ELMIRA, NY (WENY) -- Halloween is just 10 days away but for ornament collectors, Christmas came early. On Monday, October 21st, Eldridge Park in Elmira released its newest ornament which commemorates the amusement park's 100th anniversary.
"The ornaments traditionally feature an individual attraction... This year being the 100th anniversary we wanted to take it in a little bit different direction and kind of bring everything together," said Board Secretary of the Eldridge Park Carousel Preservation Society Inc., Mike 'Robby' Robertson.
The 2024 Eldridge Park ornament features the concept 'Then' and 'Now' with rides from the past and present. Ornament sales go towards helping the park stay open, as it relies heavily on grants, ticket sales, and donations.
"It's very important [because] we're [a] nonprofit. We're not here to take money, we're here to break even at the end of the year. Any donation is greatly appreciated," said General Manager of Eldridge Park, Trisha Elwood.
Robertson added, "We're totally volunteer Board of Directors and many, many, many, volunteers operate the park. Without that, I'm not quite sure the park could exist [especially] not at $1.50 a ticket."
If you'd like to buy an ornament, you can purchase them from several locations across the Southern Tier, which includes Annie's Hallmark Shop in Elmira Heights, Gerould's Pharmacy (Corning, Elmira, & Horseheads), Bradley Farms, Chamberlain Acres, and Hilltop Inn.
The ornament costs $30 plus tax, with all of the proceeds going back into Eldridge Park.
Eldridge Park's amusement park came to be in 1924, when the city placed an ad asking for a Merry-Go-Round to be installed there. Robert (Bob) Long built amusement park rides for years in Pennsylvania and had a Looff carousel in New Jersey. At the time, it was a basic carousel. It didn't have an up-and-down motion or a brass ring dispenser.
To purchase the ornament online, click here. To make a donation, checks should be mailed to:
Eldridge Park Carousel Preservation Society
PO Box 3056
Elmira, NY 14905