TERRE HAUTE —
The sizzle of fresh elephant ears, windows brimming with fluffy colorful cotton candy and the aroma of stromboli are sure signs that an award-winning amusement company has come to town.
Luehrs’ Ideal Rides is returning for the 36th year to provide family fun at the annual Banks of the Wabash Festival, kicking off today in Terre Haute’s Fairbanks Park.
Wednesday saw the carnival operation go through a round of state inspections in preparation for the 11-day stay.
“It’s like walking around a car before you get in and kicking the tires,” said Chris Atkins, a member of the Luehrs’ management team and himself a certified ride inspector.
All of the rides are inspected by the state inspectors according to the manufacturers’ specifications, and the rides also undergo daily maintenance and inspections by the Luehrs staff.
“There are certain things with experience that you learn to look for. Pins, keys, blocking, braking, electrical systems,” said Atkins during the examination of the merry-go-round.
This festival is the first Indiana engagement of the season for the Belleville, Ill.-based company, so a state inspection is required.
The carnival rides range from the mild-for-child merry-go-round to the tummy-tossing Pharoah’s Fury and action-packed Himalaya and Storm rides, both teen favorites.
“Everyone can find a ride to enjoy, from the smallest child to teens, adults and grandparents taking their granchildren along,” said Luehrs’ president Andy Schoendienst, who noted that the Beach Party fun house and the children’s Wiggle Worm are this year’s new attractions.
Schoendienst, who is the nephew of St. Louis Cardinals’ baseball legend Red Schoendienst, is proud of the family-run operation. He married Lorelei Luehrs, daughter of company founder Hub Luehrs. Along with Lorelei’s sister Jean Clair and her husband Joe, they are the third generation to own the company, purchasing it in 1996.
Luehrs’ Ideal Rides employs 80 to 100 people who are pre-employment drug-tested, undergo criminal background checks, undergo training and wear uniforms. The company operates as a big family, Schoendienst said, and their dedication has earned them multiple Circle of Excellence Awards from the Outdoor Amusement Business Association.
The top quality of the business is recognized and appreciated by the communities that hire Luehrs’, Schoendienst said.
“It’s not just the rides. It’s the people running the rides. The City of Terre Haute sees that,” he said.
While the public can appreciate the clean carnival atmosphere, what many people enjoy most are the carnival foods.
“The big thing everybody wants is the elephant ears with different toppings,” Schoendienst said, laughing.
While seasonal novelties such as deep-fried Twinkies come and go, most people expect to find the standard fare of popcorn, cotton candy, lemon shake-ups and hot dogs.
“We have a little bit of everything as far as carnival-type foods,” he said.
And they have plenty of elephant ears to sell, with extra cinnamon sugar, of course.
Carnival rides open at 6 p.m. today for “Bargain Night,” as all rides take only one ticket. Tickets cost $1.50 each, or 16 for $20.
Lisa Trigg can be reached at (812) 231-4254 or lisa.trigg@tribstar.com.
Top Story 2
Related Photos
-
Man in the mirror: Chris Atkins is reflected in the mirror as he and Fred Whitaker go through their annual Indiana state inspection process Wednesday morning.
-
Leuhrs' signage: Detail photo of the Luehrs' logo.
-
Luehrs' Ideal Rides: Detail photo of colorful characters on one of the Luehrs' rides.
-
Walking tour: Luehrs' Ideal Rides owner Andy Schoendienst and his son Andrew walk the grounds of Fairbanks Park on Wednesday afternoon checking the progress of ride set-up. `
Discussion
Banks of the Wabash Festival kicks off today in Fairbanks Park
Event is first Hoosier engagement of season for Luehrs’ Ideal Rides
- Top Story 2
-
-
Clay City woman injured in I-70 accident
A Tuesday afternoon crash on Interstate 70 near the Brazil exit sent a Clay City woman to the hospital and blocked east- and westbound traffic for more than an hour.
