Information
Landmark: Pullen ParkCity: Raleigh
Country: USA North Carolina
Continent: North America
Pullen Park, Raleigh, USA North Carolina, North America
Overview
In Raleigh, North Carolina, Pullen Park sprawls with history and green space, inviting visitors to ride its old carousel, stroll shaded paths, and enjoy countless ways to play.It’s North Carolina’s first public park, the fifth oldest amusement park still running in the U. S., and the sixteenth oldest in the world-where you can still hear the faint creak of century-old rides.Let’s take a closer look at Pullen Park’s history.It opened on March 22, 1887, after philanthropist Richard Stanhope Pullen gave the City of Raleigh 66.4 acres of rolling farmland, hoping it would become a place where everyone could relax and enjoy the outdoors.Over the decades, the park changed shape, starting with a men’s-only swimming pool-later opened to women-and a little zoo where, back in 1905, children pressed their noses to the cages.In 1920, the town brought in the now-famous carousel, swapping out the old steam-powered merry-go-round with its chuffing engine and worn wooden horses.The park once enforced segregation, but now everyone’s welcome, and its playgrounds, gardens, and old wooden benches get regular care and updates.Key Attractions & Features include the Amusement Rides, with the Pullen Park Carousel standing out-a beautifully restored Gustave A. that still creaks softly as the horses rise and fall.The Dentzel Carousel, first crafted around 1900 and rebuilt in 1911, sits proudly on the National Register of Historic Places, its 52 hand‑carved wooden animals gleaming with age and polish.It’s the park’s heart-a spot everyone drifts toward, like the bench shaded by the old oak.The C. P. Huntington Miniature Train, a charming one-third-scale copy of the famed locomotive, carries visitors past shady oaks, circles the lake, and rattles through a dark tunnel.Pedal boats are offered in the warmer months, giving visitors a chance to glide across Lake Howell, the park’s quiet, sunlit pond.Kiddie Boats: Built for little kids, they drift in slow circles around a small, splashy pool.Carnival Games pop up during the season, with favorites like The Great Carousel Race, The Mega Wire, and The Trail Runner, where bells ring and laughter carries through the air.Heads up-getting into the park won’t cost a dime, but you’ll need tickets for the rides: $2 each, and little ones under a year can ride free if they’re with a paying adult.You can grab your tickets at the Welcome Center, where the glass door swings open with a soft creak, or order them online.The playgrounds offer something for everyone, from swing sets that creak in the breeze to towering climb-and-slide structures, sandy pits with diggers and musical toys, plus a cozy corner designed just for preschoolers.One standout at Pullen Park is the bright red caboose, a real train car where kids can climb aboard and explore.Pullen Aquatic Center boasts a 50-meter by 25-yard indoor Olympic pool that glints under bright overhead lights, a warm-water therapy pool, and a full calendar of swim programs, lessons, and competitions.At Pullen Arts Center, you’ll find roomy studios stocked with kilns, looms, printing presses, and all the tools you need for classes in pottery, jewelry making, painting, printmaking, bookmaking, fiber arts, weaving, and glasswork.It also puts on special events and hosts gallery exhibits, from evening talks to walls lined with vibrant canvases.Tennis Courts: You’ll find six courts lit for evening play, open on a first-come, first-served basis.Athletic Fields: You can rent two lighted fields-a 270‑foot softball diamond and a 257‑foot youth baseball field, each with crisp white baselines ready for play.You can rent one of several picnic shelters, like Shelter #5, which holds up to 100 people and comes with sturdy grills ready for cooking.Behind the ticket office, the Stage and Event Lawn offers a public gathering spot that can hold anywhere from 100 to 500 people, with room for music, speeches, or an evening market under the open sky.You’ll find the pétanque and bocce courts up by the Upper Shelter Area, open for free play, with equipment you can rent-balls smooth and cool in your hands.Pullen Place Café is a cozy, locally owned spot where you can enjoy fresh, flavorful dishes made with whatever’s in season-think ripe tomatoes still warm from the sun.The “TV Land” statue of Andy Griffith and little Opie draws crowds, with visitors pausing to snap pictures beside Andy’s easy smile and Opie’s fishing pole.Junior Conductor Adventure: Spend 30–45 minutes following a smart compass through the park, uncovering bits of history as you go-like the creak of an old railway bench under the summer sun.The park and its restrooms usually open at 7 a.m. and close at 9 p.m. every day, with gates clicking shut as the evening air cools.Ride hours shift with the seasons; in spring, they usually run from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., though that schedule can change.For the latest ride hours, check RaleighNC.gov or give 919‑996‑6472 a quick call-you might even hear the faint hum of the park in the background.Pullen Park sits at 520 Ashe Ave in Raleigh, just west of downtown and right next to the North Carolina State University campus, where you can hear the faint hum of passing traffic.You can reach it quickly by car, pedal up on your bike, or hop on a bus or train.You can park on-site, or snag free weekend parking at the Governor Morehead School or the Coliseum Parking Deck, where the air smells faintly of fresh asphalt.Pullen Park mixes old-fashioned charm with fresh, modern fun, drawing families and visitors of every age to its sunny lawns and carousel’s cheerful music.
