The Menomonie woman and her husband, Glen, took their turns on a carousel with hand-carved animals on the recent opening weekend at LARK toys in Kellogg, Minn., across the Mississippi River from Alma.

"It was great," Freda said. "I've always liked carousels. I think I rode on quite a few when I was younger."

The ride was a surprise birthday present from Freda's daughter and son-in-law, Virginia Merlyn Von Bargen, of Winona, Minn.

Don Kreofsky wasn't horsing around when he decided nine years ago that LARK needed a carousel. Kreofsky's dream turned into reality when the LARK carousel opened last month offering visitors amusement rides for a $ 1.

The carousel sports a traditional hand-carved horse, but also a fire-breathing dragon under the spell of a blue-robed wizard, a white swan, pink flamingo, and brown bear with a dripping honey-comb in it's mouth.

There are nineteen main animal carousel characters, each hand-carved by artist Bill Stark of Wabasha, Minn. The basswood animals are stained with vibrant colors and coated with a protective polyurethane coating.

Kreofsky, who owns LARK Toys with his wife, Sarah, put their master's degrees in fine arts to work and designed the carousel. Tim Monson of Wabasha prepared the wood for carving and Mary C. Everson of Kellogg stained the carvings.

The Minnesota attraction pulls in many west-central Wisconsin residents, Sarah said. Kellogg is one stop along the Mississippi Valley Partners 12 towns, which include Pepin, Alma, and stockholm in Wisconsin."It's a big draw for people way out of the area," Sarah said of MVP. "once people get here they are going to lots of other places."

Colors were chosen to make the animals look more realistic.

Donn designed secondary carvings to give a sense of whimsy and a story unfolding as visitors look at each animal. The goal is to give viewers an emotional feeling as they look at the animals.

Ann Webb of Elmwood, who recently rode the carousel with her 3-year old son, Brady, thought the carousel was a joy.

"It's really pretty," she said, smiling with joy. "It makes me feel like a little kid and anybody can ride them."

Donn said carousels bring back memories for senior citizens and a new adventure for children.

"I think adults have more fun than children," he said. "Everyone remembers riding a carousel."

The lead piece on the carousel is the dragon, Donn said, explaining it is the most intricate and colorful. Color abounds on the green-scaled dragon with fingerlings of fire coming from his nostrils, his gold tipped claws curl under as a python winds around a star studded saddle. The wizard on the dragon's back holds his magic wand topped with a Bavarian crystal.

Sarah believes the carousel was a spin-off from her husband's love of toys.

"Is there a bigger toy in the world?" she asked, breaking into a laugh, while seated in Larkosaurus Park, an eating area for visitors.

A hand-carved stegosaurus stands in the area, originally planned for the carousel but, true to the nature of dinosaurs, proved to large for it.

"It's definitely big-time nostalgia," Sarah said of the carousel.

The Martens of Menomonie rode the chariot, one of three seats on the carousel. The others are a carved hippo and a cart pulled by a ostrich.

Some of the animals on the carousel were chosen because they are native to Minnesota and Wisconsin, Everson said. The river otter has real shell buttons drilled from Lake Pepin clams and inlaid along the saddle girth. The piece is laden with a wooden buoy intricately carved fishing nets.

It took about three months to carve and stain each piece, Everson said.

Even though the nine-year journey to create the carousel seems complete, there still are details to be added such as facades and specialty lighting to imitate the northern lights, Sarah said.

The couple also is planning a miniature carousel underneath a near life-size moose carving to be on display. The moose has all sorts of water life caught in its horns from dunking its head in a river.

As one project finishes and begins operating, Donn's wheels of a imagination continue to spin like a carousel ready to bring more entertainment to LARK visitors.

Article by Pamela Powers
Eau Claire Leader Telegram - Sunday, June 22, 1997