Perron family

The Perron family is an American family associated with the preservation of historic carousels, carved carousel animals, and related amusement-ride heritage. Carol and Duane Perron began collecting individual carousel figures and later acquired complete carousels during the 1970s. Their activity developed from private collecting into a large-scale preservation effort involving the acquisition, storage, restoration, and operation of historic rides in the United States and Canada. By 2024, the family collection comprised 21 complete carousels and more than 1,200 carousel animals. The collection has been described as the largest of its kind in the world. Rather than functioning primarily as a conventional amusement-ride company, the Perron family’s identity is rooted in stewardship: locating historically significant equipment, keeping mechanical and artistic elements together where possible, and making selected rides available in public or commercial settings. The family has owned or operated carousels in several locations across the United States and Canada. A substantial portion of the collection is stored in a warehouse in Dee, Oregon, south of Hood River. This location serves as an important base for maintaining and safeguarding rides that are not currently installed for public operation. The family’s holdings include carousels recognized for their historical value, and several of the rides connected with the collection have been listed, or were formerly listed, on the United States National Register of Historic Places. The preservation activity continued into the next generation. Carol and Duane Perron’s son Brad Perron currently maintains the family’s carousel collection. Brad and his wife, Sarah Perron, also own two historic buildings in Hood River. Those buildings, together with six of the family’s carousels, have National Register associations, linking the family’s work to broader American historic-preservation efforts rather than only to the entertainment industry. The Perron family is therefore best understood as a preservation-focused family enterprise and heritage name. Its significance comes from the scale of its collection, the survival of historic carousel craftsmanship and machinery, and the continued care of objects that might otherwise have been dismantled, dispersed, or lost. Public information identifies the family and its preservation activities, but does not establish a conventional corporate founding date, public-company structure, financial profile, or single unified consumer brand.

The Perron family’s documented history is tied to the preservation of historic American carousels. Carol and Duane Perron began collecting individual carousel animals and related figures in the 1970s. Over time, their interest expanded from separate carved pieces to entire carousel installations, creating a collection that combined artistic sculpture, mechanical equipment, and amusement-ride history. The family’s collecting program grew into a substantial preservation undertaking. Historic carousels often contain hand-carved and hand-painted figures, ornamental panels, decorative scenery, organs or other music systems, and complex drive mechanisms. Preserving a complete ride therefore requires more than acquiring individual antiques: it involves protecting large structures, documenting components, maintaining machinery, and finding suitable locations for storage or public operation. The Perron family’s activities encompassed these broader responsibilities. The family operated or placed rides in multiple locations in the United States and Canada. Many of its carousels were not permanently installed, and by 2024 most of the collection was stored in a warehouse in Dee, Oregon, near Hood River. The warehouse provided a centralized location for a collection reported to include 21 complete carousels and over 1,200 carousel animals, making it the largest collection of its kind according to the family’s Wikipedia account. Preservation of the collection has continued into the next generation. Brad Perron, the son of Carol and Duane, is identified as the current maintainer of the carousel collection. Brad and Sarah Perron also own two historic buildings in Hood River. Their property interests and the family’s carousel holdings overlap with formal historic-preservation recognition: six carousels associated with the family, as well as the two Hood River buildings, are listed or were previously listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places. The Perron family’s historical importance lies in conservation rather than mass-market branding. The family has helped keep a large body of carousel sculpture and machinery together, while supporting the continued public visibility of historic rides. Available sources do not provide a complete acquisition-by-acquisition chronology, a definitive list of every operating location, or detailed information about restoration methods, funding, staffing, and ownership structures. The family should consequently be described as a preservation-oriented family enterprise rather than as a conventional amusement corporation.

• 2024

  Collection reaches reported record scale

  [1]Perron familyen.wikipedia.org

  The family was reported to own 21 complete carousels and more than 1,200 carousel animals, described as the world's largest collection of its type.

• 1970

  Carousel collecting begins

  [1]Perron familyen.wikipedia.org

  Carol and Duane Perron began collecting individual historic carousel figures and related pieces during the 1970s.

• Expansion into complete carousels

  [1]Perron familyen.wikipedia.org

  The family expanded from collecting individual animals to acquiring and preserving complete historic carousels.

• Next-generation stewardship

  [1]Perron familyen.wikipedia.org

  Brad Perron became the identified maintainer of the family collection, continuing the preservation work begun by Carol and Duane Perron.

A family-led historic-preservation enterprise centered on the collection, conservation, storage, and operation of historic carousels and carousel animals.

• Carousel sculpture and collectibles

  Historic carousel animals

  The collection includes more than 1,200 carousel animals and figures. These carved and decorated pieces represent the artistic component of historic carousels and are preserved as part of complete rides or as individual historical objects.

• Historic amusement rides

  Complete historic carousels

  The Perron family owns 21 complete historic carousels, combining carved figures, decorative elements, platforms, mechanical systems, and other ride components. Some have been operated or installed in public locations, while many are stored in Oregon for preservation and maintenance.

1. 1Perron familyen.wikipedia.org