No love for the Space Needle here. Which is too bad as first-time visitors to our fair are always blown away by the needle itself and the views from the top. This is a case of hometowners are just used to it and can no longer appreciate it. But, damn, if we can just get fill-in-the-blank-retailer. We need to appreciate and preserve what we already have.

No love for the Space Needle here. Which is too bad as first-time visitors to our fair are always blown away by the needle itself and the views from the top. This is a case of hometowners are just used to it and can no longer appreciate it. But, damn, if we can just get fill-in-the-blank-retailer. We need to appreciate and preserve what we already have.

Mike, I'm not quite sure what you're saying. I don't really get the connection between trying to get some retailer in OKC and perhaps retaining the Space Needle. Are you saying that those who want new retailers don't appreciate things that are already here and therefore aren't interested in the Space Needle? I've never heard that to be the case or that the Space Needle wasn't appreciated. There may be a few who are ambivalent but I don't think you can say that it is a consensus opinion by any means.

Mike, I think what he means is maybe there can be a business out there who will pay for the repairs to get it up and running again. Then they can name the Space Needle after them, like Devon Space Needle, or whoever. Then again, I could be wrong.

The space needle looks more like it should fit at the Cleveland County fair than the Great State Fair of OKC. If we are going to do something we should do it right. Do something that is truly inspiring and memorable.

I know this is crazy but instead of the oil derrick thing that was proposed to be built over the oklahoma river, how about placing it at the state fair in replacing of the needle!!!!

I would rather they move the needle near downtown. Heck put it in Bricktown. They would have more riders in one weekend than it gets a in year at the fair grounds.

http://www.gatlinburgspaceneedle.com/

Why don't we just apply to have a World's Fair. Then we can build iconic structures and pay for it for 20 years....but, oh what memories we would have.

I'm pretty sure the Space Needle is paid for and wouldn't cost much to remain used or unused. Of course tearing down our history is such a popular pastime in this country, why be left out in the cold?

Mike, I'm not quite sure what you're saying. I don't really get the connection between trying to get some retailer in OKC and perhaps retaining the Space Needle. Are you saying that those who want new retailers don't appreciate things that are already here and therefore aren't interested in the Space Needle? I've never heard that to be the case or that the Space Needle wasn't appreciated. There may be a few who are ambivalent but I don't think you can say that it is a consensus opinion by any means.


My point was there are certain posters who clearly don't like the Space Needle. I argued that it is simply under-appreciated and we are used to it so we fail to see the unique aspects of it. The bit about the retailers was a jab at the same posters who are constantly harping on how OKC will be better with this new retailer and that new retailer. I believe that things like the Space Needle are, in the end, far better to preserve than listen to those who don't care because their main concerns lie with which new "name" retailer is coming to OKC. Oh, and I never even suggested that anything was a consensus opinion. Sorry if I wasn't very clear, reading over that post again I can see how it wasn't very cogent.

Sell it on Ebay.

Maybe I'm mistaken, but isn't the space needle already under corporate sponsorship? I thought I remembered seeing Devon's name plastered about it in 08.

Casey, why can't the fair divert just a small fraction of what it's spent on equine facilities on this one asset that has been enjoyed by so many of those who actually live here? Why settle with it becoming art?

I'm not sure if that's a serious question because you know I obviously don't know the answer. My response would first be to wonder what a "small fraction" is and my second response is quite frankly I'm not a big fan of spending money on something that is really only used 10 days of the 365 year calendar...but that might just be me.

I just don't want it knocked down. I would love for it to be renovated and spotlit as a piece of OKC's history and tall art structure seen from the interstate. I don't think it becoming art would be just "settling" as you mentioned, Steve.

(Background on my experience with the "space" needle...I have ridden it one time and I was about 8)

Can't compare us to Texas, they have 25 million people to pay for it, Oklahoma has only 3 million, in which Tulsa also has their own fair. The fairgrounds are a dump anyways and an eyesore on that part of town. The times and economic models are different and we either have to adapt or die. This isn't 1960 folks. Devon, Project 180, OKC Thunder, Grand Prix and other more modern forms of entertainment are the showcase to our bright future. Quit living in the past, the best days for OKC are ahead!

