FRANKLIN, Tenn. – More than 30 years ago, Oregon woodworker and artist Ken Means made a rocking horse for his children for Christmas. Then, he made more rocking horses and later progressed to making full-sized carousel animals. He had no plans for a carousel, but he kept building colorful and whimsical animals – horses, a tiger, a toad, a giraffe, even a rooster and a donkey. An unexpected cross-country move to be closer to family in Franklin, just south of Nashville, ultimately meant his animals found a home.

They became the Carousel of Dreams at a development called the Factory at Franklin, which originally was a stove manufacturing plant. For several years after relocating, Means carved animals in a workshop at the Factory. People would watch him for a bit and then meander off to shop or eat. The Factory’s developers seized on the idea of building a carousel and having proceeds from ride admissions go to local nonprofit organizations. Today, they go around and around in an air-conditioned building custom-made for them but never knowing the good they are doing for their community.

Smiles all around

It’s difficult to tell who is happier, Tennessean Eric Brady or his one-year-old daughter, Josephine, during her ride on Little Red Rooster. Each of the 32 animals on the Carousel of Dreams has a name. Image by Tom Adkinson

Adults become children again

Linda Berns from Bethesda, Md., proves that a carousel can bring back the joys of childhood to any adult. Berns was visiting Franklin for a Rotary Club volunteer project, but she took a break for a spin on the Carousel of Dreams. Image by Tom Adkinson

Symbols of the American Southwest

Symbols of the American Southwest – turquoise, feathers and a golden sunflower – are how artist Ken Means decorated this steed named Tanasi. Image by Tom Adkinson

Showing off decades of work

Artist Ken Means and his wife, Betty, show off the Carousel of Dreams, which came to life after a cross-country move and decades of carving. Means checks on his creations frequently now that the carousel is operating. Image by Image by Treeline Bamboo Photography

A major menagerie

Any view of the Carousel of Dreams captures a range of highly decorated animals. A zebra dominates this image, but a bear is charging up from behind, and a tiger is keeping pace. Image Image by Nathan Zucker/Visit Franklin

Windwalker in the lead

Every carousel has a lead horse, and that’s Windwalker at the Carousel of Dreams. The lead horse usually is the most decorated horse on the carousel, and artist Ken Means made sure Windwalker stood out by giving it a golden mane. Carousel operators use the lead horse to count the number of rotations for every ride. Image by Nathan Zucker/Visit Franklin

Trip-planning resources: Carousel of Dreams and VisitFranklin.com


(Travel writer Tom Adkinson’s book, 100 Things To Do in Nashville Before You Die, is available on Amazon.com.)