Where in the ADK? Ride the Wild Beasts of the Adirondacks

Jan 10

The beautiful Adirondack Carousel in Saranac Features hand-carved animals. — Adirondack Carousel in Saranac Lake

Welcome to this week's edition of "Where in the ADK?" This week’s virtual scavenger hunt takes you to the Adirondack Carousel in the heart of beautiful Saranac Lake. Open year-round, the Carousel is a pure delight for ADKers of all ages.

The Adirondack Carousel had its genesis in the early 2000s when a group of passionate Saranac Lake residents envisioned a project that would be a source of joy and family fun and celebrate the region's rich artistic heritage. With this vision in mind, the community rallied together, determined to create a carousel to stand out as a symbol of unity and creative expression.

Today, the Carousel features 24 handcrafted wildlife animals (18 of which are displayed at one time), and a wheelchair-accessible chariot (a Chris Craft boat) grace the attraction.

Local artists hand-painted decorative panels and medallions at the top of the Carousel with area scenes and local flora; a local blacksmith forged the weather vane that sits atop the central cupola, and a local carpenter built the ticket counter. Countless volunteers painted and stained the building inside and out.

Open since 2012, the Carousel is located in the heart of Saranac Lake, steps from Hotel Saranac, shops, and restaurants.

Visit the Adirondack Carousel’s website for current hours.

Adirondack-Carousel-Saranac-Lake-hand-carved-squirrel.jpeg

Adirondack-Carousel-Saranac-Lake-Girl-with-enclosures.jpeg

Places to eat, shop, stay and things to do in and around Saranac Lake.

Featured

Lisa G’s: A Lake Placid Neighborhood Restaurant Worth Knowing

Lisa G’s is one of Lake Placid’s dependable neighborhood restaurants.

America’s Longest Inland Water Trail Starts in the Adirondacks

You may already have paddled part of America’s longest inland water trail without knowing it.

Albert Einstein in the Adirondacks: His Summers on Saranac Lake

The Nobel-prize-winning physicist found peace and relaxation on Saranac Lake.

Hotel Saranac: A Historic Adirondack Hotel in the Heart of Saranac Lake

An Adirondack landmark, Hotel Saranac pairs historic character with modern comforts

The Best Glamping Experiences in the Adirondacks

Who says camping has to involve sleeping on the ground?

Lights, Camera, Adirondacks: Movies and TV Shows Filmed in the Adirondack Park

Discover movies and TV shows filmed in the Adirondacks.

John Brown in the Adirondacks: Memory, Myth, and Moral Reckoning at North Elba

Historian Sandra Weber examines John Brown Farm, the myths that surround its legacy, and why visitors continue to travel to North Elba today.

The Pioneering Fight Against Tuberculosis in the Adirondacks

Explore the Saranac Laboratory Museum and its significant impact on finding a worldwide cure for Tuberculosis.

Wilmington Whiteface Whiskey Run: Distinctly Adirondack

Adirondack road racing, whiskey tastings, music, history reenactors, and mountain-town culture near Lake Placid.

Lake Placid, NY: An ADK Taste Guide

An historic Winter Olympics village, mountain town, hiking basecamp, luxury escape and road-trip stop. Visit Lake Placid, NY.

Adirondack Paddling Symposium Returns to Saranac Lake with a Focus on Skill, Confidence, and Community

The Adirondack Paddling Symposium returns to Saranac Lake this June with a full weekend of instruction, community, and Adirondack waterways.

Visit the Olympic Jumping Complex in Spring and Summer

Warm weather transforms Lake Placid’s Olympic Jumping Complex into a high-flying adventure.

voco Saranac Lake Waterfront Lodge on Lake Flower

A familiar Adirondack stay gets a fresh identity.

Whiteface Lodge in Lake Placid

Whiteface Lodge blends Great Camp charm with modern luxury— fireplaces, spa days, and a private beach near Lake Placid.

Adirondack Rail Trail: A 34-Mile Journey Through History, Wilderness, and Adirondack Life

The Adirondack Rail Trail is one of the most scenic ways to experience the Park.

Dartbrook Lodge in Keene, NY

Luxury accommodations in the Great Camp style in the High Peaks region.

Colin Jost’s Terrifying Lake Placid Bobsled Ride

When a “Weekend Update” anchor meets a 90-mph ice chute in the Adirondacks, you know it’s going to be good television.

Eleanor Roosevelt: Lake Placid Olympic Bobsledder

The first First Lady to ride with the Olympic bobsled team? It happened in the Adirondacks.

Healing the World from the Adirondacks: Dr. Trudeau and the Saranac Laboratory

Learn how a small Adirondack village helped change global medicine.

The Log Cabin at Peace Ridge — A Classic Adirondack Escape Worth the Trip

The ultimate private get-away on 135 acres

The Lake Placid Toboggan Chute is Back—and Still One of the Adirondacks’ Most Thrilling Traditions

Riders launch down the Lake Placid Toboggan Chute and glide across frozen Mirror Lake during the winter season.

NorthWind Fine Arts in Saranac Lake

Visit an Adirondack gallery where you enter with curiosity and leave with a deeper sense of place.

Bitters & Bones: Smoke, Suds, And Serious Flavor In The Heart Of Saranac Lake

Bitters & Bones in Saranac Lake—an Adirondack microbrewery and smoke-forward kitchen known for bold flavors.

Lake Placid to Unveil Statue Honoring Herb Brooks, Architect of the Miracle on Ice

The Olympic Center in Downtown Lake Placid is the site for a new sculpture honoring Herb Brooks.

Education in the Wild: Paul Smith’s College

Shaping climate resilience, careers, and the future of the Adirondacks.

Salt of the Earth Bistro: Global Comfort Food Rooted in the Adirondacks

Thinking globally, cooking locally at this foodie favorite in Lake Placid.

You Asked, We Answered: The ADK Talks Mailbag

In this episode, we crack open the ADK Talks mailbag — and our listeners did not hold back.

Weekender Hotels: Reinventing Adirondack Stays with Keir Weimer

Weekender Hotels is rewriting the script on where (and how) we stay in the Adirondacks.

A Higher Ground: Finding Your Center (and Your Caffeine) at Origin Coffee

Visit Origin Coffee in Saranac Lake and Lake Placid for an authentic ADK buzz.

Small-Town Screens, Big-Time Stories: Inside the Lake Placid Film Festival

In this episode, we sit down with Noah Raymer, Director of Communications for the Lake Placid Film Festival, to explore what makes this long-running North Country tradition so special.