Carnival & Fair News

As he focuses on improving and operating Family Kingdom Amusement Park in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and steps back slightly from life on the road, Les “Corky” Powers has begun passing the torch on his carnival route to the next generation at Powers Great American Midways.

“My two children, Tracy Thomas and Eddie Powers, have taken on their own roles, through their company Powers & Thomas Midway Entertainment, over the past few years,” Powers says. After he, his wife Debbie, and partner Bill Prescott purchased Family Kingdom, Powers reduced his traveling route significantly. “I turned over about two thirds of the route to them and kept only five events for myself,” he explains.



With the generational transition underway, Powers says running the amusement park feels relaxing compared with the constant travel and negotiations required by a full carnival route.

“I still send equipment to my kids for their events,” Powers says. “Stepping back has been a change, and it was a little difficult to get off the road after traveling my entire life. But my work at Family Kingdom keeps me busy, and I've kept five major carnival events for myself because I still love being on the move.”

Powers describes the new division of responsibilities as a benefit for both generations. “It's a win for all of us,” he says. “I can spend the time I need at Family Kingdom, and when the park's season winds down, I can head back out on the road.”

Among the events Powers continues to operate are the Dutchess County Fair in Rhinebeck, New York; the Gaithersburg County Fair in Gaithersburg, Maryland; and three fairs in North Carolina, including the Goldsboro County Fair, the Greenville County Fair, and the North Carolina State Fair. This schedule places Powers on the road primarily in August and September.

The North Carolina State Fair is one of the largest state fairs in the country, ranking #15 on CarnivalWarehouse.com's Top 50 Attended Fairs in North America. At four of the five events, Powers Great American Midways and Powers & Thomas Entertainment put up between 40 and 42 rides, with 13 of those coming from Family Kingdom after the park closes for the season on Labor Day. At the North Carolina State Fair, however, the midway expands to approximately 92 rides.



That larger presentation is supplemented by Wade Shows, along with a single funhouse provided by an independent operator. Powers notes that he and his family have worked with Frank Zaitshik of Wade Shows for many years. “We're somewhat limited on food concessions,” Powers explains. “Frank provides additional food trailers with a strong selection, along with games that complement our own.”

While Powers continues to enjoy the carnival business, he acknowledges that the North Carolina State Fair presents unique challenges due to its scale. “We welcome about 960,000 guests over eleven days in Raleigh,” he says. “It's a great fair with five midways, so it's massive. Wade Shows supplements our ride lineup, especially with traveling coasters that I don't operate. Working together, we create outstanding midways for a premier state fair.”

As for the Powers & Thomas route, Corky explains that his children begin their season in North Carolina before traveling up the East Coast through Virginia, Maryland, New York, and Pennsylvania. They complete a full spring route and return south after Labor Day.

Powers Great American Midways will debut a new thrill ride in 2026, the Casino from Czech manufacturer Kolmax Plus. The Casino is a re-themed Crazy Dance style ride that has recently surged in popularity over the years, following the pandemic. The show is also set to take delivery of a new thrill ride for Italian ride manufacturer Sartori called the Twin Twister. The ride can best be described as a double version of the popular Ali Baba style rides.



Among the midway's signature attractions are a Lamberink Giant Wheel, KMG's Colossus, and Flipside from Technical Park. Looking ahead to 2027, the company plans to add the Phoenix, a new thrill ride from Technical Park based on the manufacturer's Loop Fighter model. The ride will accommodate 20 riders at a time, lifting them to a height of 78 feet, and will require a minimum rider height of 55 inches.

Powers says the new balance between park operations and a limited carnival route suits him well. Maintaining five major stops allows for a more relaxed lifestyle and provides what he describes as a great mix of time on the road and time in the shop at Family Kingdom.

Powers recently received industry recognition for his and partner Bill Prescott's efforts to preserve Family Kingdom. The pair were honored with the Publisher's Pick Renaissance Award at this year's Golden Ticket Awards for their continued dedication to the industry and for saving Family Kingdom Amusement Park.