The beloved but mothballed Fox Trot Carousel may get its comeback. The Tennessee State Museum is asking for proposals from partners to restore and operate the artistic merry-go-round.
The iconic carousel was created by artist Red Grooms and first started spinning in 1998. Instead of horses, it features 36 characters from state history, ranging from Andrew Jackson to Olympian Wilma Rudolph.
But it was put into storage in 2003, as chronicled by Curious Nashville. Visits had declined, and the figures and parts have been in state storage ever since, with officials estimating steep costs to get it going again. The pandemic compounded the issue, and officials say their special carousel committee paused its work at that time as the state museum focused on moving the rest of its collection.
But interest has never waned.
Curious Nashville Podcast: 3 Years Later, The Red Grooms Carousel Is Still Stuck In Limbo
Now the museum is seeking potential partners to restore, place and operate the carousel. The official information is online here.
“We have for many years received inquires as to the status of the carousel, along with suggestions as to how and where it ought to be installed,” said Ashley Howell, executive director. “We are now creating a formal process for interested parties with viable suggestions to make those plans known. If you have a realistic and feasible plan for the carousel, and can implement that plan, we’d like to hear from you.”
On Air - 90.3 WPLN-FM