CENTERBURG – Centerburg’s USA Days almost had no amusement rides or midway for this year’s festival.
Secretary Candy McCracken nearly had a heart attack when she got a text from the rides that had been scheduled since last year. The company whose rides had been scheduled for last year said their rides had failed inspections so he was going to Indiana.
Many such companies had moved on to adjoining states like West Virginia and Kentucky as well. All were facing the same problems. Since the death of a teen at the Ohio State Fair, the regulations in Ohio were made considerably more strict. It may be added that the Ohio State Fair rides came from Texas. Now if any ride has a spot of surface rust even on parts that have nothing to do with the mechanics of the ride, they cannot sand and paint it. They must hire an engineer to inspect it, which can be quite expensive for a business that had no work in all of 2020 due to COVID-19. Besides the stricter regulations, they raised the licensing fee per ride and the inspection fees as well.
So the festival is happy to report, “Yes, we have rides!” Wally’s Concessions, LLC, owned by Troy and Lisa Kissell of Cincinnati, will be bringing their rides and midway to Centerburg for the festival!
