Appalachian Fair — Local services in Gray

The lady at the food stand with tent/seating was really nice but I'm not sure why everyone else seems to hate their job. I couldn't find seating and I was looking for seating, a worker actually saw us looking and she came over and helped me which was really nice to help us get seating. We shared seating with another family.

The ATM (based out of ga) alerted my bank to a fraud alert so it took me 30 minutes to get money from the ATM wasting our ride time. I had to verify with my bank because they put a hold on my bank. We brought cash but her system was down so I had to use cash at the entrance. The couple in front of us had the same issue with the ATM! They need to fix this.

I made simple conversation with the lady at one of the lemonade stands as I told her the AC breeze felt nice and she just gave me the rudest look so I ordered because it was obvious she didn't want me to talk to her at all besides ordering and the line wasn't long at this point. It was longer at the food stand. I went on a Friday and lines for rides were 30mins- 1 hour long and my son wasn't allowed on one ride which was an hour long wait. He was right on the cusp of the 48" line so about 47.5" (he's a bit short for age 7) and the guy working said "he's not quite tall enough and so rudely pointed at the exit. I think he was rude because the lady in front of us whispered he's so close and told him to stand on his toes. He took it out on me???? There was no friendliness in his tone. I didn't see a height requirement out front and the lady behind us had to leave with 3 kids.

My son's Dad was right outside and I could have still rode the ride without my son but the way he acted made me so uncomfortable I exited the line and didn't ride.

We were able to ride 2 ridees, only 2 total and we paid $50 for 2 arm bands not including the $20 entry fee and over $120 in food, snacks and drinks for 3.

In 4 hours we rode 2 rides and this is in-between ordering food and eating and waiting in line for rides and the ATM issue which took 30 minutes to resolve and as mentioned one ride had an hour wait and he couldn't ride because he was too short. We spent 4 hours ar the fair to only ride 2 rides.

Otherwise it would have been 3 rides if my son was able to ride. I'm sorry but it's way too expensive for only being able to ride 2 rides. My son did play a game too but we never did see the derby and the ponies to ride.

My son did have a good time all things considering. I was not pleased with "most" of the experience but if you go on a Friday or Saturday you should get there at 3 pm if you want to be able to get some of your monies worth. I think it would have been much better to just spend a day at Dollywood.

Will I take my son again?? Maybe. But I won't be buying arm bands or getting food PERIOD. The food is really overpriced for a meal/drink and more so then other carnivals we've been to and we had to squeeze in for seating, the other option would be standing up to eat. I could find a grassy area to sit I'm sure but my son and his Dad are allergic to grass. Some of this may sound like nit picking but I mention this hoping for an improvement in multiple areas. I know they can't help how long the lines are when they are packed but we could have rode 2 more rides IF we didn't have the issue with the ATM and my son not being able to ride the one ride. It broke my heart he was so disappointed. It's quite simply a money racket to purchase foods games, and even the arm bands. $25 seems like a good deal in companion to the tickets where you could easily spend $25 in tickets to only ride 2-3 rides. Well that's all you get anyway when the lines are that long. I'd advise you to go on a Monday from 3 to close if you want to get some of your...

There is an addendum to read at the bottom!!!!!

ABSOLUTELY MAGNIFICENT AND A TRIBUTE TO HUMAN NATURE AND HUMANITY! The room where they were doing dental had over 100 chairs set up for individual people and two dentist minimum to the chair plus others to help and nurses You name it they did everything from fillings to extractions and they did it all for free they had necessary topical and local anesthetic and gave non-narcotic pain medication to take with you which I thought was amazing and a great idea instead of giving narcotics they did everything from one tooth to my elderly friend who went and had every tooth pulled they did it quickly with no pain and for free....... These people gave their weekend up and the week up part of their lives up to come and help people who couldn't do anything else for free free plus they provided water and food they were kind and courteous there was security if there was issues but there were none and no one was turned away no license or ID required just walk in and tell them what you need done they do their best if they can to do it.... My heart was literally blazing with light to see how God works miracles still in this world for doctor who could have been making close to $2 million probably that day all together in actual work doing it for free for those who couldn't pay that kind of money. My blessings and my heart go out to RAM And every program like that now read the bottom....

ADDENDUM The state guard was there not the national guard not the reserves not even the army these people are a militia with no ties to the government however sometimes they are used or contracted not only by the government but anyone.... They were nice enough to begin with and most of them seem like good guys however; there was total abuse of authority and stripping of rights Americans have buy some of the individuals who not only treated everyone as if they were in boot camp but as if they were trash. It was not appropriate nor was it needed sometimes you have to establish authority but the way they did it was not the way to do it I wish I would have videoed it to display but when you were told basically that you have no rights and are being told exactly what to do Not only that but it being done forcefully is a violation of human rights and also US citizens rights. I'm not saying that this is not a good organization nor am I bashing the state guard for the good deeds they do I will say this someone needs to get the leadership in check and they need to realize who they are and aren't most of them in fact none of them I talk to even served in the military yet they were the uniform and they treated us as if we were prisoners although no physical action besides a little bit of guidance with hands-on was taken they spoke to the people as if they were trash and that's just not proper. Ever I am a veteran I did serve And I can tell you that it's not being managed properly if it's how they act and react to people It was right around freezing And most people had been waiting for at least four hours some up to 15 and their car until they got out in line at what point they were verbally assaulted and ordered to do things that are and were illegitimate and other words they abused power At least some of them many of them were very nice and I have nothing but good things to say as far as the organization I've worked with them in the past they've been okay that day a few of them made me think twice about how I feel about it and them..... just because these people can't afford to go to the dentist it doesn't mean that they're criminals trash or to be treated any...

This is an insane place when there are events. The traffic piles up onto interstate 26. People block the intersection at the traffic signal attempting to make left hand turns off of Bobby Hicks to get to the fairgrounds because there is a massive influx of vehicles coming from the opposite direction making right hand turns. Vehicles are literally bumper to bumper as most don't know how to keep a reasonable distance from the vehicle in front of them. There is a lot of law enforcement directing traffic closest to the venue, but not on Bobby Hicks where it is needed the most, as people are running red lights or remain trapped in the intersection obstructing traffic in all directions. Residential areas are mobbed with people or vehicles attempting to turn around or find parking. The roadways into and out of the fairgrounds area can not handle the massive amount of traffic. I will not to go any event at this place anymore- not worth the hassle, stress, delays, and backlog, moving an inch at a time. There is more horn honking, shouting of obscenities, rude gestures, and ugly acts of aggression than other similar venues I have frequented. In fact, I have to check the events calendar prior to going to my storage unit so I don't get trapped there for an indefinite amount of time because it's on one of the busier roads going towards the...