Indiana State Fair rides inspected ahead of opening day

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Safety is a top priority for the organizers of the Indiana State Fair that starts Friday.

Before anyone takes a spin on the Ferris wheel or hops on a roller coaster, nine inspectors from the Indiana Department of Homeland Security this week were assuring the 50 rides were set up correctly and that the safety features were working.

Von Scott, an elevator inspector and amusement ride inspector for Homeland Security, said, “We’re making sure that the stop switches are working properly. We’re making sure that all of the seat belts are in working order, any sharp edges are taken care of. We don’t want anybody getting cut, hurt, pinched, so we check all of that type of stuff.”

“One of the main things I like to look at is the fencing to ensure that the fence hasn’t gotten too close to the ride. We don’t want parents high-fiving their kids and then the kid grabs a hold and pulls them off the ride. That’s why we have to got make sure the seats are working properly and the fencing is out properly.”

The 2024 Indiana State Fair had an attendance of 854,236 people, an increase from the 2023 attendance of 840,414, even with the 2024 fair being three days shorter. The biggest attendance, since records dating back to 1988, was 978,296 in 2013.

LeRoy Lewis III, director of community and media engagement at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, said Thursday, “This year, we have the Big Top Circus coming back with us, Wolves of the World, the Vinyl Revival, which is a take on album cover art, and we have so much happening of course here in the midway where fun always happens.”

“There are around 850,000 people every year, but this year we’re hoping to reach that and surpass it. Last year, we were pretty close at 854,000 and if we can meet that mark and surpass it, we’ll be happy.”

What should people know before they go? “Check your weather. Make sure you have your plan together. There so much to see here at the fairgrounds and if you spend the whole day with us, we don’t want you to miss anything,” Lewis said.

News 8’s Gregg Montgomery contributed to this report.

About The Author

See author's posts