Look at MN. That's one of the best state fairs in the country and the population isn't much more than Oklahoma (compared to Texas anyway). Anyone who has been to the MN state fair knows it's one of the best in the country.

How tall is the state fair needle?

I was told by a business what I posted and it was for an outside spot. Brian are your numbers per day or for the entire run?

I finally got ahold of someone at the fair and the rates published are for the entire run of the fair. Meaning, you can get a 10x10 booth inside for an average of $800-$1,000 total. Some vendors (food primarily) pay a percentage of sales. This matches what my friend said she is paying to sell books in the Made in Oklahoma building ($900). The booths also come with two tickets for admission per day. Personally, I don't think that rate is bad.

Per The Oklahoman, July 5, 2005, it's 330 feet tall.

Look at MN. That's one of the best state fairs in the country and the population isn't much more than Oklahoma (compared to Texas anyway). Anyone who has been to the MN state fair knows it's one of the best in the country.

Bad comparison. They have twice the population as the State of Oklahoma, and we have two fairs, the Tulsa people kind of do their own thing. Not to mention Minneapolis is sort of a regional hub. Omaha and Des Moines aren't too terribly far away. The Twin Cities also have a lot of wealth and Fortune 500 companies (corporate sponsorships) and high paying white collar jobs compared to OK.

Funny and sad, both.

http://maps.google.com/maps/place?cid=9490732984135209466&q=oklahoma+state+fair&hl=en&cd=1&cad=src:pplink&ei=7JySTMPBN4L6tQOBy-iBAg

That's just silly.

I say replace it with a massive horse manure silo or a 900ft statue of Mayor MickCheese. That or just simply replace the fairgrounds with an Express Credit Auto, David Stanely Chevrolet, the World's Largest Wal-Mart Supercenter, Old Paris Flea Market, a parking lot carnival and a Toby Keith's I Love this Deep Fried Buffet and you could have the fair 365 days a year.

Actually, living in Dallas the State Fair of Texas is not that great either. Food is lacking, no carnival atmosphere, fewer exhibitions. The grounds are kept nice and clean with it's Art Deco buildings however, in my opinion it is not much better than the State Fair of Oklahoma.That will sure be bad if the Texas State Fair ever does away with America's tallest Ferris wheel. What an icon.

I went yesterday evening and had a great time (my first OK State Fair ever--just moved here last year). The place was clean (I know surprising), the people were friendly, the food was good. Better than any fair I went to in Florida while I was living there.

I went yesterday evening and had a great time (my first OK State Fair ever--just moved here last year). The place was clean (I know surprising), the people were friendly, the food was good. Better than any fair I went to in Florida while I was living there.

Glad to hear that. My memories of going to the fair back in the 80s/90s was of the icons people talk about. However, as time progressed they began to look worse. I for one am glad the state fair has a vision to improve the fairgrounds with new facilities. Even if its a bunch of barnyard facilities. I hope the entire fairgrounds is redone. Personally, I could care less about a space needle that resembles another city I don't care for. Why not have our own icons for people to talk about? This is why the giant oil derick would be great.

If people could take trips to the top of the derick for observations, it would be a sight to see across all of OKC.

You mean like the giant derrick that is a Six Flags over Texas icon? Not trying to give you a hard time (and I'm not opposed to the idea) but it is hard to come up with new things. Not to far from the "Seattle" space needle is the "St Louis" arch. Bricktown canal = San Antonio Riverwalk etc etc.

A few years ago, Skip Wegner was brought in by the Fair Board to "reinvent" it. In so doing, he destroyed our State Fair by trying to remake it in the image of the State Fair of Texas. Everything enjoyable, pleasant, unique, and distinctive about our fair has been ripped out and torn to shreds so we can have more "premium" parking and higher tickets with fewer eating choices, with traditional vendors forced out. He tore out the cannas that used to line the streets, concreted up the fountains, and shredded the Made in Oklahoma building with this Disney-On-Acid nightmare called "Agtropolis."

