Carnival & Fair News

As grounds manager for the Kit Carson County Fair in Burlington, Colorado, as well as for Kit Carson County itself, Colin Koop has taken on a unique new role: carnival operator.

Koop stepped into this role following the COVID-19 pandemic. "We are a small fair and have around 10,000 attendees every year. In 2020, we still held a fair, but the carnival didn't come. The following year, we went à la carte on rides. We brought in a Ferris wheel and bounce houses. People liked that, but it wasn't a real carnival," he explains.

By early 2024, the fair was still trying to determine which carnival it could bring in for its late summer event. "We didn't have a lot of options. The towns here are spread apart, and although we are one of the bigger fairs in our area, we're still small. Not a lot of carnivals were interested in coming. The smaller carnivals closer to us had dissipated due to the pandemic, owners retiring, and similar factors," Koop says.

As a result, Koop presented a proposal to his supervisors: the fair would purchase its own rides. He had heard of small fairs in Kansas that had done this successfully. The Kit Carson County Fair already owned one ride, a 1905 Philadelphia Toboggan carousel that was once part of Denver's Elitch Gardens amusement park.

"It's a very old carousel that simply spins. The figures don't go up and down. But it is an original creation, very different from the modern metal versions. Since we had some experience operating that ride, I did some research on licensing additional rides," Koop says.

With the assistance of Joseph Ewald, the ride inspector who has worked on the carousel, the fair began assembling its own carnival.

According to Koop, some of the rides required refurbishment, but he felt prepared. "I went to automotive school for paint and body work, and we have road and bridge workers who were a great help in getting these rides into top shape."

The rides he purchased are older models and include a Tilt-A-Whirl, a Tempest, an ADM Wrecking Ball, a kiddie swing, an Allan Herschell kiddie race car ride, and a kiddie ride originally designed as small tanks that the team converted into bulldozers. "That ride used to belong to Brown's Amusements," Koop notes. The redesign proved popular. "It fits our rural country vibe," he says. The fair also purchased a Zamperla Turtle Train, a Bulgy the Whale ride, and a Tubs of Fun attraction.

"I tried to focus on kiddie rides because they are more affordable and easier to maintain. My goal was to make the biggest impact on the community with the budget I had. I started with kiddie rides and added a couple of rides for older kids. Over time, we can grow the larger rides using revenue from the kiddie rides."

Koop believes owning the rides is cost-effective for the fair. "I bought equipment that is older but easy to work on and maintain. Whenever possible, I had the former owners bring the rides here so I could talk with them about setup and operation. I also did a lot of research online."

He describes the first year of operation as a success. The fair ran five nights of rides, covering expenses such as inspection and state fees while also generating revenue for future improvements. "We made a good enough impression on the community that this year, the Rotary Club bought us a Ferris wheel," he says.

The fair has named the 12-seat Eli wheel the Rotary Wheel. "I bought all new LED lights for it from Showmen's Supply and set them up in blue and gold with a star pattern to match Rotary colors. The Rotary Club operates it, but the fair owns it."

Ride tickets cost $1 each, with unlimited ride wristbands available for $20. The Tilt-A-Whirl, Ferris wheel, and Tempest cost three tickets per ride, while kiddie rides cost two tickets.

Admission to the fairgrounds is free, though grandstand events are ticketed. These include a PRCA rodeo and concerts featuring local talent. A Saturday night combination of rodeo and concert is priced at $20, while rodeo-only nights on Thursday and Friday are $10. The rodeo overlaps with Cheyenne Frontier Days, which helps attract strong rodeo talent to Burlington. The fair also has a robust 4-H program, with more than 200 participants in a county of approximately 7,000 residents.

Food concessions are operated by local families and restaurants, with about 20 vendors participating, a significant number for the area.

Koop notes that the fairgrounds use city power rather than generators. He distributes electricity through boxes that allow rides to be repositioned as needed.

No new rides are planned for 2026, but Koop intends to enhance existing rides with additional lighting to improve their visual appeal. The fair is also planning to add 200 seats to the rodeo arena and upgrade electrical systems. In 2027, the fair plans to introduce new rides as part of its 110th anniversary celebration.

Koop has worked with the fair since 2017. "Operating a carnival is new for me, but I grew up loving carnivals. They fascinated me as a kid, so it's always been a passion. I never thought I'd be taking care of my own rides," he says with a laugh.

The carnival operates with an all-volunteer staff, which Koop trains and schedules. He says the system has worked well.

In addition to rides, the fair offers volunteer-run games, including a ring toss, a basketball game, and a High Striker built by a county employee. "It's pretty amazing," Koop says. Prizes are primarily inflatable items such as guitars, bats, and animals. These are easy to store and cost-effective, typically purchased for $1 and used for $2 games. Koop describes the games as a strong draw for visitors who are less interested in rides.

The annual fair and carnival takes place during the last week of July and runs for five days. The fairgrounds also host additional events throughout the year. In late June, the "Back the Blue" event supports the local sheriff's office, offering free dinner and several hours of free rides in exchange for nonperishable food donations.

A fall festival is held on the first weekend in September, featuring rides and food vendors. Last year's event celebrated the 120th anniversary of the fair's carousel with free rides and cookies, drawing a strong turnout.

Across all events, Koop describes the rides as "a big hit for us."