‘Carousel Karen’ erupts at mum in front of her baby as fairground ticket row explodes – and locals start a petition to run her out of town

An elderly fairground ride owner dubbed ‘Carousel Karen’ has put it up for sale after years of abuse came to a head in an ugly row with a young mum in front of her baby.

Johanna Haas’s family has run The Entrance Historical Carousel on the NSW Central Coast since the 1970s, but it has been plagued by complaints and one-star ratings.

According to locals, problems include ticket issues, safety and refunds – but the majority of critical reviews target the owner who they branded ‘Carousel Karen’. 

Online reviews have branded Ms Haas, 74, ‘rude and abusive’, and even her own family admits she has a temper and can be ‘abrasive’.

But the final straw came last weekend in another fiery blow-up which prompted one parent to launch a petition demanding Central Coast Council shut the ride down.

Mum-of-one Jessica says she took her 18-month-old daughter to the fairground attraction on a fun family day out.

‘We had to show our tickets before we got on the ride, she took one off me and I got on with my husband and daughter,’ she told the Daily Mail.

‘Then she shouted at us to stop spinning the teacup and asked us for two more tickets.’ 

Jessica said she assumed adults were able to accompany an infant on a single ticket as they had already been allowed to enter the ride.

The mother said she explained she was happy to hop off and let her husband and daughter stay on, but claims things soon turned nasty.

She claimed Ms Haas became aggressive and began calling her names and shouting at her.

‘It was my daughter’s first time at the fair and we were having a lovely time until she started screaming at me,’ she said. 

‘We just wanted to go after that but she refused to stop the ride.’

Jessica says she then asked for a refund and filmed the exchange.

In the video Ms Haas could be seen authorising a $7 refund but reacted angrily when Jessica requested the full $20. 

‘Get out, get out,’ she said in the clip before telling the cashier to ‘call the police’.  

Jessica later saw the online reviews and realised she wasn’t alone. She then started a petition to shut the carousel down and posted a link to it in a local Facebook group. 

Within hours, the comment section was full of others sharing their own stories about the fairground ride.

‘She screamed instructions rather than coming over to help,’ one wrote. 

‘I asked her to stop shouting but she didn’t so I asked her to stop the ride so we could get off.’

Another claimed: ‘She has been at this for years – she is not the sweet old lady people are led to believe.’

Others claiming to be former employees from up to ten years ago also shared their experiences with her.

‘I remember when my uncle died and I called and asked if I could please have the day off to be with family and she fired me,’ one wrote.

Within hours of Jessica’s post, the carousel’s Facebook page announced the business was for sale, but said Ms Haas was the victim and requested privacy.

‘Yesterday there was an incident involving a customer who ignored clear rules and safety instructions,’ the post read.

‘She took advantage of a situation that blew up quickly and unfortunately the owner was completely at the end of her patience.

‘The owner is apologetic for her temper but not for her principles. 

‘We have come to the decision the business will now be listed for sale as it’s time for us to step down and let the next family care for her as we have for the last 56 years.

‘We would like to ask for privacy for the staff, owner and her family at this time.’

The following day, Ms Haas’s daughter Belinda gave their side of the story in a video.

‘I’m not making excuses but it was a hard day, all the staff reported there was about five sets of hard customers,’ she said. 

‘I just want to say, you clearly have no idea about small business and how hard it’s been for people, there is only so much you can do with our government taxing us so high.’ 

‘Everyone is on edge. No-one can afford anything, no one is earning any money and no one knows how to pay the bills so when you go out and something ticks you off, people just take their s*** out on you.

‘Unfortunately it really ended badly for mum – she is 74 and comes from a different world. I’m not making excuses.

‘Everyone has a bad day, it seems like her and mum had a bad day… Mum might be a bit abrasive, however she has probably got one of the biggest hearts around.

‘She has done a lot, she has never touched a drug, she barely ever drinks – [this] has hurt her a lot.’

The Daily Mail has contacted the Haas family for further comment.

-READ MORE: Baker is hit with death threat after she was accused of icing over $7 Woolies mud cakes and selling them for $180: ‘I have made mistakes’