Ferris Wheel at the Wilson County Fairgrounds (2006)

The Ferris Wheel photo was taken at the Wilson County Fair. 2021 sees the Wilson County Fair merge with the Tennessee State Fair. As someone who finds this bittersweet as I enjoyed the tradition of the state fair at the Nashville Fairgrounds, I also hope this partnership is great for all parties involved. I plan to attend and take a few more photos.

Seattle Wheel - Williamson County Fair

This is the "Seattle Wheel" Ferris wheel at the 2006 Williamson County Fair, but back for the 2017 fair. It is owned and Operated by Drew Operations, but was designed for the 1960's Seattle World's Fair. If you've ever seen video from that world's fair, you've seen one like this before. It is over 90 ft. tall.

Blurred motion: Seattle Wheel

The most colorful Ferris wheel I've seen comes to the Williamson County Fair each July.

Coffee County Fair: Downdraft Blurred Motion in the Day

The Downdraft is a ride similar to the Hurricane. Read more here:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane

To get this look in the daytime required f/22 and a strong ND filter.

Coffee County Fair: Ferris Wheel

At the 2013 Coffee County Fair, they had this traditional ferris wheel in addition to the Astro Wheel. The Midway was operated by Kissel Rides and Shows.

I photographed this ride at a couple of different times of the day at different exposure lengths. Daytime photos were generally an hour before sunset near the "golden hour" and the night shots were done close to dusk. The daytime blurred motion photos were accomplished with a small aperture and a variable ND filter which was probably set around ND16. (Besides, how often do you get to see a daytime blurred motion ferris wheel?) For my other blurred motion fair photos, look here.

2013 Coffee Co. Fair: Astro Wheel in the Day

For the photo shown here, the ferris wheel was photographed during the day, although during the "golden hour" close to an hour before sundown. For this photo, I have attached a variable neutral density filter to my camera, which explains the contrast in sky color from one side to the other (a Variable ND filter is two polarizers together, and depending on how it is set can be anywhere from an ND1 to ND64. Mine was positoned close to ND16 for this photo.) For the photos with the wheel in motion, I attempted a daytime blurred motion ferris wheel photo, which doesn't appear to have been tried very often.

In 2013, the Coffee County Fair in Manchester, TN had a midway provided by Kissel Rides and Shows. This is the text of the info marker at the Astro Wheel:
In 1967 the Astro Wheel was designed by Chance Manufacturing, and was built in their Witchita, Kansas facility in 1967. Only nine were ever made. The Astro Wheel was unpopular with Carnival owners of that era, due to the fact, the ride required multiple trailers to transport and the excessive amount of man-hours to assemble the seventy-three foot tall device. Only four are still known to be in existence.

This particular Astro Wheel is believed to be the first one ever manufactured. It was found in a closing amusement park and was headed for certain destruction. Purchased by Kissel Rides and Shows, in 1995, our Astro Wheel quickly became a Midway favorite. Although, 2004 brought about a sad change for the massive ride. The owner at that time decided to retire the machine and replace it with a smaller, more portable wheel. The unique amusement device was once again rescued when Kissel Rides and Shows was purchased in 2005. The new owners set things in motion to not only use the wheel, but to totally restore it to pristine condition.
Fast Facts:
1967 year of manufacture
73 feet tall
2 semi trailers to transport
6 men to assemble
65 kilowatts to power
750-800 passengers per hour
2009 year of renovation
6051 individual lights
153 gallons of paint
2 miles of electrical wire
6 tons of sandblast sand
$100,000
Please enjoy yourself while riding an American Classic.....
The Mighty Giant Astro Wheel

To see all my Astro Wheel photos, look here:
www.flickr.com/photos/brent_nashville/tags/astrowheel/

TN State Fair: Ferris Wheel

The 2015 Tennessee State Fair is going on now. Here is a picture of the Ferris Wheel in 2010. The Wheel was overlooking the parking lot, so I was able to look up to see it.

2013 Coffee County Fair: Ferris Wheel

At the 2013 Coffee County Fair, they had this traditional Ferris wheel in addition to the Astro Wheel. The Midway was operated by Kissel Rides and Shows.

I photographed this ride at a couple of different times of the day at different exposure lengths. Daytime photos were generally an hour before sunset near the "golden hour" and the night shots were done close to dusk. The daytime blurred motion photos were accomplished with a small aperture and a variable ND filter which was probably set around ND16. (Besides, how often do you get to see a daytime blurred motion ferris wheel?) For my other blurred motion fair photos, look here.

Coffee County Fair: Downdraft Blurred Motion at Night

County fairs will be happening all over the state soon. This photo was taken in Manchester in 2013:

The Downdraft is a ride similar to the Hurricane. Read more here:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane

In the background on the left is the Rock-O-Plane.

