The South Carolina State Fair had 62 rides this year, including three new ones straight from the factory. Some attendees didn’t step foot on a single one. 

 “Years and years. I did go on scary rides, and then one time on the pendulum, we got stuck, and I didn’t ride them anymore,” said fairgoer Makayla Brown. 

Brown has two sons who will ride the smaller rides, but she no longer goes on thrill rides. However, some fairgoers live for the thrill. 

“People are surprised I’ll get on the really tall rides at my age, like, really, absolutely, I’ll ride anything out here,” said North American Midway Manager Ed Dame. 

North American Midway Entertainment provides and sets up most of the rides for the fair. The South Carolina State Fair hasn’t had a major accident on a ride in nearly two decades. 

In 2008, North American Midway employee Jeffry Doucleff died after being crushed by a ride. Previous accidents have included broken arms and legs. Dame says accidents like these are rare. 

“I will put my children, my grandchildren on any one of our rides, no questions asked,” said Dame.  

The rides are inspected by a three-party system. First, North American Midway inspects its rides daily, and operators get safety training on the ride they operate. Next, inspectors for the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation’s Office of Elevators and Amusement Rides, conduct a safety check. Third, the South Carolina State Fair hires third-party inspectors. 

“A lot of times, there’s a perception that mobile rides are less safe than permanent park rides, which is the perception, but it’s just not true,” said Outdoor Amusement Business Association President and CEO Greg Chieko. 

According to Dame, if you’re judging whether you should get on a ride at any establishment, check to see if you’re the right size, if the ride operator is paying attention, and if anything looks greasy or poorly maintained. 

“We’re going to see to it that our employees and our guests are as safe as we can make them,” said Dame. 

North American Midway Entertainment is contracted to provide rides for the fair through next year.