[Gilroy, Calif.] -- Described as the Golden Age of the Carousel, the period of time between 1885 and 1930 saw thousands of the elaborately carved rides bringing movement and magic to fairs and amusement parks all over the country. One of these historical creations, a rare Illions Supreme, has found a new home at Bonfante Gardens in Gilroy, California.

Park owner, Michael Bonfante, searched long and hard before finding this M.C. Illions artifact. It was built in 1927 and is only one of three Supreme Carousels built by the famous manufacturer that is distinguished by its spectacular lead Rose Horse.

This Supreme was formerly a fixture at the Los Angeles county fair in Pomona, California and is one of the most ornate carousels ever made. It has 64 beveled glass mirrors, 1200 lights and 96 carved figures on the main structure alone. The 48 exquisitely carved horses are an authentic “family of horses” as they are all part of the same original carousel. Two dragon chariots provide a more sedate ride.

The mechanism is a restoration from a sister machine built in 1923 that has been updated with sealed bearings on the sweeps and a computer to maintain mechanical efficiency. This modern technique will allow the carousel to stop precisely at specific points so that handicapped riders can board safely. The speed of the ride can vary from five to eight miles per hour.

The Bonfante Gardens staff spent a remarkable 8500 hours and three years in the restoration and assembly of the Supreme; the horses came already restored from Los Angeles. In addition to custom manufacturing many of the necessary parts, the entire floor was reconstructed from kiln dried clear Douglas fir.

A single wooden horse from the Illions Supreme is worth $50,000 today. To preserve these historic figures, the Bonfante Gardens carousel represents faithful replicas made of fiberglass cast from molds painstakingly made by carousel expert John Daniels of Pasadena, California.

While fully operational, the Supreme awaits its debut to the public when Bonfante Gardens celebrates its grand opening in Spring of 2001.