-
UPDATE: Suspect arrested in Dugger shootings
Indiana State Police have arrested the alleged shooter in the early Sunday shootings of Patrick D. Ruff and LeighAnn Lovelace at Dugger.
-
Monkees singer Davy Jones dies in Florida at 66
Davy Jones, the lead singer of the 1960s group The Monkees, died of a massive heart attack today in Florida, his spokeswoman said. He was 66.
-
FULL STORY: ISU administrator faces charge of soliciting sex
Brian Hasler, special assistant to Indiana State University’s president, was arrested Wednesday in Indianapolis for allegedly offering to pay an undercover police officer for sex acts, according to Marion County court documents.
-
BREAKING: John Gregg makes campaign for Governor official
John Gregg, who this past May formed an exploratory committee to run for governor of Indiana, filed paperwork with the state today to change his committee to an official statewide campaign for governor, states today’s Gregg for Indiana email release.
-
VIDEO: Storm takes out power in Vigo County, downs trees in Collett Park area
Power remained out this morning to 9,343 customers of Duke Energy in Vigo County following Wednesday night’s powerful storms that swept through west central Indiana.
-
Fundraisers hope to make strides against cystic fibrosis (See VIDEO)
A rain shower may have dampened their clothes, but it couldn’t diminish the enthusiasm of this year’s participants in the Wabash Valley Great Strides Walk, which had its best turnout ever.
-
NEW: Potential foe Daniels greets Obama on Indiana arrival
President Barack Obama has arrived in Indianapolis, where Gov. Mitch Daniels was among those meeting him at the airport.
-
UPDATE: Bin Laden’s death brings joy, reflection
After nearly a decade of anger and fear, America rejoiced Monday at the demise of Osama bin Laden, the terror mastermind behind the horrific 9/11 attacks.
-
Americans gather joyfully to mark Osama bin Laden's death
Joyous at the release of a decade’s frustration, Americans streamed to the site of the World Trade Center, the gates of the White House and smaller but no less jubilant gatherings across the nation to celebrate the death of Osama bin Laden — cheering, waving flags and belting the national anthem.
-
Trio caught on video robbing convenience store
Police are seeking three suspects in an early Tuesday armed robbery at the Express Mini Mart in the 1800 block of North Third Street at Maiden Lane.
-
PHOTO UPDATE: Contractor arrested for home improvement fraud
A contractor who received more than $80,000 in grant money to do home repairs for seven clients affected by the June 2008 flooding in the Wabash Valley has been arrested for home improvement fraud.
-
Sullivan teams compete to 'Lighten Up'
Icy roads might not seem conducive to exercise, but Sullivan County organizers plan to put the heat on couch potatoes this spring. “We started advertising last week,” Carly LeDune, director of the Sullivan County Community Hospital Fitness Center, said Thursday afternoon.
-
Vigo's 3-level warning system debuts in storm
Vigo County motorists for the first time were introduced to emergency weather travel warnings during this week’s ice storm.
-
After crushing loss, MSU coach praises Miles’ Sycamores
Missouri State football coach Terry Allen was crestfallen.
-
State parks use marketing campaign to combat bug
State parks officials looking for creative ways to counter budget cuts have partnered with a national marketing campaign to replace trees lost to a tiny but destructive insect.
-
Hundreds turn out to support new ISU coach
Greg Lansing has been on Indiana State’s men’s basketball staff for nine years over two stints and has waited three years for the opportunity to be the head coach of the program after he was a finalist for the same position in 2007.
-
For ‘family reasons’: Indiana State made effort to keep coach, but McKenna decided to leave
When Kevin McKenna was mulling a decision to leave the head coach position at Indiana State to take an assistant coach position at the University of Oregon late last week, ISU Director of Athletics Ron Prettyman was at ... the University of Oregon.
-
52 slicked-up rides journey to Sullivan for the 2nd annual Southern Indiana Vintage Camper Rally
The stereo was playing Jimmy Buffett on a smoldering Sunday afternoon, with pink flamingos in the grass and Glen Houser rocking the 1976 Fairstream Argosy.
