Wrapping Up The Fairgrounds Makeover

By Jeffrey Smith, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- We're one week away from the Tulsa State Fair.  Officials say it could be the best yet, but the work at the midway still isn't finished.

The county spent more money than ever on new stuff.  Some $40 million were spent on everything from the munchies to the midway.  Right now, the last-minute preparations are in high gear.

"The smell you're smelling is the beautiful smell of hot asphalt going down here as the finish up the midway," said Tulsa County Fairboard Chairman John Smaligo.

He says it's all about the finishing touches.  There are fresh coats of paint and food carts being set up.

"We are getting the work done and it's going to be ready in time for the state fair," said Tulsa County Fairboard Chairman John Smaligo.

The Exchange Center got a $10 million makeover.  There's a new building called Central Park Hall.  The midway has been freshly paved.  New power grids have been installed.

And what fair would be complete without food?

"You smell onions, carrots and brisket.  Thousands of pounds of brisket.  It's being produced over there in our smokers.  Everything's up and running.  And, we're in full production," said ExpoServe manager Siegmund Brown.

ExpoServe cooks up a lot of the goodies for the fair.  They spent $750,000 this year on new equipment.  That means a new-and-improved menu.

"What the guests are going to see that's going to be a little bit different is that we've got a larger scale menu, a lot of fork and knife food, healthier food," said Tulsa County Fairboard Chairman John Smaligo.

As all the work wraps up, fair officials are betting this year's fair will be an affair to remember.

The Midway is expected to be finished by this weekend.  In total, 50,000 tons of asphalt was installed this year.