14th Most Favorite Thing About the State Fair of Texas: Old School Rides

When I was young and the family would load into the car for a day at the Fair, I would gear up for the argument I knew would be inevitable at some point during the glorious trip. You see, as a wee one, I was something of a daredevil — a thrill-seeker. I loved anything that went fast, and I was always first in line for multiple trips on the most loopy, stomach churning, headache-inducing, gravity-defying amusement park rides I could find.

I was the child that rode Space Mountain at Disney World 5 times in a row — a feat that succeeded in making me very happy indeed, while taking the rest of the family out with headaches for the remainder of the day. I was the kid who always swore I’d bungee jump off a bridge and toss myself out of an airplane for a skydiving adventure once I was old enough to sign the appropriate waivers. Put me in the seat of the most infamous, vomit-inducing ride you could find and I’d be a happy camper.

I was hemmed in by a truly tough restriction, however, that applied universally to amusement parks, carnivals, and, unfortunately, the State Fair as well. My mom absolutely, positively forbade me from riding ANYTHING that did not stay parked in its position ALL YEAR ROUND. At the State Fair, this was like death.

Think about it. ALL of the most exciting rides at the Fair are temporary. Everything on the Thrillway, for example, is probably carted in and bolted to the ground just prior to Opening Day. Mom would never approve.

And she never did. Everything that looked good to my hellraiser-child’s eye was forbidden. I was allowed to ride the rickety old roller coaster (The Comet), which seemed dangerous enough on its own. More than once, I wondered if the structure would simply shake apart as the coaster-car sailed along the red-and-white tracks. The swings were also approved (I think they’ve been there for a hundred years and will simply never fail to give everyone a good, tame ride while providing the best photo ops on the Midway). I could also explore the funhouse (which I never liked… I was WAY too much of a klutz to successfully navigate that place without falling or running into a wall or otherwise embarrassing myself).

And my brother and I were, OF COURSE, allowed to ride through the ridiculous, kitschy Lumalusion house on the Midway. I would love to know how long that ride has been there — and whether or not it was ever anything but silly. Of course, my sixth-grade self and my younger brother seemed to enjoy it just fine, judging by these pictures.

Now, of course, I’m glad Mom forced me to appreciate the gentle State Fair rides above all others. First of all, the “easy rides” are the only ones that are truly safe for full stomachs during an all-day eating marathon. Mom was obviously on to something here.

Second, it has been my experience, over the course of my long State Fair tenure, that these are the attractions that have stood the test of time (except The Comet, unfortunately, which was finally dismantled a few years ago), the ones that will stand immobile on the Midway for years to come, the rides that will make me smile someday when I’m seventy years old, hobbling through Fair Park, gumming a Fried Twinkie.

Beautiful swings photo by Clare.

Nancy and Stuart photos by our proud parents.

Advertisement

~ by nf1014 on September 13, 2009.