I know our fair wasn't perfect; some upgrades and maintenance have desperately been needed, some of which have been implemented. But under that banner, we've thrown the baby out with the bathwater.

I remember to this day someone in city gov't saying the Fair needed to shed its "funnel cakes and corn dog" image, which infuriates me still to this day. For Heaven's sake, they added a stinking Tea Room to the fair a few years ago, which was a flaming disaster (and fortunately, to my knowledge, wasn't repeated). Fairs are about showcasing works of a state and its people. I have no idea what the guys running it now are trying to do.

With the shutdown of the space needle this year, they've finally worn me out. I'm done with the fair. Whomever is running the fair can plow it down and put up whatever elitist crap they have designed for it.

I remember to this day someone in city gov't saying the Fair needed to shed its "funnel cakes and corn dog" image, which infuriates me still to this day.

wow, did they really say that? I guess I'm still amazed at how out-of-touch our city leaders are with the population...

Agree with you completely though.. The State Fair has been getting worse over the last decade.. I've never really felt compelled to go... The various outskirt city mini-fairs are usually much more fun in my opinion....

A few years ago, Skip Wegner was brought in by the Fair Board to "reinvent" it. In so doing, he destroyed our State Fair by trying to remake it in the image of the State Fair of Texas. Everything enjoyable, pleasant, unique, and distinctive about our fair has been ripped out and torn to shreds so we can have more "premium" parking and higher tickets with fewer eating choices, with traditional vendors forced out.


I remember to this day someone in city gov't saying the Fair needed to shed its "funnel cakes and corn dog" image, which infuriates me still to this day.

That "reinvention" was nothing more than a corporatization of the fair. Fair sponsors, fair vendors, fair food, fair everything. Gone are the unique "Oklahoma" vendors and places that really made the fair shine.

I used to be involved in a women's service group that operated a food booth at the fair. Our organization had been there since 1954 and our booth was manned wholly by volunteers. No one was paid for working there. People came far and wide just to have our sandwiches, and the proceeds from the sale of those sandwiches supported our club's operating costs for the year. Madalynn Norick was one of the members who started our group's being at the fair in the 1950s.

When Mr. Wegner came on board, he doubled our rent prices, wanted to charge more per cup of soda or beer sold (we had to pay the fair for each cup we sold),
and cut off even our minimal free vendor parking access. When we added up the numbers, not only did we realize we'd make less than usual, but that we'd barely break even, if that.

We were not only non-profit organization to fall into that trap. Even after petitioning to Clay Bennett and the Fair Board, they told us we either had to pay up, or close shop. We had no choice but opt for the latter.

I remember going back the year after our group stopped operating, and how saddened I was to see that most of the booths were national or chain "corporate" interests - Pizza Hut, etc. I haven't been back since and will likely never set foot there again. The grounds may be improved, but the products offered to the public certainly have not.

I do miss the car races. I went to and even worked for the track for a few years. Just my opinion on everything else. I haven't been on the monorail, tower or rodeo since the 60s so I don't miss them. I do feel for those who do. For me the food, buildings and people watching as as good as ever. We went last Saturday and spent 8 hours. We had our usual very good time.

I like some of the changes to the fair. I like the Wade midway company better than Link Shows that used to run the midway. The rides look newer, cleaner, and safer. The fair is much more secure than it used to be because of the increased law enforcement presence and visibility.

I agree with Fritter Girl about the lack of local venders and nonprofit organization booths. That is one of the things I have noticed over the years that has seemed to change. I am sure Fritter Girl was referring to the Junior Hospitality submarine booth that was a mainstay at the fair for years. I used to like the ham sandwiches either the FOP or the Firefighters union (I do not remember who sponsored the booth) sold. The Putnam City Christian Church Cafeteria is gone.

The comments some have made about the Made in Oklahoma building and Agtropolis are interesting. I used to like to go into that building and see the Oklahoma based businesses in one building. Now they are spread out among different buildings. I wish they could have found another space for Agtropolis.

