Butler Amusements
Butler Amusements is the largest family-owned traveling carnival operator in the western United States, deploying over 125 rides across county fairs, state fairs, festivals, corporate events, and film productions in seven states.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1970
- HeadquartersCauseway Bay, Hong Kong SAR China
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Butler Amusements does
Butler Amusements is a fourth-generation, family-owned traveling carnival operator founded in 1970 in California and currently the largest carnival company in the western United States. The company deploys more than 125 amusement rides across seven states (California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Nevada, Arizona, and Texas), serving over 100 events annually including 35 state and county fairs, festivals, rodeos, corporate rentals, and film productions. Its product portfolio is organized into four ride tiers — Spectacular, Thrill, Family, and Kiddie — supplemented by midway games and food concessions.
The underlying technical stack is centered on the Magic Money cashless digital ticketing system, deployed through self-serve kiosks and an iOS/Android mobile app that loads credits onto reloadable wristbands or cards. The platform accepts cash and major payment methods including Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, and Union Pay, providing a unified credit mechanism across rides, games, and food throughout the midway. Operational infrastructure is anchored by the corporate headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon, a booking and marketing office in Fairfield, California, and winter quarters and a maintenance facility in Santa Nella, California.
The business operates a hybrid revenue model combining transaction-based consumer revenue from ride tickets, unlimited-ride wristbands (priced in the $35-$48 range with day-of-week variable and online advance-purchase discounts), and digital Magic Money credits, alongside professional services revenue from booking full carnival midways at fairs, festivals, rodeos, corporate events, and film productions. Customer segments are dominated by government-sponsored county and state fairs, with secondary demand from festival organizers and corporate clients. GTM motion is event-driven via direct booking inquiries through the company website and phone, augmented by Facebook, Instagram, and email marketing for consumer demand capture. The firm has earned OABA Circle of Excellence designation in 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2022.
Butler Amusements firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Butler Amusements
- Legal name
- Butler Amusements
- Website
- https://butleramusements.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1970
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Butler Amusements is the largest family-owned traveling carnival operator in the western United States, deploying over 125 rides across county fairs, state fairs, festivals, corporate events, and film productions in seven states.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Butler Amusements industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Traveling Carnival and Amusement Services
- NAICS
- Amusement and Theme Parks (71311)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Amusement Parks (Regional/Local Ride Parks & Funfairs) (THAJAEAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Amusement Parks & Theme Parks (THAAAAAA)
Keywords
Where Butler Amusements is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Causeway Bay
- HQ country
- Hong Kong SAR China
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices3 records
Markets served
Butler Amusements business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Ride Tickets and Wristbands: Revenue generated from selling ride tickets (typically 4-8 tickets per ride) and unlimited ride wristbands that provide access to all rides for a single day. Games require separate tickets (5-10+ per play).
- Magic Money Digital Credits: Digital ticketing system where customers purchase credits loaded onto wristbands or cards, which are then used for rides and games throughout the midway.
- Event Booking Services: Revenue from providing carnival midways with rides, games, and attractions for county fairs, state fairs, festivals, rodeos, corporate rentals, and film productions.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Unlimited Ride Wristband (On-Site) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Individual Ride Tickets |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Advance Online Wristbands |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Magic Money Digital Credits |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Butler Amusements product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Butler Amusements operates a traveling carnival business that provides complete midway experiences—amusement rides, midway games, and food concessions—to county fairs, state fairs, festivals, rodeos, corporate events, and film productions across seven western states. The portfolio includes 125+ rides organized into Spectacular, Thrill, Family, and Kiddie categories, with the proprietary Magic Money cashless ticketing system enabling wristband and credit-based access to rides and games.
Product overview
Butler Amusements operates as a carnival company providing world-class amusement entertainment featuring over 125 rides across seven states. The portfolio is organized into four ride categories (Spectacular, Thrill, Family, and Kiddie) plus food concessions and midway games. Key flagship attractions include the King XXL pendulum ride, Soundwave platform ride, The Invader, and Khaos pendulum ride. The company also offers Magic Money, a proprietary digital ticketing system with mobile app and self-serve kiosks enabling cashless payments for rides, games, and food across the carnival midway.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Carnival Midway Event Services Turnkey carnival midway operations contracted by county fairs, state fairs, festivals, rodeos, corporate clients, and film productions. The service includes ride set-up, staffing, on-site ticket/wristband sales, and breakdown, delivered as a complete entertainment package to event organizers in seven western states.
- Spectacular Rides Large-scale, high-flying thrill attractions operated as headline midway rides, including the King XXL pendulum ride and the Soundwave two-tiered stadium-style platform ride.
