Sonoma County Fair’s top carnival rides: A review

The Sonoma County Fair opened Thursday, and just over the first weekend organizers expect at least 50,000 people to pour through its gates. With this year's fair also comes a new operator for the carnival. The fair's usual contractor, Helm & Sons Amusements, was unavailable for the Aug. 3-13 run dates, making it Butler Amusements' first go at the midway. Headquartered in Fairfield, they brought 37 rides in all. A review seemed in order, so two Press Democrat staffers rode 10 rides in two hours, chosen by recommendation of carnival co-owner Sean Butler. Below, their reviews.

1. Turbo Force

Cost: 10 coupons

Height requirement: 59 inches

This is the priciest ride at the fair and the one with the tallest height requirement, but if you're seeking thrills, it's worth it. The Turbo Force was the only ride this reporter would have gone on a second time, even after completing all the rest.

'That's my favorite for the screams. You hear the screams when you go by,' Butler said.

It is also the most ominous ride at this year's fair. Two riders are seated side-by-side, strapped into a pendulum that rises to 125 feet before flipping its passengers round and round, plunging at first face-forward, and then backward toward the ground. This is one of the fastest on the midway, and its tallest. Despite those seemingly daunting characteristics, the ride is well made and its thick shoulder restraints make it feel far safer than even some children's rides.

2. Inversion

Cost: 7 coupons

Height requirement: 55 inches

The Inversion was the second best ride, both for its thrill level and, like the Turbo Force, how secure it felt.

'I didn't feel like I was going to die,' Press Democrat photographer Chris Chung confirmed.

The amusement is outfitted with three separate arms that hang down like a pendulum, enabling them to swing and spin at the operator's discretion. Each arm will seat four people, with pairs seated back-to-back. Like most 'strenuous' rides on the midway, it took just under one minute, with riders rotating at a slow and steady pace while completely — as the name implies — inverted, almost 80 feet above ground level. Overall, a smooth ride with a limited nausea factor.

3. Wacky Worm

Cost: 4 coupons

Height requirement: 36 inches if accompanied by an adult, 42 inches without

This caterpillar coaster ride catering to children ranks highly for its fun-to-cost ratio. Riders go around the smooth course three times in all, which was a surprisingly long time compared to the rest of the amusements on the midway. And its speed varies, giving it just enough excitement for younger riders and keeping it fun for their elder counterparts. Rich Whitright's 4-year-old grandson, Sawyer Whitright, chose the cheery green ride as his first of the day, and after stepping off, summed it up, declaring it 'fun.' Though maybe not as fun as his favorite thing to do at the fair, and who can blame him: Eat cotton candy.

4. White Water

Cost: 5 coupons

Height requirement: 42 inches

White Water, the midway's only water ride, ranks high simply for its practicality. With temperatures peaking in the mid-80s this weekend, fairground visitors will likely be in need of a cool down, and White Water delivers with two splash zones and plenty of sogginess upon first sit-down. Riders, who sit single-file straddling a log-shaped bench, also get the added benefit of having a photograph taken of them as they take their second plunge into the water. As signs leading up to the moment of truth suggest, prepare a funny face — the picture makes a nice souvenir.

5. Music Express

Cost: 5 coupons

Height requirement: 48 inches

This ride was a pleasant surprise, with the only downside being the techno-pop playlist -- think Katy Perry and Lady Gaga DJ cuts, intermixed with a dash of Guns 'n Roses). But that's all part of the fun. Riders sit on hard plastic seats, secured by a metal lap bar, and whip round a circular course faster and faster as the ride goes on. But never too fast, and the course was wide enough to prevent any nausea from setting in. It's hard to ignore the centrifugal force for too long, though, so heed the ride's warning that the largest passenger sit on the outer edge.

6. Super Shot

Cost: 5 coupons

Height requirement: 48 inches

Super Shot is all about the suspense factor. Riders, strapped in by shoulder restraints, are seated with their backs to a central column. As the ride begins, passengers rise to a height of 80 feet, at which point they know they'll drop. The suspense kicks in because, thanks to a sun shade, riders don't know once they've reached that climactic height.

If the drop had been longer, this would have ranked higher. As is, with a just under a one-second drop, Super Shot dropped to the second half of our list.

7. Orbiter

Cost: 5 coupons

Height requirement: 52 inches

Similar to the Inversion in its tentacled silhouette, the Orbiter seats 36 passengers in all, with arms that rise to a 90-degree angle — its seats spinning around each arm, passengers leaning to match. At over 20 rotations per minute, this is second fastest ride in North America, Butler said. It's also the ride that made our photographer the most nauseous; it lasts for just under 2 minutes.

8. Century Wheel

Cost: 5 coupons

Height requirement: 42 inches

No fair is complete without a classic Ferris wheel, and while there was nothing about this one to complain about, it ranks lower on our list for its lack of thrills. A must, though, for those seeking a ride that hearkens back to simpler times, or simply for anyone looking for a panoramic view of the fairgrounds.

9. Vertigo

Cost: 5 coupons

Height requirement: 48 inches

Vertigo stole neither our hearts nor our minds, but, living up to its name, it almost stole our lunch. This ride was surprisingly nausea-inducing, with chairs, fastened by chains to overhead blades spinning out around a central column at a height of almost 100 feet. For those looking for a similar effect, but who would prefer a little easier ride, we recommend the Wave Swinger, where the chairs rise to a mere 25 feet and spin at a lower rate of speed.

10. Pole Position

Cost: 5 coupons

Height requirement: 52 inches

This was the least enjoyable ride of the day. Jerky, with sharp movements, and on the older side, this coaster-like, raceway-themed ride whips its passengers around edges in an entirely uncomfortable way that failed to impress. Even a pair of young co-passengers, seemingly the ride's key demographic, were only moderately impressed.

Brother and sister Douglas and Alana Clemmer chose Pole Position specifically for its twists and turns, which it delivered, but both agreed it could be a little smoother and, probably, a little longer.

'They could fix the part when you hit your back,' Douglas, 10, said.

We agree.