COLUMBUS – Five rides at the Ohio State Fair are out of commission due to safety concerns and at least one of them will not open at all.
None of the rides has yet been cleared to operate during the fair, which opened Wednesday, but the Ohio Department of Agriculture, which oversees the fair, says the “Military Base” ride has been disqualified after inspectors found “visible corrosion,” director Dorothy Pelanda said
“Safety is our number one priority. This is why we have the stringent inspection process that we do. The ride does not meet our standards and, therefore, will not operate at the Ohio State Fair,” Pelanda said.
The state earlier this year replaced about 100 chairs on the fair’s overhead SkyGlider and added a braking system.
A fair ride broke apart in July 2017, killing an 18-year-old man and injuring seven people.
The “Military Base” ride — manufactured by Chance Rides, of Wichita, Kan. — is not owned by Talley Amusements, the fair’s new amusement company but was subcontracted from Kentucky-based Kissel Amusement/Entertainment.
It is common practice for an amusement ride company to subcontract some of its rides, Pelanda said.
A message seeking comment on the announcement was left with Kissel.
The Ferris wheel-like “Military Base” recently operated at a fair in Kentucky and arrived at the Ohio Expo Center Tuesday, Pelanda said.
After the ride was assembled, Pelanda says inspectors climbed the structure on Wednesday and discovered corrosion, prompting her to disqualify the ride. It was set to be disassembled and removed overnight Thursday.
The four other rides are still being inspected process and could be re-opened after minor repairs.