[swampfox43]

With Jonathans permission, I decided to do a small trip report on the "new" NC State Fair along with some pictures from my Oct. 24th visit.

The NC State Fair has had a long tradition with <a href='http://www.strates.com/home.htm' target='_blank'>Strates Shows</a>, which is one of the main reasons I quit going. With the exception of the Skywheel, their midway is pretty ho-hum. It's hard to compete in today's fair market with the same midway rides over and over again. Strates has only one really good thrill ride, the Fireball. They do have a Skywheel, but that's about it as far as spectaculars go..

After the well publicized bidding scandal with <a href='http://www.amusementsofamerica.com/walk.htm' target='_blank'>Amusements of America</a> in 2003, the bids were on again for 2004.

Bring on Reithoffer for 2004! I was so happy to hear that <a href='http://www.reithoffershows.com/' target='_blank'>Reithoffer</a> would be bringing in the fair for 2004. With the advertised "expanded" midway, I was sure this would be the long awaited fair that North Carolinians had been waiting for. Turns out, this was the 2nd largest total attendance in the fairs long history.

The NC State Fair grounds have a funky layout. Imagine a hand with each of the fingers a small midway. There were great rides on every finger too.

Rides such as the Tango, Power Surge & Crazy Mouse made their debut for the first time on the NC fairgrounds. Rides such as the Zipper, Himalaya, Flying Bobs & even a rare Cortina Bobs were also there. In fact, there were too many rides for me to remember.

The cloudy, misty skies and nippy temps were not enough to keep the crowd size down on this, the last day of the fair. The place was packed to the gills! The most popular rides like the Tango & Crazy Mouse had about 20 minute waits but we walked right on the Power Surge, which happens to be one of my favorite new rides since riding it at Knoebels in 2001.

I won't go into a blow by blow description of the rides as many of you already know them. I will add that I was happy to see the Schwarzkopf Racing coaster (trade name: Flitzer) on the midway though. These classic little coasters are becoming harder and harder to find. I think Reithoffer owns 2 of them. It's really a fun ride.

OK, enough talk. Enjoy the pictures!

<a href='http://members.aol.com/earlywinds/FreeFall.jpg' target='_blank'>Free Fall</a>
<a href='http://members.aol.com/earlywinds/PowerSurge_flat.jpg' target='_blank'>Power Surge lifting</a>
<a href='http://members.aol.com/earlywinds/PowerSurge.jpg' target='_blank'>Power Surge vertical</a>
<a href='http://members.aol.com/earlywinds/Avalanche.jpg' target='_blank'>Avalanche coaster</a>
<a href='http://members.aol.com/earlywinds/Coaster1_E.jpg' target='_blank'>Another Coaster</a>
<a href='http://members.aol.com/earlywinds/Flitzer2.jpg' target='_blank'>Racing Coaster</a> - view from the lift
<a href='http://members.aol.com/earlywinds/Flitzer_E2.jpg' target='_blank'>Racing Coaster again</a>
<a href='http://members.aol.com/earlywinds/Flitzer.jpg' target='_blank'>Racing Coaster</a> - look at those smiles!
<a href='http://members.aol.com/earlywinds/Tango.jpg' target='_blank'>Tango</a>
<a href='http://members.aol.com/earlywinds/Zipper.jpg' target='_blank'>Zipper</a>
<a href='http://members.aol.com/earlywinds/FireBall.jpg' target='_blank'>Fire Ball</a>
<a href='http://members.aol.com/earlywinds/FreakOut.jpg' target='_blank'>Freak Out</a> - smaller version of the Fire Ball and very intense!
<a href='http://members.aol.com/earlywinds/Fly.jpg' target='_blank'>Fly</a>
<a href='http://members.aol.com/earlywinds/CrazyMouse_X.jpg' target='_blank'>Crazy Mouse</a> - taken from ferris wheel
<a href='http://members.aol.com/earlywinds/CrazyMouse_aerial.jpg' target='_blank'>Crazy Mouse</a> - another aerial view

[Jonathan]

Thanks for the report and pics. I agree that it was certainly a *lot* better this year with Reithoffer doing it. I didn't ride too much, just the 4 major coasters, the Zipper, and the cheesy Subway dark ride, but there was a lot of good rides this year. And of course you can't forget the fried twinkies.

[Jay]

I thought it was an absolute travishamockery how the best ride there, The Zipper, had no line, and only took 4 tickets. Had I had more time (not to mention a riding partner who is a glutton for punishment ) I would have lived on the thing. Ah yes, great pics as well.

[Trev32]

^Lol i see no suprise in theere being no line for zipper, at the Dixie classic fair it was like a walk on on a friday!



Anyway, i coulden't look at alot of the pictures, my DSL is running like cheap Dial-Up right now. But that freak out thing looks wierd!.

[carowindsfreak13]

Cool fair to bad I would have gone

[bgwfreak]

Thanks ken for the report!

I hope they keep it up next year. Maybe I'll actually go back again!

Sidebar question, have they ever had a coaster/flat accident at the NC Fair?

I'm always a little hesitant to ride those rides because of just imagining riding anything put together in a day by Carney people. lol

[Jonathan]

The only thing I can remember in recent years is when the carnie was killed by one of the flats (I think it was a Kamikazee) because he was standing to close and it caught him and tossed him. That was his fault though, and not related to ride malfunction.

[swampfox43]

Sidebar question, have they ever had a coaster/flat accident at the NC Fair?

There was an accident on the Scenic Railway in 1898 which injured many people when 2 trains collided. I read that in the History of the NC State Fair book.

Of course, I'm sure you meant something in more recent times.

And yes Jonathan, it was the Kamikazee where the carnie was killed.

[bgwfreak]

I finally had some time to really look at those pictures.

I'm definetley going to have to get up there next year if the same people do the midway. Looks like a lot of fun rides.

[Carowindsman]

Hey thats pretty cool i was planning to go this year but i didnt of course. That power surge looks pretty cool only smaller than the one at Paramount Canadas Wonderland. Wish we could get one of those.