Big Tex Takes His Place To Greet Fair Goers.

On Friday, Big Tex put on his new boots along with his new Dickie's Shirt and Pants and was lifted into his Greeting Position to this years fair goers that begins this coming Friday, the 27th of September.

Today, Big Tex was getting adjustments made and audio got connected. The traffic around the roundabout in front of the Tower Building was like a bee hive of activity. Since my last trip down to Fair Park a few days ago, the changes that have taken place were absolutely amazing. Today, the framework for some of the stages were going up and cranes were lifting more trucks onto towering steel frames. Sometime, people tend to forget just how big the Texas Auto Show really is during the fair.
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Brick masons were filling in the frame work for several large numbers.  The transformation of  what you see and how it was done is even more amazing sometimes. I watched the guys work for ten or fifteen minutes before making my way through the maze of workers who had their jobs to do. I try to stray out of the way but have gone the final week  before the fair opens for years because I enjoy the behind-the-scene atmosphere.

The Dallas Arboretum Half Marathon had White Rock in a mess this morning. One reason that I headed to Fair Park first. On the way back to White Rock after leaving Fair Park, I made a quick stop at Samuell Grand (Tennison Memorial) to get some shots of the new water park that is already closed for the season. It's one of three built  from the sale of the Elgin B. Robertson park on Lake Ray Hubbard to Rowlett. 

Then, it was on to Flag Pole Hill when I saw a Park Ranger. Parking, I sat down at one of the picnic tables closest to the road as he ranger was taking pictures of cars parked off-road. Those that he snapped pictures of will be getting tickets according to the ranger. As the ranger came to his truck, I ask if we could talk. He came over to his drivers'  side and we were talking about a few things concerning the park. As we talked, a lady came over and excused herself and was asking if she was going to get a ticket for where she had parked. The Ranger explained to here the rules and codes and she moved her car. She had ask the ranger if there were signs posted. The answer was, "yes, everywhere".

One of the issues we were discussing was the number of signs that the city has posted concerning the issue of bikes running stop signs. He told me that the only person that can issue that ticket for that violation would be a Dallas Police Officer and  they were 700 cops down at the moment. Of course, that doesn't take into account the 5---6---or 7 that are assigned there and can be found parked off in a corner somewhere that could do that while watching the hot spots where someone is going to get killed when one of there bikers runs over someone,like they did on the Katy Trail a few years back. 

Also, there is a bully gang of Lance Armstrong Want-a-bes that fit the definition of a gang in almost every way. Those are the ones that people are worried  and concerned about. The issue is raised almost every time I'm talking to someone I see at the lake. But, at least, the ranger was able to provide a key point of information that Dallas Police needs to be the ones  writing tickets when these bikers blow through a stop sign  as they are defined by three differed signs state that they function as motor vehicles and are subject to the same rules as any vehicle driver. So, that being the case, when they do  hit someone and they die, (God forbid) they can be charged as an motor vehicle driver. That's a big leap from what some of these bikers think about the laws that they say do not apply to them.

New Duds for the Dude

Howdy,Folks

While at Flag Pole Hill, I was invited to sample one. I passed. Being about to shoot these on the grill by the two smoke jockeys that were tending to the dogs, brats and sausage-on-a-stick.

The Ground Where Big Tex Stands

Big Tex Float at the St. Patrick's Parade on Greenville Ave.

Friends of the State Fair

Surveyors at work to raise the stand by 6 foot for Big Tex.

Well, everyone has heard by now about the Big Tex fire a few days before the fair closed in the 2012 season. Since then, there has been a lot of talk and work and discussions about the future of Big Tex.  Happily ( it was decided and private money started pouring in to help ) Big Tex will be rebuilt bigger and better. He was a pretty big guy to begin with. The fact of the matter is: he's gonna be bigger if for nothing than the ground he will stand upon.


Opening day of the State Fair this year is September 27th. Big Tex will be there! He is sure to be a big crowd draw throughout the fair this year especially, but I would anticipate the 11 AM opening ceremony this year will have a bigger crowd than normal. I'm thinking it will be, at least.







The surveyors are out already working to raise the stand by 6 feet. This is a spot of respect! Big Tex has been here every year for 60 years and he's coming back for year 61 bigger and better than before.

You can call the Fair Board at Fair Park if you want to make a donation to help fund the reconstruction, I bet.




