People of the Attractions: Carl Berni

When I first encountered Carl Berni at the charming, traditional Canobie Lake Park in New Hampshire, he smiled and momentarily waved me off. That’s because Berni, who is the park’s president, was busy acknowledging staff members as part of an employee appreciation ceremony. He was clearly savoring the moment. Taking care of Canobie’s employees, as well as its guests, became Berni’s life mission.

Opened in 1902, Canobie is one of the few remaining trolley parks (so named because they were originally built and operated by streetcar companies to boost weekend ridership) in the United States. In 1958, Carl’s father, Anthony Berni—along with Lou Captell and Kazmir Ulaki—purchased Canobie. Hailing from New Jersey, the three friends were amusement industry concessionaires who together fulfilled a dream of owning a park. The three families oversee Canobie to this day, with multiple generations lending a hand.

Berni was only 1 year old when his family moved to New Hampshire. One of his earliest memories is accompanying his dad to the park. In addition to going on the rides, Berni recalls seeing his father interacting with staff members and visitors. He noticed the joy it brought him. Through this observation, the seed of interest was planted.

While making the rounds with his dad, Berni would often help restock the prizes for the games. When he was 12, he started working the games himself and discovered he loved interacting with the public and his fellow employees. Berni later worked as a lifeguard at the park’s Olympic-size pool and helped his father with hiring, developing work schedules, and other duties.

He studied economics in college and considered pursuing banking, but the lure of the family business was strong.

“It’s in my blood,” Berni says. “I knew I would eventually come here.”

After college, Berni became the park’s personnel director. He says that along with his brother and sister, he hired virtually all Canobie employees through the early 1990s. Berni notes with pride that just about every manager started working at the park as a teenager. In 1999, he took over the reins as president. The park has expanded under Berni’s watch; today, a team of 1,200 people operate the rides, staff the water park, and help make Canobie hum.

“You have to treat your employees well and make them feel appreciated,” Berni says, explaining the secret to the park’s success. “If you do, you don’t have much to worry about, right?”

Indeed, Canobie’s staff members are remarkably attentive and friendly, and there is a palpably cheerful vibe along its midway.

Now 68, Berni says that he has no plans to leave anytime soon.

“I love coming to work every day,” he shares. “How can you walk away from something like this?”

Still, he knows that the next generation is itching to lead the family-run park.

“We passed the love on to them,” Berni notes, “and they stand ready to continue Canobie’s great tradition.”