Change is good, but it seems the fair is eliminating a lot of things and not replacing them with something new and better except new horse barns. I have been to the fair twice this year and will probably go again because I love eating the overpriced food, walking around, and seeing old friends and acquaintances I have not seen in a long time. I like the Oklahoma State Fair because it is not the same as the Texas State Fair which is nice, but I do not like the generic look of the outside food booths, the other food booths stuck in one building, and the use of most of the building space for new cars.

Bigray in Ok

Does anyone remember an anti-drug exhibit from around 1970...it was a trailer that had a catwalk along the side to look in through the windows at a man who had abused drugs (so they said anyway--amphetamines, as I recall) and because of it--his body was like silly putty and he was spread out all over the bed he was laying in...it was shocking and very strange. It was more intense than any freak show they ever showed at the Fair...and this was a sort-of "public service" exhibit...

I had this blog post come in an email from Architect Magazine today. It is about the "changes" to Atlantic City and how the "corporatization" has profoundly changed what made the Boardwalk there The Boardwalk.

Architect - Beyond Buildings: The Evil of Banality (http://www.architectmagazine.com/blogs/postdetails.aspx?BlogId=beyondbuildingsblog&postId=97587)

That will sure be bad if the Texas State Fair ever does away with America's tallest Ferris wheel. What an icon.

Not really an icon, just an icon of their state fair. It's no St. Louis Arch, London Eye, or Seattle Space Needle. Not to mention when the Pepsi Globe in New Jersey at the 2 BILLION dollar Meadowlands Xanadu mega-mall is finished later this year, it will no longer be the tallest in the U.S.

Went to the fair today and was really disappointed. I felt like I was at a giant crappy, crowded, flea market. Nothing good to say about it. Nothing that made the fair good was left. No giveaways. Few exhibits. It seemed like there was only junky stuff for sale. The food wasn't even good. I can go to any free festival (i.e. arts festival, 4th of July, etc) and get the same food or better. No point in going anymore. Cost too much (a coke was $6). A lot of paid parking - free parking got moved further out. Not many animals. I guess there are fewer FFA kids, no more family farms). No monorail. No space needle. I don't think anyone has been putting much $$ into it anymore:( Too corporate. Not many local businesses or nonprofits.What's the purpose of the fair anymore?

This "fair" is taking in all this money, and there's not much to it. They have closed down all the rides that an elderly could ride. You just watch, that space needle wont ever run again, but they will leave it up cause it will cost them money to tear it down. The monorail looks stupid just sitting there not doing anything.
I came with a good cheerful attidude, trying to find all the good! But I did not find anything to give it, but a D-, if not an F.
This is really embarrassing for Oklahoma City. Its too bad people in the country, look forward to the Fair all year, and then come to the city, just for this boring, crummy fair.

The Oklahoma State Fair has become a joke compared to other state fairs.

Yep. The Oklahoma State Fair is absolutely terrible. Nearly all the landmarks are gone. And the fun too.

The tragic waste of the Grandstand was the capper for me. I'll not be returning to Fair Park until the current "regime" is gone and they've restored some of the traditions (will never happen).

It's so obvious when 'intrests' or whatever come to OKCTalk... the last three posters have less than 5 posts each.

Participate or leave.

It's so obvious when 'intrests' or whatever come to OKCTalk... the last three posters have less than 5 posts each.

Participate or leave.

What's the acceptable number of posts needed in order to voice one's opinion?

I mean, you're in charge, right?

I'd just like to know which posters I'm allowed to be a douche to since they're too new to actually count...

So I got irritated... I just looked through your posts... the majority are cranky, snarky, and sarcastic.

So I got irritated... I just looked through your posts... the majority are cranky, snarky, and sarcastic.

your opinion is obviously meaningless since you have less than 900 posts..

It was a fact... that you just proved.

It's so obvious when 'intrests' or whatever come to OKCTalk... the last three posters have less than 5 posts each.

Participate or leave.
You wish you ran this forum, dont you.

It's so obvious when 'intrests' or whatever come to OKCTalk... the last three posters have less than 5 posts each. The user name "Boycott OklaStateFair" might be an indication of a specific bias.