-
American Red Cross Wabash Valley Chapter unveils Hero’s Tree mural
A yellow ribbon tied around an old oak tree marks the focal point of a new Hero’s Tree mural honoring military veterans and family members on a wall at the American Red Cross Wabash Valley Chapter.
-
81st Vigo County Fair to feature truck and tractor pull, game shows
The action is heating up already at the Wabash Valley Fairgrounds, as planning is under way for the 81st annual fair.
-
Historic Collett Park Pathway on schedule for end of the year
Completion of the Historic Collett Park Pathway is on schedule for the end of this year, with design of a concrete path around a 17-acre lake under way, and is expected to be bid out for construction by the end of July, Terre Haute officials said Wednesday.
-
TH tops Quincy: Tale of tape doesn’t tell winning story for Rex
The Terre Haute Rex game-winning hit on Tuesday against the Quincy Gems might have been the first tale of the tape where there was more tape inside the tape measure than there was on the field itself.
-
Vigo man killed in accident
A Vigo County man was killed late Monday afternoon in a traffic accident on Indiana 46 near the eastside Walmart store
-
Downtown marketplace packed for opening day of Farmers Market
Summer’s bounty had parking lots overflowing Saturday morning, as the Farmers Market opened to a roaring start.
-
Rex bats come alive for franchise’s first victory
After the Terre Haute Rex struggled at the plate in their inaugural game against Springfield on Thursday, many of the Rex players said they were having trouble adjusting to wooden bats after using aluminum during their collegiate seasons.
-
Downpour doesn’t dampen fans’ enthusiasm for Rex debut
If baseball players are superstitious, then the Terre Haute Rex couldn’t ask for a better omen than the rainbow spread across 1,300 fans at their inaugural game.
-
Brazil police chief resigns, returns to patrol ranks
The police chief for the Brazil Police Department has abruptly stepped down to rejoin the regular patrol ranks of the department.
-
Gone but not forgotten: When it comes to rural cemeteries, families and trustees who care seem to make all the difference
Keith Childress dipped his handbrush into a bucket of water, scrubbing Kyle’s headstone clean.
“I have to clean some stuff up before I can do anything else,” he said just before noon Sunday. Inside the Durham Cemetery on Indiana 63, U.S. flags lined the markers of veterans along a well-groomed lawn. -
Senior class president: It’s an ‘honor and a privilege’ to graduate from Rose
It was standing-room only in the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology’s Sports and Recreation Center, as the largest class in school history marched into alumni status before family and friends.
- More Top Story 2 Headlines
-
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Dragon Arrives at Space Station in Historic 1st
Astronauts Enter World's 1st Private Supply Ship
Passenger Restrained on Flight to Miami Arrested
Police: Gunman Has Hostages in Realty Office
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Beer Here!: An Historic Exhibit
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
Texan Ranchers Remain Wary of Drought
Sudden Storm Topples Wisconsin Trees
Vegas Grocer Deported to Face War Crimes Charges
FAMU Bandmates: Victim Volunteered to Be Hazed
Raw Video: SpaceX Capsule's Docking Delayed
Raw Video: Soldiers Plant Flags at Arlington
Colorado College Student Shot While Trespassing
Will Smith & Josh Brolin on "Men in Black 3"
80-Year-Old Skydiver's Nightmare Jump
JWoww Sizzles in a Black Bikini
Sliders on the Grill
Cruise ship crunch
Backstage With Beyonce
Ultimate Creamy Potato Salad
Pope's Personal Butler Under Arrest
Jenny McCarthy's New Man
Tyler's Classic Coleslaw
Britney Spears Under X Factor Fire
Flesh-Eating Bacteria Victim Hits Milestone
Hurricanes and Heat Waves Across America
Kristen Stewart Is Red Hot
Shark Attacks Australian Fishing Boat
Bradley out for playoffs
Kayaker Survives Trip Over Washington Waterfall
Alison Brie Likes To Jog Naked
