Outlaw Run charges into Silver Dollar City - Amusement Today

34 AMUSEMENT TODAY April 2013Zaitshik looks forward toan exciting 2013 for Wade ShowsThere were 112 rides on the 2013 Florida State Fair independent midway, representing 14owners/operators. Blue skies over the fair brought fairgoers out. Top rides this year includedthe Sky Fair’s Sky Glider; Florida State Fair’s Giant Slide; and Wade Shows’ Hit in 2000.COURTESY FLORIDA STATE FAIRFLORIDAContinued from page 33the Air Raid, manufacturedby Zamperla and brought inby Kyle Brady, PlayworldAmusements. It also debutedat the 2012 State Fair of texas.The 2013 Florida State Fairshowcased new and uniqueagricultural and cultural exhibitsto go with the anniversarycelebration. There wasthe new “Discovery Center,” aTampa Bay History Center curatedexhibit, and a travelingexhibit celebrating “FloridaAgriculture: 500 Years in theMaking” hosted by the FloridaDepartment of Agricultureand Consumer Services.Also new was the “ConquistaTOUR,”a self-guidedadventure through the StateFair including the new FloridaCattlemen’s Ranching Museum,Florida’s Learning Gardenand Cow Hunter’s Campin Cracker Country. Fairgoerscould get a map at the fair’sentrance and take the “ConquistaTOUR.”In addition, fairgoers weretreated with Discover Florida, aBroadway-style musical per-formance. There was a newCattlemen’s Exhibit celebratingFive Centuries of Traditionand a new Florida’s LearningGarden.Also new this year wasthe “Zoom N” high-energymusical concert series withStarship, Mickey Thomas, BellamyBrothers, Country GoldThrough the smiles, the seasons & the miles –Financing everything for the outdoor amusement industry since 2000.Prairie FinancialPaul Mullerpaul@prairiefinancialinc.comWade Mullerwade@prairiefinancialinc.comTour, Less than Jake, LeannRimes.Fairgoers also were offeredtraditional attractionssuch as shopping in ExpoHall, arts and crafts, a giantsand sculpture, tropical fish,the “Mooternity Ward,” horseshows, lots of animals and livegrounds entertainment.The Florida State Fair, held Feb. 7-18, 2013, celebrated the500th anniversary of the arrival of Ponce De Leon in Floridaas well as the 109th anniversary of the fair. The fair experienceda slight dip in attendance from the 2012 event, withan attendance of 443,000 this year compared to 457,000 in2012. But, revenues increased for the fair and its vendors.COURTESY FLORIDA STATE FAIRMark Walkermark@prairiefinancialinc.comLUTZ, Fla. — Frank Zaitshik, Wade Shows, is looking forwardto the 2013 season. He has three new dates and plans tobring back his Huss Rainbow out of its three-year hiatus.The first of his three new dates is also a new event. Calledthe Funshine Music Festival, Zaitshik will have between 30-35 rides on the Florida State Fairgrounds May 3,4, and 5. Theevent is being presented through a partnership with the fairand Live Nation.“I was very flattered that they talked to me about doingthis,” Zaitshik said.“And, it just so happened that I had one unit that, with alittle tweaking to that unit, available for that event.”Zaitshik, who lives in Lutz, Fla., about 15 miles north ofTampa, said there had been some talk about the new event, butit wasn’t until the 2013 Florida State Fair, which ran Feb. 7-18,that it was finalized.He said his plans to have some of his bigger, more spectacularrides such as his Pinfari RC-48, a seven truck and trailerride; Reverchon flume ride, a five-trailer ride; and Mack Himalayaride, a four-trailer ride. This latter ride is his Hit in 2000,which consistently lands in the Florida State Fair’s top ride list.“I also plan to bring in some of the bigger rides from FiestaSan Antonio (Texas), which I know isn’t really economical butI think they will fit well at this event,” Zaitshik said.Fiesta San Antonio runs April 18-28.Zaitshik also will provide the games and bring in somefood for the event. And, he said, he plans to bring in some kiddierides as well.“This is unchartered waters for us so we want to make surewe have a well-rounded midway,” he said.But, doing special events on the Florida State Fairgroundsis not totally new. The Miles of Smiles special event he, in partnershipwith fair, did for disadvantaged children Dec. 14-16,2012, was very successful. Zaitshik said they were able to offerbetween 5,000-6,000 children free rides, free food and freegames.“This was something I really felt strongly about; to be ableto offer these children something like this during the holidays,”he said. “We hope to have this become an annual eventand to grow it.”The Florida State Fair will also book in food, and there willbe a craft and vendor area, and a petting zoo at the FunshineMusic Festival.The other two new dates for Wade Shows this year is theNebraska State Fair, Grand Island, Aug. 23-Sept. 2, and in conjunctionwith Murphy Brothers Exposition, the Tulsa (Okla.)State Fair, Sept. 26-Oct. 6.Zaitshik is excited about the new dates and he is lookingforward to bringing out his Huss Rainbow, which has been offthe road for the last three years. He said it is now in refurbishment,which includes adding a LED lighting package. Hehopes to have it ready for the Tulsa (Okla.) State Fair.“You know, we have looked around at new pieces ofequipment, but have found not only is the price tag very large,but also in an effort to try to reduce the number of trucks, theyhave reduced the number of seats on the rides,” he said.In addition to all of this, Zaitshik said he has his cashlesssystem up and running now.—Pam Sherborne816-554-3863 prairiefinancialinc.comA division of