The Music Express manufactured by Wisdom Rides. (Facebook)
Facing injury lawsuits from people allegedly hurt on its rides and the threat of eviction from two of the owner’s relatives, an amusement ride manufacturer has filed for bankruptcy.
Wisdom Rides of America (tagline: “If Wisdom Builds It, It Will Make Money!”) builds coasters and farm equipment in the northeast Colorado town of Merino, population 281. It had revenues of $4.1 million in 2023 and $5.1 million in 2024 but only $355,000 so far in 2025.
“The debtor has a few issues that led to this bankruptcy,” according to owner Jared Davis.
In an affidavit that he filed Aug. 29, Davis explained that Wisdom “has been named in a number of lawsuits as a result of alleged injuries suffered…at amusement parks or fairs around the country.” Wisdom is now a defendant in eight cases, some of which are injury cases.
Second, Wisdom leases its space at 3758 County Road 23.7 from Victor and Mai Wisdom, an aunt and uncle of Davis who are threatening to kick Wisdom Rides off the property.
“There is a dispute over the lease which led to my aunt and uncle posting a three-day notice on the door,” Davis wrote last month. “I assert the debtor is current on the rental obligations.”
“This bankruptcy case has been filed in an effort to stop the eviction process and also provide the debtor with the ability to sell off the amusement park ride portion of the business and continue to operate the farm manufacturing aspect,” according to its sole owner.
Wisdom has opted for a Chapter 11 bankruptcy, which will allow it to restructure its debts while it remains in business. The company lists $6.8 million in debts as of late August.
Kroskob Manufacturing, a Fort Morgan company, is owed $2.1 million that it loaned to Wisdom. The Northeastern Colorado Revolving Loan Fund is owed $465,000 and Sterling Financial $425,000. Victor Wisdom, the uncle, is owed $464,000, according to bankruptcy filings.
A half-dozen amusement parks and fellow ride companies are owed $960,000 in deposits that they sent Wisdom, it says. Dozens of vendors and suppliers also seek payments.
“The debtor’s cash flow situation heading into the bankruptcy case was not ideal,” Davis says of Wisdom, which employs 11. “…The cost of operating the debtor is relatively high.”
The company lists about $1.4 million in assets, primarily accounts receivable and inventory.
Davis did not respond to BusinessDen’s requests for an interview about Wisdom’s future. Its bankruptcy attorney is Jonathan Dickey with Kutner Brinen Dickey Riley in Denver.
The Music Express manufactured by Wisdom Rides. (Facebook)
Facing injury lawsuits from people allegedly hurt on its rides and the threat of eviction from two of the owner’s relatives, an amusement ride manufacturer has filed for bankruptcy.
Wisdom Rides of America (tagline: “If Wisdom Builds It, It Will Make Money!”) builds coasters and farm equipment in the northeast Colorado town of Merino, population 281. It had revenues of $4.1 million in 2023 and $5.1 million in 2024 but only $355,000 so far in 2025.
“The debtor has a few issues that led to this bankruptcy,” according to owner Jared Davis.
In an affidavit that he filed Aug. 29, Davis explained that Wisdom “has been named in a number of lawsuits as a result of alleged injuries suffered…at amusement parks or fairs around the country.” Wisdom is now a defendant in eight cases, some of which are injury cases.
Second, Wisdom leases its space at 3758 County Road 23.7 from Victor and Mai Wisdom, an aunt and uncle of Davis who are threatening to kick Wisdom Rides off the property.
“There is a dispute over the lease which led to my aunt and uncle posting a three-day notice on the door,” Davis wrote last month. “I assert the debtor is current on the rental obligations.”
“This bankruptcy case has been filed in an effort to stop the eviction process and also provide the debtor with the ability to sell off the amusement park ride portion of the business and continue to operate the farm manufacturing aspect,” according to its sole owner.
Wisdom has opted for a Chapter 11 bankruptcy, which will allow it to restructure its debts while it remains in business. The company lists $6.8 million in debts as of late August.
Kroskob Manufacturing, a Fort Morgan company, is owed $2.1 million that it loaned to Wisdom. The Northeastern Colorado Revolving Loan Fund is owed $465,000 and Sterling Financial $425,000. Victor Wisdom, the uncle, is owed $464,000, according to bankruptcy filings.
A half-dozen amusement parks and fellow ride companies are owed $960,000 in deposits that they sent Wisdom, it says. Dozens of vendors and suppliers also seek payments.
“The debtor’s cash flow situation heading into the bankruptcy case was not ideal,” Davis says of Wisdom, which employs 11. “…The cost of operating the debtor is relatively high.”
The company lists about $1.4 million in assets, primarily accounts receivable and inventory.
Davis did not respond to BusinessDen’s requests for an interview about Wisdom’s future. Its bankruptcy attorney is Jonathan Dickey with Kutner Brinen Dickey Riley in Denver.
