The New York State Fair opened with a bang today–and some booms accompanied by lightning–and the Hound was on the grounds. We scouted some new stuff, but as always, there’s more that’s familiar than new.
At first look, the new Wade Shows midway seemed to be dishing out the requisite thrills with some rides not previously seen at NYSF. The Get Twisted (pictured) is a smaller, shorter version of the Top Spin, but, as the name implies, with a twist, literally.
The Crazy Mouse must have run into a wacky cat, as it wasn’t operating when we were there at midday, but it looks like a winner. When that’s running, this will be a landmark Fair for roller coaster fans as the RC-48 is much larger than anything we’ve seen before.
There were plenty of traditionally popular rides, some with different names. The games of skill were overwhelmingly familiar, so if you liked them before, you’ll still like them. It’ll take a few more looks to get a real feel for the Wades Shows midway, so more on that later.
Elsewhere, we were modestly impressed with the Discover the Dinosaurs exhibit. We counted about 20 models of realistic-looking reptiles, about half of them moving. The presentation is impressive, with artistic lighting and the sounds of roaring and growling throughout. Visitors can ride the dinos, dig for fossils, get photos, have your face painted or buy souvenirs, all requiring a fee beyond the $5 admission.
Now for the pivotal question, is it worth the price? We’ll hedge a little by advising that if you really love dinosaurs and the kids are psyched before entering, you’ll love it. If you are lukewarm to the whole trip back in time scenario, maybe not.
Nearby, the $8 entry fee for the ice museum left us cold. Footage aired on CNY Central during a report by Brandon Roth made was impressive, so we may have to bite the bullet and take a look.
As for real animals, the wolf show was clearly saved by its stars. The free presentation was a little talky, especially the first 10 minutes, which produced no wolf sightings. But when they brought the animals out, their majestic beauty and power gave the overflow crowd what it came for, with five lobos prowling the pen at one point. Overall, it was a pleasurable half-hour minutes of wolf education and advocacy punctuated by a few leaps and some playing.
Llamas were on hand for the opening of the Fair, their long necks and plush wool gracing the pig and goat barn.
Please check back tomorrow for more photos and reports on all things Fair from the State Fair Hound.
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