- Thrill Rides High-intensity thrill rides for adrenaline seekers, including coasters, spinning rides, pendulum attractions, Turbo Force, Super Shot, Vertigo, Ring of Fire, Zipper, T Rex, and Scrambler.
- Family Rides Moderate-thrill rides suitable for the whole family, including the Pole Position Coaster, Giant Wheel, Century Wheel, State Fair Fun Slide, and Tilt-A-Whirl.
- Kiddie Rides
Companies that use Butler Amusements
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Butler Amusements technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
Feature1 record
Butler Amusements partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Magic MoneycoreMagic Money is a cashless digital ticketing system partner that provides self-serve kiosks and mobile app technology for Butler Amusements events. The system allows customers to load credits onto wristbands or cards for use across all rides and games, accepting cash, credit cards, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, Google Pay, and more.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Butler Amusements competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Deggeller Attractions: Long-established US traveling carnival company operating a large fleet of amusement rides at fairs and festivals nationwide. Comparable in operating model, customer base (county and state fairs), and product offering (rides, games, food) to Butler Amusements.
- Wade Shows: Major US carnival operator providing midways at state fairs and large events. Comparable mid-sized traveling carnival competitor with a similar mix of thrill, family, and kiddie rides, and a comparable event-booking business model.
- North American Midway Entertainment: One of the largest mobile amusement ride operators in North America, providing carnival midways to state and county fairs. Closest direct competitor to Butler Amusements in scale and operating model, serving overlapping fair-customer segments with a similar ride-and-game midway product.
- Powers Great American Midways: Multi-generational family-owned US carnival company operating a sizable ride fleet at fairs and festivals. Direct competitor with comparable family-ownership structure, regional fair contracts, and event-driven GTM.
- Big Rock Amusements: Western US-based traveling carnival providing rides, games, and food at fairs and events. Direct regional competitor in Butler's core western territory with a similar product mix and event-driven operating model.
- Murphy Brothers Exposition: Family-operated carnival company providing midways at fairs and special events across the western and central US. Comparable to Butler Amusements in operating model, customer segments, and ride portfolio, with overlapping fair partnerships.
- Reithoffer Shows: Established American traveling carnival company with a large portfolio of amusement rides. Comparable in scale, ride mix, and fair-customer base, though it operates primarily in the eastern and southeastern United States rather than the western US.
Others
- FABBRI Group: Italian manufacturer of amusement rides (e.g., the Pole Position spinning coaster used by Butler). Comparable as a ride supplier and innovation partner, signaling Butler's international ride-sourcing strategy and the broader capital goods ecosystem of the carnival industry.
- Chance Rides: Major US manufacturer of amusement rides (e.g., Zipper, Trabant) supplying traveling carnivals and fixed parks. Comparable as a key supplier partner to Butler Amusements and as a meaningful indicator of capex and supply-chain dynamics in the carnival industry.
Broad incumbents
- Cedar Fair (Six Flags / Cedar Fair merger entity): Large fixed-location amusement park operator (formerly Cedar Fair, now Six Flags Entertainment). Tangentially comparable as a buyer and competitor for thrill-ride hardware and amusement talent, but operates permanent parks rather than traveling midways.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Butler Amusements social profiles
Digital presenceButler Amusements compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Butler Amusements financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Butler Amusements leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Butler Amusements funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Butler Amusements M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Butler Amusements
What does Butler Amusements do?
Butler Amusements operates a traveling carnival business that provides complete midway experiences—amusement rides, midway games, and food concessions—to county fairs, state fairs, festivals, rodeos, corporate events, and film productions across seven western states. The portfolio includes 125+ rides organized into Spectacular, Thrill, Family, and Kiddie categories, with the proprietary Magic Money cashless ticketing system enabling wristband and credit-based access to rides and games.
Is Butler Amusements a public or private company?
Butler Amusements is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Butler Amusements founded?
Butler Amusements was founded in 1970. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Butler Amusements based?
Butler Amusements is headquartered in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong SAR China, in the Asia region.
How does Butler Amusements make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Ride Tickets and Wristbands are the primary driver. The others are magic Money Digital Credits and event Booking Services.
Who are Butler Amusements's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Deggeller Attractions, Wade Shows, North American Midway Entertainment, Powers Great American Midways, Big Rock Amusements, Murphy Brothers Exposition and Reithoffer Shows. Others are FABBRI Group and Chance Rides. Cedar Fair (Six Flags / Cedar Fair merger entity) is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Butler Amusements have an API?
No public API is recorded for Butler Amusements.
What industry is Butler Amusements in?
Butler Amusements's product category is Traveling Carnival and Amusement Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAJAEAD, Amusement Parks (Regional/Local Ride Parks & Funfairs), with a secondary code of THAAAAAA, Amusement Parks & Theme Parks. Its NAICS code is 71311 and its SIC code is 7900.