Troubled 'Stratosphere' Is Reopened At The Fair

FALCON HEIGHTS, Minn. (WCCO) - A highly-anticipated State Fair ride is back up and running Saturday night after malfunctioning twice.

The Stratosphere is a one-of-its-kind swing ride that's new on the Mighty Midway. On Thursday and again on Friday, the ride got stuck and stranded some people in the air.

It got the "all clear" from the Fair's official ride inspectors, and at 8:10 p.m. it was up and running. The Fair's General Manager and senior staff members were some of the first on the re-opened ride.

The Stratosphere did have problems when it made its debut at the Wisconsin State Fair earlier this month.

According to Joe Bixler of ride inspectors International Leisure Consulting, two malfunction cases were due to high wind speeds, and the other two were electrical and mechanical. But the ride has malfunctioned safely.

"It's doing exactly what it's supposed to be doing. It faults out and says: I've got a problem," Bixler said.

The Stratosphere and every ride at the State Fair is operated three times every morning with no one on them to make sure they are running smoothly. Plus, operators also have to follow the manufacturer's checklist.

There are 77 rides at the Midway, and none can run until a safety checklist is turned in each morning.