Tulsa State Fair Drops Free Shuttle Service This Year

Correction: A previous version of this story and the video indicated that the Tulsa State Fair ran through October 11. That is not correct. It runs through October 10.

The free shuttle service is not being offered at this year's Tulsa State Fair. 

People will have to pay to park at the fairgrounds and not everybody is happy with the decision.

The Expo Square Chief Operating Officer Amanda Blair said fewer people are riding the shuttle every year and they said it no longer makes financial sense. 

At Tulsa's Expo Square, rides and concessions have arrived, and crews are working to fill up Expo Square with booths as the 11-day event gets closer.

"The process does take several weeks for our 11 days of awesome," said Blair. "It's like building a small city."

Blair said the fair will operate like it did in 2019 except there will be no free shuttles to take people from satellite locations to the fairgrounds.

"From a financial standpoint and lack of ridership, we felt like it was the best decision for the state fair to make sure we're being financially responsible," Blair said.

Blair said they cut the shuttle service down to just Thursday through Sunday from 2018 to 2019 and dropped to two pick up spots instead of three.

"A lot of Tulsans like to have their car on site and close to them," Blair said.

"I couldn't believe it," said Robyn Gnagy.

Robyn Gnagy said she takes the shuttle every year and said finding out it's gone this year is a letdown. She said she worries about elderly people and families that relied on the shuttles.

"There's not that much parking on the fairgrounds anyway and it's $10 and $20," she said.

Blair said even though they had to get rid of shuttles this year, she's excited to see the state fair returning in full force.

"It's such an economic impact for Tulsa county with over $50 million back to Tulsa county and the surrounding communities," Blair said.

The fair begins Sept. 30 and ends Oct. 10.