Midway provider, Wheelock Rides to close, Chemung County Fair searching for new provider

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — After nearly 80 years, Wheelock Rides says it is going out of business, leaving several towns and counties searching for rides months before scheduled opening dates.

The Syracuse-based midway company is blaming the high operating costs as the reason for the closure.

There have been many small-town fairs that have taken to social media to share the news.

The Chemung County Fair posted on Facebook that Wheelock contacted the Chemung County Agricultural Society in late April to announce the closure and invalidating the county’s contract with the company.

The post said that the board has been working, “day in and day out,” and has contacted 15 ride companies nationwide to bring in rides for this year’s fair.

“While this unfortunate event is out of our control, we are doing our best to find a solution,” the fair said, “we want to thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to seeing you at the 182nd Chemung County Fair,” the post said.

On April 30, 2024, Rome Catholic School took to Facebook to give information about their school festival, to be held on May 4 and May 5. However, they stated within the post that there would be no carnival rides this year due to a last-minute cancellation by the vendor, Wheelock Rides.

They followed up in the comments days later, saying, “Unfortunately No rides this year. Our ride vendor canceled on us over the weekend. We called EVERYONE in the area and it was too late. Apparently, the ride vendor is closing his doors for good.”

Wheelock Rides has been setting up rides, games, and other amusements at field days and festivals across Central New York and the Southern Tier for decades.

“We have three generations currently working on our midways. We entered the carnival business in 1946 and have been bringing joy to many places since then. We have shows for 2-day festivals, 4-day firemen’s field days, 7-day county fairs, or anything in between,” states their website .

18 News has reached out to Corey Ward with Wheelock Rides for comment, only to receive, “I have no comment at this time,” before hanging up the phone.

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