Ferris Wheel at Dusk

The county fair season is fast approaching. This photo of a Ferris wheel was taken at the 2007 Tennessee State Fair.

Seattle Wheel - Franklin, TN

The Williamson County Fair, one of the earliest in the state, is just about two months away.

This is the "Seattle Wheel" Ferris wheel at the 2006 Williamson County Fair. It is owned and Operated by Drew Operations, but was built for the 1960's Seattle World's Fair. If you've ever seen video from that world's fair, you've like seen this before.

2013 Coffee Co. Fair: Astro Wheel in the Day

For the photo shown here, the ferris wheel was photographed during the day, although during the "golden hour" close to an hour before sundown. For this photo, I have attached a variable neutral density filter to my camera, which explains the contrast in sky color from one side to the other (a Variable ND filter is two polarizers together, and depending on how it is set can be anywhere from an ND1 to ND64. Mine was positioned close to ND16 for this photo.) For the photos with the wheel in motion, I attempted a daytime blurred motion ferris wheel photo, which doesn't appear to have been tried very often.

In 2013, the Coffee County Fair in Manchester, TN had a midway provided by Kissel Rides and Shows. This is the text of the info marker at the Astro Wheel:
In 1967 the Astro Wheel was designed by Chance Manufacturing, and was built in their Witchita, Kansas facility in 1967. Only nine were ever made. The Astro Wheel was unpopular with Carnival owners of that era, due to the fact, the ride required multiple trailers to transport and the excessive amount of man-hours to assemble the seventy-three foot tall device. Only four are still known to be in existence.

This particular Astro Wheel is believed to be the first one ever manufactured. It was found in a closing amusement park and was headed for certain destruction. Purchased by Kissel Rides and Shows, in 1995, our Astro Wheel quickly became a Midway favorite. Although, 2004 brought about a sad change for the massive ride. The owner at that time decided to retire the machine and replace it with a smaller, more portable wheel. The unique amusement device was once again rescued when Kissel Rides and Shows was purchased in 2005. The new owners set things in motion to not only use the wheel, but to totally restore it to pristine condition.
Fast Facts:
1967 year of manufacture
73 feet tall
2 semi trailers to transport
6 men to assemble
65 kilowatts to power
750-800 passengers per hour
2009 year of renovation
6051 individual lights
153 gallons of paint
2 miles of electrical wire
6 tons of sandblast sand
$100,000
Please enjoy yourself while riding an Americal Classic.....
The Mighty Giant Astro Wheel

To see all my Astro Wheel photos, look here:
www.flickr.com/photos/brent_nashville/tags/astrowheel/

Along the Midway: 2013 Coffee County Fair

For all my other Coffee County Fair photos, look here: www.flickr.com/search/?tags=coffeecountyfair

On the right is a Ferris Wheel. On the far left is the Rock-O-Plane.

Coffee County Fair 2013: Astro Wheel at dusk

In 2013, the Coffee County Fair in Manchester, TN had a midway provided by Kissel Rides and Shows. This is the text of the info marker at the Astro Wheel:
In 1967 the Astro Wheel was designed by Chance Manufacturing, and was built in their Witchita, Kansas facility in 1967. Only nine were ever made. The Astro Wheel was unpopular with Carnival owners of that era, due to the fact, the ride required multiple trailers to transport and the excessive amount of man-hours to assemble the seventy-three foot tall device. Only four are still known to be in existence.

This particular Astro Wheel is believed to be the first one ever manufactured. It was found in a closing amusement park and was headed for certain destruction. Purchased by Kissel Rides and Shows, in 1995, our Astro Wheel quickly became a Midway favorite. Although, 2004 brought about a sad change for the massive ride. The owner at that time decided to retire the machine and replace it with a smaller, more portable wheel. The unique amusement device was once again rescued when Kissel Rides and Shows was purchased in 2005. The new owners set things in motion to not only use the wheel, but to totally restore it to pristine condition.
Fast Facts:
1967 year of manufacture
73 feet tall
2 semi trailers to transport
6 men to assemble
65 kilowatts to power
750-800 passengers per hour
2009 year of renovation
6051 individual lights
153 gallons of paint
2 miles of electrical wire
6 tons of sandblast sand
$100,000
Please enjoy yourself while riding an American Classic.....
The Mighty Giant Astro Wheel

2013 Coffee Co. Fair: Astro Wheel in the Day

For the photo shown here, the ferris wheel was photographed during the day, although during the "golden hour" close to an hour before sundown. For this photo, I have attached a variable neutral density filter to my camera, which explains the contrast in sky color from one side to the other (a Variable ND filter is two polarizers together, and depending on how it is set can be anywhere from an ND1 to ND64. Mine was positioned close to ND16 for this photo.) For the photos with the wheel in motion, I attempted a daytime blurred motion ferris wheel photo, which doesn't appear to have been tried very often.

