History Tidbits: Walter Carper's Merry-Go-Round

If you have read Stories of Wallowa Lake by Rita Ehler and Ellen Morris Bishop you know the story of the Wallowa Lake Amusement Park. One feature for several summers at the Park was a horse driven merry-go- round. This fanciful ride has a history from two ends of the County, the Promise settlement and the Lake.

Walter Carper built the merry-go-round at Promise and assembled it in the meadow at Cougar Pond near the head of Bishop Creek, about 10 miles from Promise Grange Hall. This meadow served as the gathering palace for Promise residents to celebrate the July 4th. They had a huge picnic, horse races and of course, the merry-go-round.

The story is in the original Wallowa County History book, page 90. Once Carper realized he could make money with the merry-go-round at the Lake, he took it, the horses to power it and assembled it in the Amusement park area.

In recent years, the marks on the trees in Wallowa Lake State park were still visible. (bark had been removed from the trees by the ropes that stabilized the ride) Older residents remember a seat from the merry-go-round at the residence of Carper’s daughter on Upper Diamond Lane in Wallowa.

Written by Marilyn Hulse February 2023