 

Big Tex Burns

At approximately 10:25 CDT Big Tex broke out in smoke around his collar and motorized mouth,then broke out into flames. The only thing remained was his big steel frame and his two arms (still sleeved in material from his shirt). At 13:00 CDT his steel frame was traveling through the streets of Fair Park to an undisclosed location to be inspected by local fire officials.

State Fair Officials have already announced that Big Tex, who began in 1952 in Kern, Texas and was sold to the State Fair Board,  has stood stead over the fair for 60 years  and will be rebuilt. Beginning anew by next years State Fair a new Big Tex will reappear,bigger and better than before.

http://www.featurepics.com/online/Big-Tex-2358092.aspx

Big Tex Hits 60!

Big Tex

A 60-year old man in size 72 boots wearing a 75 gallon hat and standing 52 feet tall with a few more wrinkles and slighly more grey hair, took his place at Fair Park today at the annual ceremony at 11 am when on the Monday before the fair opens, he is hoisted into place and immediately proclaims,"Howdy". Friday,at 10am, the 126th Texas State Fair begins its annual run. I had wanted to be there for todays "howdy"  but had a doctor's appointment at 11.It was a little after 12:30 when I got there. For about two hours, I walked around the lagoon looking at the Chinese Lanterns Display. There is a fence around the entire Lagoon area and the guy putting up the last section of the fence said that there was going to be a $10.00 fee to enter, which is above the regular ticket price.
The display is breath-taking and the Dino's on display look so real. It will be a popular exhibit, I'm sure. The workers were building the main stage in between The African-American Museum and the Music Hall complex. I know, I said last weekend that it was my last trip until after the fair and  here I am back at Fair Park again! Well, it's the bee hive of activity, construction, vendors testing equipment,rides being tested. The smell of taffy in the air! People visiting Fair Park's active museums in the complex. It's just the most festive atmosphere. Kind of like a behind the scene type of atmosphere, but also the get-out-of-the-way atmosphere that goes on as workers lay tiles,build sets and stages with just days before completion. I've missed that hustle-bustle atmosphere. My camera just shoots image after image. I'm not shooting my stock images that sell but I'm having tons of fun! The last two days I've shot more fun images from horse-drawn carriages,antique rail cars moving to a museum to Big Tex's head and hands on a skid waiting to be assembled for this years state fair. I've even managed to have a dish of Rocky Road ice cream a couple of times!

Ladies--you think you have beautiful nails. Check out my nails!!

Beautiful Nails

 

Looking Like The State Fair at Fair Park

State Fair Dates: September 28 -  October 21

Work is well underway at Fair Park putting up all those favorite fried food and refreshment stands. The old landmark Midway arches have been repaired from this past Springs expensive hail storm. And there is less rolling stock at the former Railroad Museum.  One of two security guards told me that the rolling stock was going out on the third shift because it wasn't happening on first or second shift, which confirms what one of the employees in Frisco has said to me more than a month ago. She had call me,infact. From that conversation it was easy to see that the exit from Fair Park was going to be a "under cover of darkness" move. It's turned out that way so far as the first cars rolled into the  Frisco's property from off-site storage with limited public information. The tweets,facebook post and website updates seem to be all "after - the- fact" which is not surprising.

This morning, one of the television stations had a sound bite about the move and the newspaper ran a story that basically said nothing. The route map published matched the hand-drawn one  that has been on top of my computer for over a month  Anyone with any train interest as an enthusiast already knows where the line junctions are located or can figure it out like doing math in you head.

 I hate to say it but I can remember when steam engines were running regular passenger service in the town were I grew up. It was second or third grade when I saw the first diesel that appeared on those tracks where the steam engines had been running regular service. Still, trains and planes hold my interest to this day. The physics of both are more interesting now than they were in my 8th grade geometry and 10th grade  physics. It was that knowledge gained, however, that cemented my interest in later life.

Colorful Tent Booths Go Up

The West Side of Admiral Nimitz Drive

Here is a little splash of color from Fair Park this afternoon. One thing for sure is that corny dogs and fried foods will be around longer  than some organizations. My dad expressed to me that everyone wants their jewel to be front and center on the crown and some just never ever will understand that it is all the jewels combined that make up the crown, not just a single jewel. Fair Park is a crown and all the little jewels make it what it is and will become. Loosing one or two here and there will be replaced with others that will shine just as bright and not worry about their placement on the crown. Next time you visit Fair Park look up at the two gate markers.The left one in engraved 1836 and the right one bears 1936. The art deco period for Fair Park blossomed in the 1930s.