Carnival & Fair News

David Larkee and his wife, Kim, have announced their retirement from the carnival business and the sale of most of the equipment from Sheridan Amusements, the company they owned after decades of involvement in his family's Tip Top Shows. Sheridan Amusements primarily played dates throughout Wisconsin, while also traveling south during the winter months.

Stepping away from the carnival life he grew up in was bittersweet, Larkee says. “We were just ready to call it quits. It was getting harder for both of us, and it was increasingly difficult to find help. My grandchildren do help in the business, but they're too young to take it over. We felt it was the right time to step away.”
Larkee's roots in the carnival industry run deep. “I was part of Tip Top Shows since I was a kid,” he says. “My grandfather owned it, and as a concessions business with food stands, it goes back to before the 1930s. The carnival itself started in 1946.”



Now 70 years old, Larkee has spent nearly his entire life in the business, with the exception of a brief period from 1989 to 1992, when he left the road to earn a college degree in accounting. He soon found the work unfulfilling and returned to the industry as a manager for Tip Top Shows.

Following his grandfather's passing, Tip Top was operated by Larkee's father, Charles, along with uncles Ed, Paul, and Allan. The youngest brother, Allan, was the last to run the show. After the family operation wound down, Larkee had the opportunity to purchase some of the equipment.

“My dad and uncles kept the show going,” Larkee explains. “When the youngest brother passed, I was able to buy some of the equipment. I named the company Sheridan Amusements because I already owned a small independent business with the Sheridan name.”

Sheridan Amusements officially began operations in 2017. For several years, the show maintained a long season, traveling through Georgia, Florida, and Alabama during the winter months before returning to Wisconsin by late May. “We stayed out until after Labor Day, then headed south again,” Larkee says. “We worked 30 to 35 stops in Wisconsin alone, and probably double that including the southern dates. We worked that much just to make ends meet.”

In 2023, after catching up financially, the Larkees decided to stop traveling south and operate exclusively in Wisconsin from May through mid-September. The most recent season marked their final year on the road. “We knew at the start of the season that it would be our last,” Larkee says. “Now we're just going to enjoy life.”
Among Larkee's favorite events over the years was his hometown Waupaca County Fair. He also enjoyed working with Amusements of America in the southern states where his cousin Joe Frankowski served as the southern unit manager. The partnership included both large fairs and small church events around the Miami area.
As part of his retirement, Larkee sold 14 of his 18 rides through UsedRides.com. The equipment included major attractions such as an Ali Baba, a Zipper, a Watkins Swinger, and a Luna Park gondola wheel.

Despite operating thrill rides, Larkee says the most popular attractions were always the classics. “If you saved the ride tickets and weighed them, the top three were always the Ferris wheel, the Merry-Go-Round, and the Tilt-A-Whirl,” he says. “The traditional rides consistently outperformed the newer, more spectacular ones. I never wanted to run a fair without those three. Every show needs them more than anything else.”



According to Larkee, the appeal is simple. “They're great family rides. Grandma and Grandpa, teens, and kids all enjoy them, and that's why they do so well.”
In addition to rides, Sheridan Amusements operated several food concessions, including a sweets trailer offering candy apples, caramel corn, popcorn, and cotton candy. Other trailers featured corn dogs, funnel cakes, and deep-fried desserts such as Oreos. As with the rides, traditional items proved to be the strongest sellers. “Classic food sells really well,” Larkee says.

The company also booked midway games rather than owning them outright.

Looking ahead, Larkee says retirement will be focused on family and travel. “I don't have plans to consult,” he says. “We've talked about possibly doing a food truck with one of our granddaughters, but we also want to travel. We plan to visit my wife's family in Maine and see as many national parks as we can. We don't want to be too tied down.”

Reflecting on his career, Larkee says the people were what mattered most. “Working with people made me happy. I loved seeing kids and families enjoy the carnival and knowing we were providing something special.”

He adds, “I still love the business. It's the greatest business there is, and I wish everyone in the industry the very best. I'm proud to have been a part of it.”