FALCON HEIGHTS, Minn. — Considering that the Minnesota State Fair has "officially" been around for 165 years, it's difficult to believe there are things folks out here in Falcon Heights haven't seen.
Well, mark what happened Tuesday as one of them.
As the clock ticked towards the regular 7 a.m. gate opening time it became clear that vendors and the fairgrounds themselves would simply not be ready. A powerful storm system fueled by scorching temps and absurd humidity hit parts of the Twin Cities metro - and the State Fair - like a sock in the jaw Monday night, with wind gusts exceeding 60 mph and torrential rains wreaking havoc. Streets and booths flooded, entire trees and large branches littered walkways... it was an undeniable mess.
When the system had passed it was clear that there was work to be done before tens of thousands of guests could enter and enjoy. The streets and sidewalks of the fairgrounds were covered with large tree limbs and fallen foliage. The sound of chainsaws and blowers could be heard everywhere.
At noon on Tuesday, State Fair officials held a press conference to discuss the morning's chaos. Minnesota State Fair CEO Renee Alexander said the second storm tore through around 5:30 a.m., bringing down trees on the fairgrounds. Officials with the National Weather Service (NWS) reported the winds were the main issue at the fairgrounds with gusts clocking in at 50-60 miles per hour.
Two rides were still closed at the time of the press conference, the brand-new Kraken and the Giant Slide. Within 30 minutes, KARE 11 crews reported all rides were back online. Inspectors were also called in as a caution, to ensure all rides were in good working order.
One State Fair employee had minor injuries after a tree branch fell on them, Alexander said. If the storm had blown through later in the day, there could have been more injuries.
Cleanup will continue throughout the day.
At the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) compound, a large tree fell on the back corner of a building. A crew with a boom truck and multiple saws showed up, and it was gone in just over an hour, leaving only a bit of sawdust in its wake.
There was also minor flooding at the DNR campus but that soon receded. One lasting casualty was the DNR Fire Tower, which closed due to potentially slippery steps.
Karen Hozampa and her grandkids Eli, Ezra and Nora were among those who approached a worker to find out what was going on early on Tuesday and more importantly, when the Giant Slide would reopen. "It's not a good fair unless we (go) down the slide," she shared.
Charlie Torgerson of RC's BBQ said they made the decision to close around 7 p.m. Monday as the first storm wave rolled in. "Had to make sure the kids (his workers) got home safe," he said. Charlie showed up around 5 a.m. Tuesday to make sure the power was on and everything was operational, only to hear the second system approach.
Torgerson says the winds - estimated around 65 mph - ripped down a tent and an awning, but he was open for business at 9 as per usual. He shared that the two days of extreme heat on Sunday and Monday had a more significant impact on his business by keeping the crowds away. He called them the worst two days of sales since taking over the location from Famous Dave's.
According to State Fair officials, vendors carry their own insurance for days like this. The fair said it is working with vendors who may need additional assistance.
