[chron] Carnival INSIDE the Astrodome

I don' t know why, but this doesn't appeal to me at all.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/life/3994769.html

A carnival with air conditioning
Another use is found for the venerable Dome

By NATALIE TORENTINOS
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle

Watching his three children sitting inside tiny spaceships on the Star Command ride at the Reliant Astrodome served as a blast to the past for Jeff Burns, who said he hadn't stepped inside the Houston landmark for at least 20 years.

"The last time I was here it was to see David Lee Roth and all those concerts back in the '80s," said Burns, a 43-year-old Houston native. "It's a bit pricey here, but for something local, it's certainly an avenue for kids to do some stuff.

"I just go where my kids are taking me."

On Thursday, Burns and his family were taking part in what's being touted as one of the country's largest indoor carnivals, featuring games and 29 rides geared to all ages — one of the most eye-catching being "The Drop Zone," which plunges passengers 125 feet to the ground. Price of admission to the fair is $20.

Overseeing the park's assembly from the nosebleed seats was Jimmy Reed, owner and general manager of Reed Exposition Midway in Lufkin. Reed said he decided that as a Texas-based company, it was time to bring his carnival to Houston after Astroworld closed last season.

However, there were challenges to bringing such an event to town, Reed said.

An indoor park has more spacial limitations, he said, but one big advantage during the summer is air conditioning.

"At Astroworld, you would sweat your behind off all day. But it's nice and cool inside the Dome."

When asked how the carnival compared to Astroworld, attendee Bernadette Lee said: "It's not going to substitute for Astroworld because there aren't any roller coasters. This is an OK substitute, but it won't take its place."

The carnival will be open for two weeks, closing July 4. It will then head to the North Dakota State Fair, said Bob Jackson, marketing director for Spectacular Attractions: Murphy Brothers Exposition.

In business for more than 20 years, Reed Exposition travels to 17 states, where it hosts outdoor fairs in conjunction with Oklahoma-based Spectacular Attractions.

"In the carnival business, everyone knows each other," Jackson said. "Reed's just got bigger and bigger, so we had them do all the major state fairs."

Jerry Murphy, owner of Spectacular Attractions, visited Reed's carnival 12 years ago during a convention in Las Vegas.

After having pursued a career in the amusement industry since he was 18, Murphy said he liked the Reed family's work ethic and realized that he needed a younger partner to help organize events.

"The real deal at this event is that we wanted to bring Houstonians a place to go to at a reasonable price," Murphy said. "Any other park costs $30 or $40 to get in."

Brandon Lee, 14, sat nearby with his two friends sipping slushies and eating cotton candy in between rides.

After turning, spinning and flipping upside down on attractions such as the Zipper and Kamikaze, he was thankful he didn't have to battle the heat.

"We'll come back once we get jobs and we can drive," Brandon said.

 

If I'm not mistaken, those aren't the original banners. I believe those were put up there for the filming of Friday Night Lights.