A few years ago, Skip Wegner was brought in by the Fair Board to "reinvent" it. In so doing, he destroyed our State Fair by trying to remake it in the image of the State Fair of Texas. Everything enjoyable, pleasant, unique, and distinctive about our fair has been ripped out and torn to shreds so we can have more "premium" parking and higher tickets with fewer eating choices, with traditional vendors forced out. He tore out the cannas that used to line the streets, concreted up the fountains, and shredded the Made in Oklahoma building with this Disney-On-Acid nightmare called "Agtropolis."

I know our fair wasn't perfect; some upgrades and maintenance have desperately been needed, some of which have been implemented. But under that banner, we've thrown the baby out with the bathwater.

I remember to this day someone in city gov't saying the Fair needed to shed its "funnel cakes and corn dog" image, which infuriates me still to this day. For Heaven's sake, they added a stinking Tea Room to the fair a few years ago, which was a flaming disaster (and fortunately, to my knowledge, wasn't repeated). Fairs are about showcasing works of a state and its people. I have no idea what the guys running it now are trying to do.

With the shutdown of the space needle this year, they've finally worn me out. I'm done with the fair. Whomever is running the fair can plow it down and put up whatever elitist crap they have designed for it.

This was the first post in this thread that I really agreed with. And I appreciate Frittergirl's comment a couple of posts below Soonerdaves as well.

I moved here in September of 2004 and attended the OK state Fair for the first time. I enjoyed it a lot. I went back every year for a little bit and generally looked forward to it. Somewhere along the line it began changing and I assume this is when it was "reinvented" by suits.

I have one specific example. There was a food vendor who sold delicious catfish run by a really sweet old black lady. I remember seeing her the first year in 04 and then maybe one or two years after that. But Last year I went and she was gone. This shocked me. I really enjoyed walking around the entire fairgrounds and scouting out which place to spend my precious money on. I don't have a lot to spend. Last year it was nothing but the same. Every 50-100 yards or so the same corn dog stand, same funnel cake vendor, etc and it all seemed to be run by one company. A couple of the old favorites were still there like the place that sells the mini jugs of root beer and the indian taco stands but even they had a generic feel about them. None of the food places had a genuine and independent feel to them. And this one example of the missed catfish house represents countless unique fair food vendors. I can't remember them all but then that's what happens when something disappears without any warning. It's a real shame.

I contemplated going this year but knew that none of the vendors I missed would probably ever be back. I suppose I didn't really miss anything this year.

Even the people watching seemed less interesting last year. I suppose if you "make it safer and cleaner for the kids" you end up taking a lot of the real grit and authenticity out of life. Seems bittersweet indeed.



I loved this article you linked to as well bluedogok. My sentiments exactly I suppose.


I had this blog post come in an email from Architect Magazine today. It is about the "changes" to Atlantic City and how the "corporatization" has profoundly changed what made the Boardwalk there The Boardwalk.

Architect - Beyond Buildings: The Evil of Banality (http://www.architectmagazine.com/blogs/postdetails.aspx?BlogId=beyondbuildingsblog&postId=97587)

How many times has the State Fair Board promise better parking? Each year, the muddy fields are used and have to walk two miles to the gate. I didn't go to the State Fair this year because after seeing it once - it's the same thing each time. The Space Needle won't be repaired anytime soon. It will sit silently and motionless like the monorail as a reminder of our failure to fix things.

Back in the 80s, the Midway was a wild and crazy spot. Freakshows and cheap thrills. Exhibits were exciting too. All of that is gone. It's dull and uninspiring.

Not sure which thread to resurrect for the state fair, so I figured this one would work.

I went today with the family after work. Ate some overpriced food, checked out a few cars at the auto show, looked at some animals, and my daughter played a few games.

Overall score was lame. The food options were not good as every other stand sold turkey legs, corn dogs, or funnel cake. Most of the exhibits are people trying to sell you stuff. I will go back in another four years to remind myself why I shouldn’t go.

A big however, I do appreciate the true purpose of the state fair, which is agriculture competitions. In my opinion, the fair would be better if these competitions were a greater focus.

