Asked for help cuz wrist band blew away got told "it's not our problem that's yalls problem" fucking nasty, staff rude.

I took my 9 yr old to experience the Fair and she got to understand that the Fair is not so fair and that the Carnies are more like CONnies. I put $60.00 on magic money for her. She played a dart game twice and that took $20. That's ok, that left her $40.00 She went to a fishing for a bag game and the man scanned her money bracelet then said it didn't go through and scanned it again. Well apparently, that one game cost $37.00 because after that she was left with $3.00. So Three carnival games cost $57.00?? How is that even legal?? We will never go again. read more

This is the first time I've ever been in Amarillo in September so I could go to the Tri State Fair. I looked forward to seeing it. I went on the first day and was pleasantly surprised when the lady told me the admission was $2. I don't know if that was because I was a senior, although I figured that was a factor, or if it was some sort of a first day special. Either way it gave me a little more money to spend at the fair. I have been to lots of fairs where there were three or four buildings full of vendors and lots of demonstrations to watch of various blenders, cutting tools, skin products, you name it. This one is much smaller but I still enjoyed looking around and even bought a couple of things. I went back out and walked around the Midway but before I could choose which delectable but artery-hardening Epicurean Delight I would taste, I started feeling sprinkles, then a few more, then I saw people getting up from their open tables and rushing over to the covered area. I followed them and there was such a downpour that ensued I felt like I was on Noah's Ark! Dark skies, threatening clouds, pouring rain, gushing gutter pipes, lightning and even thunder. It lasted 15 or 20 minutes I think. Finally it backed off enough to people started slowly drifting out of the covered eating area. I gingerly followed, stepping carefully through the puddles where I was able to slide a $20 bill into the token machine and get out 20 tokens to use for my food. Something I hadn't prepared for--nobody takes credit cards and nobody takes cash. It all has to be paid for with the tokens you get from the machine. So if you go to this Fair, be sure to bring sufficient cash. I heard there was an ATM machine but I didn't see it or use it so I don't know how much any fees associated with it might be. After much deliberation I decided to get the fried shark on a stick just because it was something you can't get just anywhere. It was no surprise that it was a fairly small amount of food for $10. It did not include any sides, just four chunks of fish on a stick. The chunks were fairly meaty, the flavor was reminiscent of better quality tuna. The breading was decent but it was dripping oil a bit so I had to hold it away from me. I enjoyed it. I found my way over to the Home Economics Building which didn't seem to have a lot of traffic. I enjoyed walking around looking at the collections and the handmade items which people had submitted to contests. There were a few more vendors in this building but they were mostly Home Improvement companies, Hot Tubs, siding, Windows Etc. Back outside I took another turn around the Midway and took some photos of the colorful rides then decided to track down a funnel cake. I was wishing one of my daughters was with me to help share it because they were huge. I looked all around trying to find one that was less than $7. I could have sworn I had seen a sign for $5 somewhere but it all seemed pretty conform at $7 each. I picked a trailer that said it was locally-owned and ordered one. The lady asked me if I wanted it to go and I said I was going to eat it here but could I get a to-go container because I was sure I wouldn't be able to finish it. I was only able to eat about a third of it before I got sweeted out. It was very good. (afterthought-- it was surprisingly good leftover both the day after and two days after. Naturally the texture wasn't as fresh but the flavor was still good. I expected it to be nasty the next day but I was able to eat it the next two days for breakfast.) I decided it was it was time to head home. On the way out I heard a voice and looked to my right where there was a man on a stage talking to a scattered audience with a few people seated in chairs on the stage. The first thing I thought of was hypnotist show and that turned out to be correct. I plopped down in a chair and it was interesting enough to watch to the end. I never did decide if the people were real fairgoers or plants. If they were real fairgoers they did a good job of keeping a straight face most of the time. I've seen shows like this in the past and if you go see the same hypnotist multiple times you can end up seeing some of the same people over and over and then you know at least they are staged. I left undecided over this group. I guess I would never know for sure unless I was among them and found out I had done things I wasn't aware of. Either way, it was entertaining. It was close to midnight when I got back and the next day my phone app told me I had walked two and a half miles! That was just from wandering around the fair but I guess it adds up. Would the fair have been worth $10 to me? Maybe not. $2? Absolutely. I was prepared to pay $5 senior price and it would have been worth that too. For $2 I might just go back again! read more