In 2013, the Coffee County Fair in Manchester, TN had a midway provided by Kissel Rides and Shows. This is the text of the info marker at the Astro Wheel:
In 1967 the Astro Wheel was designed by Chance Manufacturing, and was built in their Witchita, Kansas facility in 1967. Only nine were ever made. The Astro Wheel was unpopular with Carnival owners of that era, due to the fact, the ride required multiple trailers to transport and the excessive amount of man-hours to assemble the seventy-three foot tall device. Only four are still known to be in existence.

This particular Astro Wheel is believed to be the first one ever manufactured. It was found in a closing amusement park and was headed for certain destruction. Purchased by Kissel Rides and Shows, in 1995, our Astro Wheel quickly became a Midway favorite. Although, 2004 brought about a sad change for the massive ride. The owner at that time decided to retire the machine and replace it with a smaller, more portable wheel. The unique amusement device was once again rescued when Kissel Rides and Shows was purchased in 2005. The new owners set things in motion to not only use the wheel, but to totally restore it to pristine condition.
Fast Facts:
1967 year of manufacture
73 feet tall
2 semi trailers to transport
6 men to assemble
65 kilowatts to power
750-800 passengers per hour
2009 year of renovation
6051 individual lights
153 gallons of paint
2 miles of electrical wire
6 tons of sandblast sand
$100,000
Please enjoy yourself while riding an American Classic.....
The Mighty Giant Astro Wheel

To see all my Astro Wheel photos, look here:
www.flickr.com/photos/brent_nashville/tags/astrowheel/

2013 Coffee Co. Fair: Spider Ride

Along the midway, the spider ride is a smaller fun thrill ride that spins people around as they bounce up and down. This is a blurred motion long exposure photo taken at dusk.

Coffee County Fair 2013: Astro Wheel at dusk

In 2013, the Coffee County Fair in Manchester, TN had a midway provided by Kissel Rides and Shows. This is the text of the info marker at the Astro Wheel:
In 1967 the Astro Wheel was designed by Chance Manufacturing, and was built in their Witchita, Kansas facility in 1967. Only nine were ever made. The Astro Wheel was unpopular with Carnival owners of that era, due to the fact, the ride required multiple trailers to transport and the excessive amount of man-hours to assemble the seventy-three foot tall device. Only four are still known to be in existence.

This particular Astro Wheel is believed to be the first one ever manufactured. It was found in a closing amusement park and was headed for certain destruction. Purchased by Kissel Rides and Shows, in 1995, our Astro Wheel quickly became a Midway favorite. Although, 2004 brought about a sad change for the massive ride. The owner at that time decided to retire the machine and replace it with a smaller, more portable wheel. The unique amusement device was once again rescued when Kissel Rides and Shows was purchased in 2005. The new owners set things in motion to not only use the wheel, but to totally restore it to pristine condition.
Fast Facts:
1967 year of manufacture
73 feet tall
2 semi trailers to transport
6 men to assemble
65 kilowatts to power
750-800 passengers per hour
2009 year of renovation
6051 individual lights
153 gallons of paint
2 miles of electrical wire
6 tons of sandblast sand
$100,000
Please enjoy yourself while riding an Americal Classic.....
The Mighty Giant Astro Wheel

Tennessee State Fair starts this weekend - The YOYO ride.

Well, actually is started yesterday and will continue on through to the following Sunday. Looks like we're going to have some great weather.

The YOYO along the midway is a modern variant to the old fashioned Tornado/Tennessee Waltz type ride, and is my wife's favorite type of ride on the midway.

Tennessee State Fair Refreshments

Fairs always have food that you usually can't find anywhere else. (which is probably a good thing. 1 Funnel cake a year should probably be my limit!) While the deep fried GooGoo Cluster is the official snack of the state fair, Soft Serve Ice Cream Cones and Lemonade cups are popular wherever you go.

Games along the midway: Tennessee State Fair

As you walk around the midway, you'll see lots of people carrying oversized stuffed animals. Personally, I'm not very good at these games of skill, like shooting hoops, or the ring toss, or picking up the glass bottle with a fishing pole. Someone has to be good at it, or nobody would have those prizes on their shoulder.



Skee Ball takes me back to my childhood, back when I was young enough to enjoy going to Chuck E. Cheese or Showbiz Pizza.



Angry Birds, the game.
Normally, real life games get converted into something you can play on your computer or smart phone. Here's a game for your phone that got converted to something you can play in real life. You get an angry bird bean bag and can slingshot it at the pigs.



For three dollars, this guy will guess your weight or can guess your age. (I'm not sure which one embarrasses me more.) If he's not within the margin of error, you win a prize! Who want's an 8x10 of Snoop Dog?

What prize do you want to win?



I have enough plush ducks around the house. I want the reggae banana!