LITTLE ROCK — A wide grin creased 63-year-old Bobbie Busbea's face as she clambered down from the newly reopened Over the Jumps carousel Wednesday night.
"Oh, I just got the giddies!" she cried, clutching her husband's arm. "That took me back to times that were so innocent and fun."
After 16 years of restoration, fundraising and no small amount of stress, Little Rock Zoo employees opened the carousel to the public for the first time Wednesday night during the annual Boo at the Zoo festivities.
"Mommy, am I taller the horse?" one little girl fretted, referring to a sign that dictates height requirements.
"You're taller than the horse," her mother replied, ushering her two daughters and her son up the stairs.
"You can go on, honey," urged Debbie Miranda, a zoo employee charged with overseeing carousel operations Wednesday. "You go pick your horse."
Eleven people took the first public twirl, many of them exclaiming over the unexpected rolling motion. A few raised their arms, mimicking the no-hands approach of roller-coaster fans.
"That was fantastic," said Patricia Farnsworth, one of the first riders and mother of the heightconscious little girl. "It's kind of like riding a roller coaster."
Her children nodded emphatically. They had seen the carousel while walking from the parking lot and begged to ride it.
The first ride of the night evoked little fanfare. Most riders had no idea they were the first members of the public to give the old carousel a whirl.
"We're from Florida," said one couple, whose 8-year-old daughter, Summer Anderson, waved shyly from her chosen horse.
On hearing a quick summary of the carousel's colorful history, Summer's dad, Sonny, laughed. "You're kidding," he said. "We'll have to put this in our scrapbook."
Over the Jumps was at War Memorial Midway from 1942 to 1991. Once a traveling ride, it's the only surviving example of an undulating-track carousel, made by Spillman Engineering Corp.
"When I was 16, this was a first date, going to the carousel," Busbea recalled, shooting a mischievous glance in her husband Donald's direction. "It was before I met you," she added, laughing.
The couple took their 18-month-old grandson, Dalton Owens, for a spin, explaining, "He's our last grandchild. We're raising him, so this is kind of a new beginning for us. So we thought it would be perfect to take him on this ride."
A grand opening is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday, when Arkansas first lady Ginger Beebewill declare the ride officially open.
By 7 p.m. Wednesday a line had gathered and each ride boasted more passengers.
Excited zoo employees gathered to watch.
"This is pretty cool," said abeaming Mike Blakely, the zoo's director.
"Very emotional," added zoo spokesman Susan Altrui.
Over the next few weeks, zoo staff will work out any lingering kinks. Right now the carousel remains in a trial phase, so it's still running at the slower of two speeds, Blakely said. Those who've tried it at the higher setting were surprised by how fast it can go, he added.
Most of Wednesdays young riders, however, appeared to find the carousel adequately exciting.
"Was it fun?" Peggy Sue Hill asked her daughters, Cailet, 7, and Brett, 3.
"Uh-huh." Brett replied.
"Awesome," added Cailet.
As Miranda issued instructions into a microphone before each ride, Blakely assumed his position by the carousel's sound system.
"This is my job for the night," he declared proudly, cranking up the music's volume as the carousel started to roll.
Young employees, who will be listening to carousel music day after day, weren't quite so thrilled.
One young man quipped, "You'd think after this many years they could change the music."
Arkansas, Pages 9, 16 on 10/25/2007