Tales from the midway — share your experiences
We just launched the **Ride Library** — a dedicated archive for ride books, operator manuals, standard operating procedures (SOPs), inspection checklists, parts catalogs, troubleshooting guides, and setup guides. Find it under **Resources → 📚 Ride Library**. ## What's inside? - 📖 **Manuals** — manufacturer operator manuals for specific rides - 📄 **SOPs** — standard operating procedures for setup, teardown, and daily operation - ✅ **Inspection Checklists** — daily, weekly, and annual inspection forms - 📚 **Books & References** — industry reference material - 📦 **Parts Catalogs** — exploded diagrams and part numbers - 💡 **Troubleshooting Guides** — common issues and fixes - 🔧 **Setup Guides** — step-by-step teardown and setup instructions Every document can be filtered by type, ride type, manufacturer, and archival status (active, archived, or superseded) — so you always find the current version, not an outdated copy. ## How is it different from the Rides Directory? This is the question we've gotten most, so here's the clear breakdown: ### 🎡 Rides Directory The Rides Directory is a **catalog of ride types and models** — think of it like an encyclopedia of rides. It answers questions like: - *"What is a Tilt-A-Whirl?"* - *"Who manufactures the Scrambler?"* - *"What are the specs and dimensions of this ride?"* It's about **knowing the ride** — descriptions, photos, manufacturers, and specs. ### 📚 Ride Library The Ride Library is a **document archive** — the actual files you need to operate, inspect, and maintain a ride. It answers questions like: - *"Where's the operator manual for our Tilt-A-Whirl?"* - *"What's on the daily inspection checklist?"* - *"How do I troubleshoot this hydraulic issue?"* It's about **working with the ride** — downloadable PDFs, SOPs, and checklists you use on the job. ### In short | | Rides Directory | Ride Library | |---|---|---| | **What it is** | Encyclopedia of ride types | Archive of documents | | **What you get** | Descriptions, specs, photos | Downloadable files & links | | **Why you use it** | Learn about a ride | Operate & maintain a ride | They work together — look up a ride in the Directory, then grab its manual from the Library. ## Contribute! Any logged-in member can upload documents to the Library. If you've got an old operator manual, a safety SOP, or an inspection checklist sitting in a binder, snap it or scan it and add it — it'll help the whole community for years to come. Head to **Resources → 📚 Ride Library** to explore and contribute. 🎪
Big Joe passed last winter. He was 71 and still driving the bunkhouse truck every season until the end. Joe started in 1984 running the kiddie carousel for a small family show out of Indiana. Over four decades he did everything — set up rides, ran the dart game, cooked the funnel cakes, drove trucks coast to coast. He could fix a hydraulics leak with baling wire and a prayer. Half the mechanics in this industry learned from him. But what I'll remember most is Joe at the cookhouse every morning, coffee in hand, telling stories to the new kids so they wouldn't feel homesick. He treated every greenhorn like family. There aren't many like him left. If you knew him, raise one tonight. The midway's a little emptier without him.
We were halfway through setting up the Ferris wheel in Tulsa when the storm sirens started. I'll never forget the look on the foreman's face — he'd been doing this 30 years and still went pale. We had about 18 minutes to tie down everything loose and get the crew to the concrete restroom building. The crazy part? The storm passed just north of us and we barely got rain. But that night taught me something I pass on to every new hire: never ignore the weather briefing, even if the sky looks clear. The old-timers who've been through it know that setup night can turn on a dime. We were back up at 5am the next morning finishing the job, and the fair opened on time. That's the midway way.
First week on the job, 19 years old, they handed me the Scrambler controls and said 'you'll figure it out.' Friends — I did NOT figure it out immediately. I loaded up a full car of kids, hit the start button, and somehow had the speed cranked to max from the previous operator. Those kids came off looking like they'd ridden a washing machine. Their dad was NOT happy. My boss just shook his head and said 'Start low, work your way up. Every rider is someone's kid.' That advice stuck with me for 15 years now. Always start every ride on the lowest setting and watch the load before you ramp up. Also: actually count the riders. Actually check the lap bars. The boring stuff is what keeps people safe and keeps you employed. Don't learn it the hard way like I did.
So last weekend a goat named Gerald decided he'd had enough of the petting zoo life. First escape: Saturday morning, he busted through a loose panel in the fencing. Took three of us, two security guys, and a very confused family from Ohio to corner him behind the Tilt-a-Whirl. We fixed the panel. Or so we thought. Sunday morning, Gerald escaped AGAIN. Same goat, different panel. This time he made it all the way to the food court and was standing in the middle of the funnel cake line like he owned the place. People were taking selfies. Gerald was unbothered. We triple-zip-tied every panel after that. Gerald got his own pen with reinforced fencing. The owner put up a sign that said 'Gerald: Do Not Release.' I still laugh every time I walk past the petting zoo.
A Five-Minute Walk That Saved the Day It was just before opening on a busy Saturday afternoon. Families were already lining up outside the gates, excited for a day on the midway. One veteran ride superintendent decided to take his usual five-minute walk through the grounds before giving the signal to open. Everything looked good until he noticed a small pin lying beneath one of the ride entrances. It had worked its way loose during setup. It wasn't a major failure, but without that pin, the ride would have been forced to shut down, possibly stranding passengers and creating a serious safety concern. The ride stayed closed for just a few extra minutes while we replaced the pin, inspected the rest of the ride, and documented the repair. No one noticed the delay, and the ride operated safely for the rest of the weekend. That little five-minute inspection prevented hours of downtime, protected the ride's reputation, and most importantly, kept every guest safe. The lesson: Safety isn't about luck, it's about consistent habits. A careful inspection before opening can prevent accidents, save money, and ensure every family leaves with great memories instead of regrets.
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