The Nevada County Fair, which opens on Wednesday, will feature a ride purchased from Michael Jackson’s infamous Neverland Ranch amusement park. The ride, Balloon Samba, was previously owned by Michael Jackson, operated at the Neverland Ranch and was purchased in the fall of 2008 by California-based carnival company, Butler Amusements.

The ride is designed to look like a hot-air balloon and features hot air balloon carriages. The Balloon Samba seats 32 children in six air balloons. The ride will be part of the carnival area during Nevada County’s five-day Fair.

Butler Amusements purchased the ride, along with five others from Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch, last September. One ride is currently travelling with the Butler Amusements Oregon/ Washington carnival unit, one is operating at Coney Island, one is at the Stanislaus County Fair and the others are being refurbished at Butler’s winter quarters in Santa Nella, CA.

Balloon Samba will be open to the public at the Nevada County Fair beginning on Wednesday. The Nevada County Fairgrounds is located at 11228 McCourtney Road in Grass Valley, 50 miles northeast of Sacramento, off Highway 49. For information, visit Nevada County Fair or call (530) 273-6217. This year’s Fair runs August 12 – 16.

Source:
Wendy Oaks
Publicist, Nevada County Fairgrounds