carousel at lighthouse point park

This attraction will bring you back to your childhood and allow your children to experience the EXACT thrill you had as a child. I take my grand children there and I still enjoy it as much as they do. Music, lights, colors and open air pleasure at Lighthouse State Park on Long Island Sounds beach. I have attended dinners and weddings at this beautiful Americana exhibit. It will bring back memories and create new ones. Enjoy.

I believe it contains one of the oldest carousels in the country. But the waterview is very nice. Many people hold weddings in the facility, as I have dj'd several events there. In the wintertime at Christmas, the entire area has the Festival Of Lights with a very nice display.

I went today in 35 degree weather. Paid nothing for parking, took pictures of the lighthouse, drove around, and then stumbled upon a wonderful Christmas light show called "Fantasy of Lights". It was a wonderful and inexpensive experience! After driving up from Bronx, NY, I was so happy that I found more than a lighthouse!! :)

While passing through Connecticuit enroute to Rhode Island, I decided to stop and checkout the Five Mile Lighthouse at Lighthouse Point Park. At the entrance to the park, the gate attendant asked if I was from out of state (yes), and said it would cost $20 to enter the park. I said all I wanted to do was take a picture of the lighthouse. It didn't matter, it was still $20. I couldn't justify spending $20 for the photo, and I left. I was very disappointed. Maybe the park should have a free 20 minute visitors pass available for those interested in seeing the lighthouse only. If the visitor exceeds the 20 minutes, charge the full $20 fee. Since I left that park, I saw 12 lighthouses and didn't pay a nickel. Thanks.

My cousin had her wedding here, and because of that we and the other wedding guests were able to visit the park for free (phew!). Beforehand though, I had been reading on the official website that the parking fee is $20-30 for non-resident or out of state cars. What! That's insane. I would never go to this park just for sightseeing purposes.The park has a nice beach area, which a lot of locals were enjoying. There were kids playing in the sand, and a few daring ones on the rocks as well. The carousel was really the highlight, more so than the lighthouse I thought. The ride is operational (we rode it several times that night!) and very nicely restored. There's something about riding a carousel that just makes you feel carefree!All in all, a nice park for New Haven residents, especially since it's free of charge. But I wouldn't recommend it for tourists.

A wonderful Looff carousel in great shape, with gorgeous carved animals. The beach and park here are also nice to spend some time in.

We thought we'd check out the lighthouse at Lighthouse Point Park as a way to spend an afternoon in New Haven. We found the park, beaches and grounds to be a locals hangout for families and bbq's. The lighthouse itself is disappointing when compared to other lighthouses around the country. The grounds filled with locals enjoying the beautiful Sunday afternoon weather with grills smoking, kids playing and music blaring. Hardly worth the $20 for a tourist...but a great way for a family to spend a cheap afternoon at the beach.

I drove through here on a cloudy day with mom and auntie- was disappointed that the fee for out of town guests is $20! I guess if your planning on spending the entire day with picnic and all then it would not be so bad but just to drive through with threat of rain was disappointing. Beach looked clean and might be back with young grand kids who would enjoy the carousel but otherwise I will go elsewhere on the shore!

I got a new camera and wanted to take some beach/lighthouse pictures and found Lighthouse Point Park on the internet. I planned a day in New Haven and thought going to the park at sunset would be perfect.First, they charged me $20 since I'm not a New Haven resident (I think it is even more if you're not a resident of Connecticut). I thought this was very pricey!My main criticism is that the park is very, very dirty and poorly maintained. There was trash everywhere. I was appalled to see that people take the charcoal from their grills and just dump it in the middle of the lawn (I saw this several times, not just once). On my one visit there on a Sunday night in July, the park was fairly crowded, with lots of families picnicking and grilling. Apparently people are less than neat, and the city employees don't really help much either. By the lighthouse I walked on the sea-wall/rock-wall out into the water a bit and people dumped soda bottles and wrappers all around the rocks. It was really disappointing to see a wonderful, scarce, natural resource like a beach and shoreline and lighthouse so badly looked after. Had it not been for the liter, the park would have been great. It has a really nice view of the Long Island Sound, and the lighthouse is charming. The carousel is in a nice building on the beach. I didn't actually get to see the carousel because the building was closed off for a wedding, but from the outside it looked nice.Unfortunately I won't be going back to Lighthouse Point Park anytime soon.

This will bring out the child in you as you enter.. Nicely restored, the carousel has a delightful assortment of animals for your circular ride. It is a must for an afternoon or morning if you need some relaxation. The park is set on the east side of the New Haven harbor and provides an expansive view of the Long Island Sound. A nice beach for a day in the sun. The lighthouse at the tip brings to mind the importance of light to ancient and contemporary mariners alike. The $20 fee for non-New Haven cars is topped by the $30 fee for cars from out of state during the season.

I am a regular at Lighthouse Point Park and love riding the carousel often. It is a beautifully kept carousel.

I would call this place a gem. Close to Downtown New Haven and both I95 and I91 this place is somewhat hidden from the city commotion. If you have a vehicle registered in New Haven, you don't have to pay the entry fee but, if you don't it will have a range from $20 to $30. For buses and RV's there is a higher fee. It has a spacious parking area. The beach is as calm, peaceful and beautiful. Well maintained by the park crew (kudos to them) and with different things to do. The beach, the green area, a carousel, a small water park, the lighthouse, and the scenic view. Also, there is an area for different types of activities (weddings, etc.). For the carousel there is a very small fee. Oh, and did I mention that there are a few areas with grills for a great BBQ.

Summer: beach fun, splash zone, playground, picnic area (costs to enter, though)Winter: holiday light festival well worth driving through Spring and Fall: free admission, walk along the beach, absolutely beautifulThe Carousel is absolutely fantastic - I'm hoping to hold some sort of event there one day.

My boyfriend took me here by accident and it ended up being a great date. We ordered pizza and ate it by the water on one of the picnic tables. Water is always a great relaxing mechanism.

I love the Lighthouse Point Park and the carousel is beautiful. The room is amazing and many people enjoy their wedding receptions there. The beach houses a water splash park, basketball hoops, swings and plenty of sand to sun. There are many spots to picnic, walk and frolic. Great place for the Spring and Summer. The winter brings the holiday light display you drive through in December.