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So.... that was not good. I'm not the type of person to complain, or cause a scene. When this all happened, I kept my cool. However, this business is an obvious and shameless cash grab. I went to the fair celebrating a 2 year anniversary, and we had between (roughly) the hours of 2 to 5 to go to the fair. We weren't going for rides, but rather for the petting zoo and food stands, so we figured a solid 3 (or perhaps more) hours would be enough. -We had to pay 10 bucks a person to get in. We had a coupon on our phone, but the admissions counter said it needed to be printed to work. Fine, whatever. -We walk into the park, and it's silent. We go over to the petting zoo, in high heat, and wait around for 15 minutes for someone to come to the booth and let us in. No one comes. We go walking around, and come to find out that almost NOTHING is open. Almost all of the food stands are vacant, buildings are empty or locked, and card machines are off or broken. 30 minutes wasted. -We go back to the front gate to talk about this problem. There was a young teen girl and a cop. We asked why all of the stands are vacant. The teen told us (in a very condescending tone) that they were probably on break, and wouldn't be back until around 4. Dismayed, we figured 'Maybe we'll go to the mall until then'. -The girl told us that if we left, they would not let us back in. I asked if there were wristbands we could get to show we had paid. They said no. I asked, if we bought a money card, if we could use that as proof. They said that, no matter what, they would not let a paid customer back in. This is perhaps the most bluntly unprofessional and, honestly, stone age business decision that any event-manager has ever made. The woman at the admissions table should have TOLD US that nothing was open. -We stay. Nothing is available except the art museum building (thank god). Finally, ONE food stand opens (at 3:30 or so), and we are starving. It's a corn dog stand. We pay about 13 dollars for 1 corn dog, 1 cheese on a stick, and a cup of Root Beer. -The petting zoo finally opened much later in the day (after 4). The animals were cute. -I spend 12 dollars at a stand for 2 Cherry Limeades. The old woman working at the stand actually glared at me when I came up (and she literally had no line, so it wasn't rush stress). I asked with a smile, and she actually audibly huffed. She wouldn't even show me the price, she just gestured for my card. I had to lean over the counter to look at it on her screen. This was basically all of the customer service at this event, save one or two nice soul (bless you, nice bearded man driving the cart who looked vaguely like Stan Lee, you are a good dude). -After we left around 5, we went to the mall finally. The mall visit was cut short, as my girlfriend quickly realized that she had GOTTEN FOOD POISONING. Not an over exaggeration, we double and triple checked. I felt sick too. We are pretty sure it was the cheese on the stick, because I had something similar (the corn dog), but nothing exactly the same. I don't know how a fried food could have given a person food poisoning (due to the fact they fried it), which means that the servers must have not properly washed their hands, or something like that. Most of the carts had A ratings on their health inspection charts, but it still is questionable how safe the food is, clearly. I went to the fair last year, and the rides were decent. You have to pay money for them, on top of the inflated entrance fee. Trust me, I am ALL for the local businesses who do their thing at the fair. Most of the smaller people, just running their stands and trying to make a little honest money, you guys are wonderful. I also know that the prices are high because the fair takes a percentage of the revenue from the smaller, occupying stands, and I'm fine with that. The sucky thing about this all is that it is clearly a dying business. Stale crowds, reluctant staff, and constant cop surveillance show me one thing: This fair is kind of failing. They aren't dead, but they are on the edge. Here is what they need to do. -This is the 21st century, for god's sake. Get some wristbands so that people can leave and come back. Wonderland did it, and they are ancient. -Hire a competent admissions person, someone who will actually tell the customers 'Hey, all of the stands have gone on break. We usually pick up around 4'. It's a rip off to come to the fair for a short period of time and everything be closed. Either officially close, or warn customers. -Seriously, the food. Oh god. Inflated prices, and yet the quality was not good. I doubt the supplies and work force cost enough to justify 12 dollars for 2 drinks. -Realize that if no one is going to something, there isn't demand. Sorry, but most people don't touch the Rodeo aspect, nor does the stage. Most people come for the rides. If there is no demand, there should be no supply. If change does not come, I can't suggest you go. read more

I can only hope other patriotic folks read this review. The American Legion Post of Amarillo, think it's 54, had gotten a booth in the Fairfax building. They were putting on display a tabletop Wall depicting all the Military Vet Texans who had given their lives in the Middle East since 2002. That I believe was 602. The Wall is in need of renovations, and to do so would depend on donations. Otherwise it would be considerable expense to the Post, and its membership. The Post was not charged for the space. However, no parking was available for those volunteers manning the booth. Only a few. No Passes were provided for the volunteers either. They had to pay the standard admission fee while giving of their own free time. To add insult to injury the people in charge would not allow the American Legion Post to receive donations for the Wall. That was the main purpose for being there. The American Legion, a non-profit Veterans organization who has just celebrated its 100th Anniversary doing all it can for Americas Veterans. To be treated in such a manner is just plain unconscionable, and despicable. It's like the Lady said. The only donations they allow is what goes in their pocket. As for me. I served 2 1/2 tours in Vietnam, Desert Shield/Storm, total 22yrs with the Military. 30yrs wearing a badge, and a volunteer firefighter. Yeah I've served my country, my State, and community, and I will never again patronize the tri-state again. In my opinion they shouldn't even fly the American Flag let alone our State Flag. Nuff said. SINCERELY, A Patriot read more