The Abridged version:
- The California State Fair begins Friday, and the midway — with rides, games and food — will be a popular destination for many. Behind the carnival is a multi-generational family.
- Butler Amusements began decades ago, after Sean Butler’s grandfather built his first fair game out of wood. The family business has served the California State Fair since 2009.
- Rides can cost hundreds of thousands to more than a million dollars. Butler said the company stores them, when not in use, in “winter quarters” across a handful of cities.
Crowds of fairgoers will flock to the California State Fair this weekend.
For many, the visit includes a trip through the midway, whether that means hopping on a ride, trying their hand at a game or indulging in classic fair food.
From “kiddie rides” to stomach-dropping doozies, sugar-coated desserts and jumbo-sized fried fare, behind it all is “just a family that travels,” Sean Butler said.
For most of the year, Butler, his siblings, nieces and nephews crisscross the western United States, carnival in tow, as part of Butler Amusements.
The family business has been responsible for providing a California State Fair staple for almost 20 years.
‘Heart of the carnival’
At the center of it all is the carousel.
Butler’s father originally bought the classic fair attraction in 1991 as a gift.
“As the carnival was growing, my dad wanted to give my grandma something to have the heart of the carnival,” Butler said. “And that’s the carousel.”
“It’s been my favorite ride on the midway,” he added.
The largest traveling carousel in the country, the Butler family crown jewel was recently restored earlier this year, a process that took about six months from start to finish.
Family business
When Butler’s grandfather, George Butler, returned from serving in World War II, he saw the growing popularity of fun community events.
He built his first carnival game, a basketball game, out of wood, according to his grandson.
Decades later, what is today the company of Butler Amusements has swelled to offer more than 120 rides, 80 games and 30 food stands. Generations of Butlers are directly involved in the family business.
“It’s a whole family. It’s a traveling family,” Butler said.
The vendor has operated the California State Fair carnival since 2009.
Amusement not for cheap
In recent years, the cost of each spinning, dropping, twisting and zipping ride has ballooned, Butler said.
That’s in part due to rising expenses for steel, lighting and other components of carnival attractions. Plus, tariffs have jacked the total price up even further.
When they can, Butler said, the company tries to shop domestic.
“But there’s not a lot of American manufacturers anymore for carnival rides,” he said.
Their Viva Las Vegas fun house was imported from Italy for about $700,000. The Sound Wave — where a bench of riders get spun on the end of a fast-rotating arm — came from Ohio, priced around $800,000.
Another quick-slinging, high revolving ride, the Hip Hop is new this year to the California State Fair.
That one cost $2.1 million.
Life of a carnival ride
When not in use, the rides and booths go into what Butler called their winter quarters. These storage areas are scattered in a handful of cities, from Indio in Southern California to Fairfield north of the Bay, as well as Beaverton, Oregon.
Butler Amusements operates in seven states, for about nine months of the year. At times, the midway vendor serves multiple events at once.
After the California State Fair, Butler said the equipment and employees will spreads out to six different spots.
To any concerns about the transient nature of the carnival, with rides under frequent assembling and disassembling, Butler said there are many watchful eyes whose job is to keep the midway safe.
State and independent inspectors conduct frequent checks. The company also has its own team for daily monitoring and maintenance, and ride operators fill out regular reports.
“My family rides these rides,” Butler said. “I want to make sure that it’s as safe for my family as it is for every customer.”
Savannah Kuchar is a reporter covering education. She came to Sacramento to be a part of the Abridged by PBS KVIE team and contribute to a crucial local news source.