Stuart-based carnival company booked its first event at Martin County Fair in 1965 By Isadora Rangel
TCPalm
February 17, 2012
When Allen Deggeller started his carnival company in 1965, the first event he booked was the Martin County Fair. It took him three years to make Deggeller Attractions one of the largest in the carnival industry.
The Stuart-based company today operates at some of the largest state fairs along the East Coast, but every year it comes back to the Martin County Fair, which ends Saturday.
"Even though it isn't the largest fair, we continue to do it because of our community involvement," said Don Deggeller, Allen Deggeller's son and company president since 1979 — the father died in 1989. "We pretty much do this fair because we live in this community and we are very proud of it."
Deggeller started the company with his brother, Irvin, when he moved to Stuart from Indiana, where he worked as an independent operator for other companies. He owned two rides, including an old Rollo Plane, and purchased 20 rides from an Ohio company before the brothers opened their business.
They had an aggressive business strategy, Don Deggeller said. While most starting midway companies refrained from big fairs such as the one in Miami-Dade County, they booked those and soon they began to grow.
Today, Deggeller Attractions owns about 75 rides that are stored in properties in Stuart and Palm City. The company continues to do large fairs, but over the years, new theme parks and other entertainment venues have created competition for the company. On the Treasure Coast, it has to compete for customers with the St. Lucie and Indian River county fairs.
Carnival companies have to keep innovating and bring bigger, newer rides to compete and stay in business. Deggeller Attractions recently purchased a roller coaster for $1.3 million, Don Deggeller said. New to the Martin County Fair this year were rides Rock 'n' Out and the Crazy Bus.
"Years ago, we didn't have to buy these multimillion-dollar rides," Don Deggeller said.
The growth of carnival companies like Deggeller has affected business for independent vendors who have to compete with new attractions for fairgoers' dollars, concession stand owners at Martin County Fair said. Most concession stands are family-owned and at times have to compete with food booths provided by these companies as well.
"There are more things for the public to spend money besides food. There is more entertainment available today," said Leonard Goetz, who has had an ice cream stand at Martin County Fair since 1975.
Deggeller Attractions revenues can fluctuate between $100,000 to $1 million each year, Don Deggeller said. Weather is the main factor in determining how many people attend state and county fairs and the company's profit. He also said companies need to catch up on technology to stay profitable and invest in new safety devices. He expects rides that won't require a human operator to be one of the next industry innovations.
But regardless of where the industry goes, he thinks carnivals will be around for a long time.
"Technology will change, but people still want entertainment," Don Deggeller said.
The Stuart-based company today operates at some of the largest state fairs along the East Coast, but every year it comes back to the Martin County Fair, which ends Saturday.
"Even though it isn't the largest fair, we continue to do it because of our community involvement," said Don Deggeller, Allen Deggeller's son and company president since 1979 — the father died in 1989. "We pretty much do this fair because we live in this community and we are very proud of it."
Deggeller started the company with his brother, Irvin, when he moved to Stuart from Indiana, where he worked as an independent operator for other companies. He owned two rides, including an old Rollo Plane, and purchased 20 rides from an Ohio company before the brothers opened their business.
They had an aggressive business strategy, Don Deggeller said. While most starting midway companies refrained from big fairs such as the one in Miami-Dade County, they booked those and soon they began to grow.
Today, Deggeller Attractions owns about 75 rides that are stored in properties in Stuart and Palm City. The company continues to do large fairs, but over the years, new theme parks and other entertainment venues have created competition for the company. On the Treasure Coast, it has to compete for customers with the St. Lucie and Indian River county fairs.
Carnival companies have to keep innovating and bring bigger, newer rides to compete and stay in business. Deggeller Attractions recently purchased a roller coaster for $1.3 million, Don Deggeller said. New to the Martin County Fair this year were rides Rock 'n' Out and the Crazy Bus.
"Years ago, we didn't have to buy these multimillion-dollar rides," Don Deggeller said.
The growth of carnival companies like Deggeller has affected business for independent vendors who have to compete with new attractions for fairgoers' dollars, concession stand owners at Martin County Fair said. Most concession stands are family-owned and at times have to compete with food booths provided by these companies as well.
"There are more things for the public to spend money besides food. There is more entertainment available today," said Leonard Goetz, who has had an ice cream stand at Martin County Fair since 1975.
Deggeller Attractions revenues can fluctuate between $100,000 to $1 million each year, Don Deggeller said. Weather is the main factor in determining how many people attend state and county fairs and the company's profit. He also said companies need to catch up on technology to stay profitable and invest in new safety devices. He expects rides that won't require a human operator to be one of the next industry innovations.
But regardless of where the industry goes, he thinks carnivals will be around for a long time.
"Technology will change, but people still want entertainment," Don Deggeller said.
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