Poor Jack Amusements — Local services in Pershing

Rude with poor service and practices. Gate entry $7 a person, a band to ride was 15 a person. When we bought the bands, we were not told anything by the staff in regards to time sensitivity. We were also with two people who were on a company picnic. They had pink bands given previously, but we had gold bands. We rode one ride that morning. The child with us was refused entry to a ride (that we waited for awhile not knowing the ride was only being half boarded each time for safety?)

The child was cranky so we left and came back that night without some of the others. We got back in the gate fine, but was refused entry to a ride by staff.

He grabbed the gate to the strawberry spinner like we were about ready to storm the castyle gates or something. We hadn't said anything yet when the staffer yelled "can't let you on!" And smacked the gate door. He explained rudely that the gold bands were only for morning. He got out his notebook, "See! These notes are from the meeting this morning. SO YOU can't ride." He showed us like we were 10 and said it while raising his voice. (He said this almost as if to us all, even though one of us did not have a gold band but a pink.)

We spoke up finally as we had been completely compliant with him. We told him he didn't need to raise his voice. He said something about not letting us on again.

We left him and went to where we bought the bands. Now they were selling black ones. They told us the gold was for day until 5. You have to buy another for night and they don't sell all day passes. We asked about are friends with pink bands and we're told that yes, those are for all day but you can't buy them directly. They only had them through the company picnic.

We asked why they didn't tell us when we bought them, but she just pointed to the (shady) current sign saying the tickets were good from 6 to 11.

The administration was no different, and insisted that we were at fault. Yes, we were, but the mistake was buying the bands at all when we were never treated like customers and informed of any of the rules or terms.

In addition, the attendents at the game booths were rude too. I wasn't greeted at all for the whack a mole, and instead stood there until I saw this guy sitting on top the stand. I said hey, and all he said was "hey." He hardly said anything to me even though he had a microphone on! Then I asked "umm...do I just pay you?" He finally responded and said that the game was $3 a person. I didn't see it posted as that price, but I felt it too much especially when I felt unwelcome.

The lines for rides were messes. Dont expect any ribbons to guide the line or any attendents aside from the ride operator himself. Sometimes you had to walk over ride cords in heaps and every line was long and disorganized so badly that it was hard to tell which line was for what ride.

One guy was actually nice to me at the skeeball. He beckoned me and had quarters ready for my dollar. He high fived me afterward. Thanks for not being a jerk Skeeball guy.

In conclusion, we left and won't go back to Poor Jacks. I'd almost feel sorry for them if they didn't have a great money making scheme. Also...after we left it rained out. Guess who doesn't offer refunds on bands or anything else? Yup,...

Poor Jack Amusement's history dates back to 1944 when company founder, Jack Bohlander was introduced to the carnival business by his father. At the time, Jack and his father owned and operated a pony ride, which evolved into concessions including cotton candy, snow cones, and shortly after, games. In 1956, Jack's father retired from the carnival business and Jack and his wife Patricia took over. They built the business by adding more rides and events, and in 1967, they signed their first major ride contract with the Johnson County Fair in Franklin, Indiana. To this day, the Johnson County Fair has been a very memorable stop on the Poor Jack route. Over the years, the show grew to operate 40+ amusement rides and operate from April through October in the states of Indiana and Ohio. Jack was a strong believer in his family and church. He was most pleased with being involved with a business that allowed his family to live, work, and play together. Jack was the President and CEO of Poor Jack Amusements until his death in 1997. To this day, Poor Jack Amusements is still owned and operated by his wife Patricia and their five children and families. Poor Jack Amusements has grow to be one of Indiana's premiere amusement companies, featuring a combination of modern day thrill rides such as the Freak Out and 1001 Nachts to family favorites such as the Carousel and...

Blatant scam and dishonest business practices.

I got sick after eating the elephant ears and spent the entire night vomiting. On top of that, I had an incredibly frustrating experience with the ride wristbands.

I purchased a wristband at 4:00 PM that was advertised as valid for unlimited rides. Just one hour later, at 5:00 PM, staff told me the wristband was no longer valid unless I paid again—because the price had been raised from $20 to $50. I was shocked. I had just bought the band, and suddenly I was being told it no longer counted.

That is a blatant bait-and-switch. I paid for unlimited rides, and they tried to invalidate my purchase after the fact to squeeze more money out of me. This kind of dishonest pricing and treatment of customers is completely unacceptable.

I will never return, and I’ll be warning others to stay...