Wbhat is sad is the State Fair of Texas has all those things. It hasvthe same food but there are places you can get independent food. Fletchers Corny Dogs are a tradition there. Outside the fair l cant tell you where you can get one and l lived there 13 years. They have entire buildings full of local vendors but they still have the agri -contests and cooking contests of small fairs.

The OK State fair used to have a lot of these things but no more. It needs totally new management and a new direction but BACK to basics.

It's because they sold it to the horses. The carnival is just an after-thought. I bet if they could get away with it, the current leaders would not have the actual fair any more.

Convinced myself to give it a try after not going for several years. I was hoping for better. The Oklahoma state fair is a JOKE. Texas and Kansas state fairs make Oklahoma's an embarrassment.

To expand on my earlier comment.

A county or state fair is about showcasing the agriculture part of the state. Me as a city slicker enjoy seeing this and appreciating raising crops and animals for farming. I am sure many have the same feelings of going to check out what the rural folks are doing and their lifestyle. Kids love this stuff too....seeing the animals, watching a rodeo and stuff like that.

At this point the fair would be better off in a more rural location and not so city like. It think it would still attract a good group of people and bring back the true purpose of a state fair.

Wbhat is sad is the State Fair of Texas has all those things. It hasvthe same food but there are places you can get independent food. Fletchers Corny Dogs are a tradition there. Outside the fair l cant tell you where you can get one and l lived there 13 years. They have entire buildings full of local vendors but they still have the agri -contests and cooking contests of small fairs.

The OK State fair used to have a lot of these things but no more. It needs totally new management and a new direction but BACK to basics.

the Oklahoma State fair still has cooking/ baking and creative arts contests. the problem is they don't showcase them so most people don't ever see or walk through those building. I think that needs to change and less focus on selling windows and hot tubs..

the Oklahoma State fair still has cooking/ baking and creative arts contests. the problem is they don't showcase them so most people don't ever see or walk through those building. I think that needs to change and less focus on selling windows and hot tubs..

Cannot agree more. We stopped going about 5 years ago because we didn't need 32 mattress demos, 10 knife sharpenings, and too many window replacements.

I went this past Friday and agree that it's still just not as great as it used to be. I don't ride any rides and my kids are old enough to go with their friends so it was just my wife and I.

The food was same as always, with a few new things. I enjoyed a cheese curd taco. My favorite food stop is the Bacon Habit. Always good stuff to be found there.

It was pleasantly uncrowded - at least it seemed that way to me. Navigating the buildings was a breeze - none of the shoulder-to-shoulder shuffling I've experienced in the past. The buildings were generally lackluster with one building having a pickle ball court in it with a lot of kid-centric activity stations. Some board games as well. The car show seemed very small, featuring large Ford, Chevrolet and Toyota sections and small Volkswagen and Honda sections. A good-sized putt-putt course filled in the remaining space.

The gigantic "new" building featured all the usual Windows/Hot Tubs/Pots & Pans/Mattress sales booths. My favorite stops were the Made-In-Oklahoma section and the wine-tasting section.

That was about the extent of our visit. We left a bit early as we were kind of bored.

The cheese curd tacos were pretty legit.

It's turned into an oversized Flea Market.

It's turned into an oversized Flea Market.

Without the used or reasonable crafty prices. In fact everything at the fair is retail price PLUS.

Its the snackoil salesman/saleswoman convention.A bunch of crap you don't need or can find a cheaper alternative at Walmart, Target or Amazon.

I was surprised to learn that the Colorado State Fair is based in Pueblo. Maybe Oklahoma State Fair would be better served in Stillwater, or Shawnee. I agree that state fairs were supposed to be about agriculture, livestock, home ec, etc. Upgrades in jacuzzi line not really the reason for a state Fair.

There was a time when over half the US population lived in rural areas and half the US work force was tied to agriculture. Livestock shows and farm equipment were once a big deal at the fair. Remember the 4H and FFA buildings and dormitories that used to be at the fairgrounds? .... Now long gone.