The gardens held up to three thousand people. Carbon’s New York headquarters had fewer than a hundred employees. The venue appeared to have more staff serving burgers and operating rides than it did guests. The first image I saw as I entered the grounds has been etched into my mind: the children of Carbon employees stepping into teacups, jumping onto swings, having fun, all alone, entire rides operating for the entertainment of a few little ones. I saw happy, shrieking kids blissfully ignorant of their privileges, and wheels and planes and roller coasters—a world—that spun exclusively for them. The whole operation struck me as sad. Kids want to be near other kids. But the space between them—and the public—was too much.