Years ago before Cal Ranch bought the parking lot next door and the buildings there was a different store here, it was Smiths grocery store and the Carnival would use the large parking lot for the yearly Carnival. Ken and I would take our daughter over there each year and go one some of the rides.
There were quite a few rides here for the kids and the adults.
We went at night a few times too. But we stopped going when Ken was asked if he needed some extra work by one of the guys who was helping to set up the Carnival. He said sure and went over to one of the small buildings and got hired to help set up all the rides.
The thing was, he saw who else got hired. A bunch of the homeless guys in the area got hired to set up the rides and most of them got told what to do and had NO supervision as they were being set up. Then to top it off, it was the homeless people in the area who were operating all the rides, taking the tickets and manning the ticket booth.
The last time Ken and I took our daughter to this Carnival we noticed that a few of the homeless guys were drinking on the job as they switched the rides on and off. That was the last straw for me and we didn't go again.
But A company bought this property they used to set up on and they moved the carnival to another location. I have no idea if they are still using local homeless people to set up and operate the rides but I wouldn't doubt it.
No doubt they were violating various safety regulations by doing that. They counted on nobody finding out and reporting them. If something looks unsafe, it's best to assume it is unsafe.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely. One of the rides there was the last ride I've ever been on too.
DeleteI can imagine how unsettling it must have been to realize the rides were being set up and run without proper oversight, especially with drinking involved.
ReplyDeleteAt least you have those earlier memories of taking your daughter when things felt safer.
Those are the ones worth holding onto. 🌟
I had no idea until then that they were unsafe.
DeleteThat is why I never get on a ride that isn't at a permanent theme park. Not even a state fair as people were killed on a ride when it came apart at my state fair one year.
ReplyDeleteI can understand that.
DeleteWhat a disappointment that such a fun place might not be safe.
ReplyDeleteThinking back on it, I'm surprised they didn't have any accidents.
DeleteThat doesn't seem the safest or the best thing to do using the homeless people, Mary.
ReplyDeleteAnyway as you say you don't know where the Carnival is held now.
Not the safest at all.
DeleteI haven’t been to a carnival in a long time. At this stage of my life I don’t think I will but wasn’t too keen on noisy crowded places anyway. I got lost at one as a five-year old and still remember how scared I was after I let go of my dad’s hand with people milling around, and grabbing some stranger’s hand. Not your dad love I heard him say. Nope, no carnivals for me, lol! The situation you described would make me very nervous.
ReplyDeleteOh I bet that was scary.
DeleteI don't like carnivals (we call them fairs in UK) Too loud, too crowded . . . I'm no fun!
ReplyDeleteI don't like them anymore either.
DeleteNice for the homeless to get a temporary job, but supervision is definitely required.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely.
DeleteScary stuff! On many levels.
ReplyDeleteYes it is.
DeleteVery scary thought that something is bound to go wrong.
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised they didn't have accidents.
DeleteWe stopped letting our kids ride carnival/fair rides because there were so many accidents happening all over the country. Now we know why!
ReplyDeleteYep, I bet this had something to do with it.
DeleteWell that scary. I guess the carnival manager thinks he can pay less under the table and to heck with safety.
ReplyDeleteThat's what I would think too.
DeleteNot really a fan of these myself. Safety is always a big concern for me!
ReplyDeleteI haven't been to one in a lot of year now.
DeleteThere are actually lots of accidents and near misses at the big theme parks too, but they have PR departments to cover them up. Personally, I wouldn’t go on any of them now except maybe a carousel…
ReplyDeleteI agree, I'm not going on them again.
DeleteYikes! I wouldn't go near those rides either!
ReplyDeleteI haven't for many years.
DeleteWow. That is a scary situation. You wonder how they'd let that happen!
ReplyDeleteNo idea. They wanted cheap help setting up and it was dangerous.
DeleteI think your husband made a sound decision.
ReplyDeleteYes he did.
DeleteAren't violations always an issue with those traveling carnivals?
ReplyDeleteProbably.
DeleteLovely photos, Mary. I saw a carnival here last week in the parking lot of a shopping mall here in Montreal. Since they were just setting up, I didn't take any photos.
ReplyDeleteThey are still around in places.
DeleteGoodness! I wouldn't go near those rides either!
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
I definitely won't now.
DeleteSo imetimes you shouldn't know how the sausages are made
ReplyDeleteHa! That's the darn truth.
DeleteGo figure. They weren't employing homeless people out of the goodness of their heart...they were simply using the least expensive manpower and leaving them to their own devices. I wonder if that happens here, too. I haven't been on a carnival in ages (I used to like them, but I don't have anyone I could go with now).
ReplyDeleteI bet it happens all the time.
DeleteI remember these as a kid, and now as an adult, I know what you mean about the operators. I never did take my daughter to one. But it's probably quieter for you now with no carnival also.
ReplyDeleteIt is quieter.
DeleteSome good memories, but yeah, I wouldn't keep going if I knew the people who were running the rides were drinking on the job. Doesn't sound safe at all!
ReplyDeleteNot safe at all.
DeleteI'm glad the homeless were getting work, but yikes. They definitely need supervision, and safety requirements need to be met. I wouldn't have gone again after that either.
ReplyDeleteSo much craziness around them.
DeleteOmg that does feel very unsafe
ReplyDeleteIt was.
DeleteWow! That's scary! 😮
ReplyDelete