,590 square foot pavilion. The total cost of the project was $3.2 million.

Donors with fond memories of riding carousels as children, adopted individual horses with gifts of $10,000 to $30,000 each. The zoo is still looking for donors for five of the horses.

Each adoptee can name their horse. Two of the horses are now named after singer "Bob Dylan" and "Tattoo," after the television character from the Fantasy Island television series.

One horse will tour the Seattle area and the public can make donations in any amount of money. "It's a horse the community can own," said Halmrash.

An inside row of horses is smaller. The outside row has larger horses. They are made to be ridden by children and adults. There is a 42-inch height restriction. Children shorter than that must ride with an adult.

Two chariots will allow even the youngest of children to ride along. The rides will cost one dollar with zoo admission.

An Oregon firm, Historic Carousels, was hired to inspect the horses. The repairs they did included loose knees, feet, new teeth and some touch-up. New motors and wiring were added to the carousel and are computer controlled.

Everything else is original, including hand painted murals and mirrors above the horses

Because the horses are antiques meant to be ridden, the zoo expects some wear and tear on them.

Bette Largent of Carousel Consultants in Spokane was doing some minor touch-up painting last week. She is an expert in the field and is President of the NCA.

Largent said as the carousel revolves, children are at first engrossed in the animals, then they typically wave to their parents and finally they notice themselves in the mirrors.

An estimated 200,000 to 250,000 people will ride the carousel each year.

"They (the horses) will get nicked up. One of our exhibit staff is a well known restorer," said Halmrash.

A second phase of the project is the completion of a room next to the carousel for parties. An outside wall will be mirrored so riders can see their reflections. From the inside a two way glass will allow those inside to see the carousel as it turns.

The zoo opened a new indoor player area, the Zoomazium this spring. The Moyer Foundation's Zoom (Zoo Opportunities Open to More) program is also new.

Individuals can still join the Adopt-A-Horse program. To see a gallery of horses available for adoption visit www.zoo.org/carousel or call 615-1030.

The public can start riding the carousel at noon on July 22.