The Supershot ride is raised into the air on Monday afternoon at the Coos County Fairgrounds in Myrtle Point. The ride joins some new attractions this year and some favorites, including the 87-foot-tall Ferris wheel in the back, are returning. World Photo by Lou Sennick

MYRTLE POINT - It's a little eerie being at a quiet amusement park.

It's as if fun had yet to come to the Coquille Valley.

Such was the case Monday morning on the plot of land destined for the mechanical gadgets one day before the grand opening of the Coos County Fair and Rodeo - and carnival.

But, not for long, promised Jim Hall, the general manager of Butler Amusements, the Beaverton-based outfit, who was fixing to rouse his sleeping employees at 2 p.m. to resurrect the park after a year of slumber.

“It will look like a field of ants out here,” Hall said, as he zipped about in a golf cart tending to last-minute details a few hours before the wake-up call.

He was right.

That afternoon, the field turned into a sea of workers, who were yanking, clanging, banging and unwinding various moveable parts in anticipation of paying customers.

This year, fairgoers will be treated to several new rides, Hall said, including the Super Shot, Baja Buggies, mini-teacups and Voyager.

“We've brought in a few new pieces of excitement,” he said.

One of the most popular amusement park rides in years past is the “Zipper,” a topsy-turvy, spinning ride. It is not for the faint of stomach.

“It's a favorite piece here,” Hall said. “People want to ride it. It's popular every where we go. But here, it is extremely popular.”

But this year, Hall guessed, the Super Shot, which elevates fairgoers several stories into the air before letting gravity take over, will challenge the Zipper's stomach-churning acclaim.

The 87-foot-tall Ferris wheel, perhaps the fair's signature piece, was set up the day before.

A couple hundred people lurked around the fairgrounds throughout the day.

No rides were ready, so they concentrated, instead, on food choices: Fairgoers will be able to tempt their tastebuds with smoked turkey legs, scones, espresso, burgers, beers, candy apples and a proverbial fair favorite - the hot dog on a stick.

Coos County residents who look forward to their local fair each year might be surprised to learn that the carnival crew does, too.

Hall said the 85 workers who set up the rides love coming to Coos County. The crew just got back from three months in California

“The scenery is outstanding here. In California, you're looking at pavement and yuck,” Hall said. “We're just damn happy to be here.”