Fairground Owner Dubbed 'Carousel Karen' Puts Business Up for Sale Amid Customer Disputes
Decades of customer complaints and a recent public altercation have led to the decision to sell the historic carousel business.
An elderly fairground ride owner, who has been publicly referred to as 'Carousel Karen,' has decided to sell her business after a recent dispute with a young mother in front of her baby. The Entrance Historical Carousel on the Central Coast of New South Wales, operated by Johanna Haas, has been a family business since the 1970s.
According to local accounts and online reviews, the business has faced ongoing issues related to ticketing, safety, and refunds. Many critical reviews have targeted Ms. Haas, with customers describing her as 'rude and abusive.' Her own family has acknowledged that she can have a temper and be 'abrasive.'
The latest incident occurred when a mother, identified as Jessica, took her 18-month-old daughter to the attraction. After paying for a ticket, she was informed that additional tickets were required for adults accompanying a child. Jessica stated she offered to leave the ride so her husband and daughter could continue, but claims the situation escalated, with Ms. Haas allegedly becoming aggressive and shouting. The video footage of the exchange shows Ms. Haas authorizing a $7 refund, but reacting angrily when a $20 refund was requested.
Following this altercation, Jessica initiated an online petition to have the ride shut down. The petition gained traction in a local Facebook group, where other individuals shared similar negative experiences with the carousel owner, some dating back a decade.
In response to the growing controversy, the carousel's Facebook page announced that the business would be listed for sale. The post stated that Ms. Haas was the victim of the recent incident and requested privacy. It also mentioned that the business had been run by the family for 56 years and it was time for a new family to take over.
Ms. Haas's daughter, Belinda, later posted a video explaining their perspective. She acknowledged that it had been a difficult day with challenging customers and suggested that external pressures, including high government taxes and economic hardship, were contributing to heightened customer frustration. Belinda described her mother as having a good heart, despite her potentially abrasive nature, and highlighted the emotional toll the situation had taken on her.
The Daily Mail has reached out to the Haas family for further comment. The decision to sell marks the end of an era for the historic carousel, which has been a fixture in the community for over five decades.