Willy Wonka, oompa loompas congregate at Cd'A carousel
LOREN BENOIT/Press Willy Wonka and his oompa loompas were at the carousel for a fun Halloween visit on Thursday. Bud Ford is the benevolent benefactor who paid for the stained glass art in the carousel’s cupola last year. Left to right: Mark McMorrow, Diane McMorrow, Mike Wegleitner, Carol Wegleitner, Ford, Rita Smyder, Jan Dahl, Bob Dahl, Alice Stolen and Bruce Childs.
COEUR d’ALENE — A grinning Riley Loper in a Wednesday Addams costume popped a piece of candy into her mouth after enjoying a ride Thursday on the Coeur d'Alene Carousel.
She was in some pretty famous company. Willy Wonka and his oompa loompas were at the carousel for a fun Halloween visit.
"I haven't seen the older (movie). I've seen the newer one though," said Riley, 10.
Her mom, Megan, said they had no idea Wonka and his crew would be at the carousel.
"They have really good costumes," she said.
As the ponies made their rounds, so did a happy Bud Ford, who was dressed in Wonka wear from head to toe and tapping his cane as he walked.
“I rode on this carousel when it was on Playland Pier, in ’46 to ’48, somewhere in there,” he said. “That’s when I was in high school."
Ford, the benevolent benefactor who paid for the stained glass art in the carousel's cupola last year, smiled as he watched the costumed kids pull the brass rings from the dispenser and tossed them into the box the next spin.
"It’s fun to see the kids enjoying the things that we did years ago," he said. "This has a special place in my heart. It’s part of Coeur d’Alene’s history."