Residents near Wisconsin State Fair cash in during the 11-day event 

Anthony Iczkowski lives just a few hundred feet away from a pedestrian gate to the Wisconsin State Fair in West Allis. 

For the past nine years, he’s opened up his yard as an independent parking lot for fairgoers — for a small fee, of course.

Normally, he charges $10 a car. But on Thursday, one customer only had $7 in cash. 

“I was like, ‘Alright, I’ll do it for that if you buy me a cream puff.’ And they actually brought me a cream puff back,” Iczkowski said. “I’m like, you know I’m making out on this deal.”

Iczkowski said he normally makes around $1,500 during the fair, which saw more than 1 million visitors last year. He uses that money to help pay for his insurance policies.

He normally gets off work at noon, but he took off at 10 a.m. Friday to get ready for what he hopes is a busy weekend. Some days, he even sets up a TV and tent in his front yard to get out of the sun. 

“It’s supposed to be fun, it’s not supposed to be like a job,” he said. 

Parking inside the fairgrounds can cost anywhere from $15 to $25. But outside the grounds, some homeowners charge as low as $10.

Pas Meekhunsut took Iczkowski up on his offer Friday morning. As it turns out, he’s a repeat customer.

“We usually just kind of drive by this street (77th Street), and if there’s no spot, we just pick one, and it just so happens to be the same guy,” Meekhunsut said.

Tammy Lanz has been parking cars in her front yard during the fair for around 30 years. She’s also charging $10 a vehicle. It’s a quick way to make some extra cash, she said.

“I try to keep my prices fair, yet still try to make a little something,” Lanz said.

Lanz said she takes time off from her job during the days of the fair so she can help guide drivers into her front yard. She normally makes a few hundred dollars every year.

“It helps with repairs on the home and taxes,” she said.

Pam and Ken Miller have a home just one block away from the fairgrounds, on the corner of 76th and Washington streets. They have been parking cars at their property for over 20 years. They can fit 11 cars on the property.

“Why not?” Pam said. “We don’t go anywhere the whole 10 days of the fair, so we make our money.” 

Pam estimated they’ll make more than $1,000 this year.

“When we first started, we used to help the grandkids for school supplies and stuff, but now they’re out of school so, it’s our supplies — (it) helps pay the taxes,” Ken Miller said. 

Ronald Lovrine is also getting in on the action. He’s lived in his home near the fairgrounds for more than 50 years, but said he’s only used his yard as a parking lot for the past five years.

“I’m not getting rich, but it keeps me out of the house, gives me something to do,” said Lovrine, who retired five years ago.

Lovrine and others said they often change their prices depending on how busy the fair is and how many cars are rolling through the neighborhood.

“Supply and demand,” Lovrine said.

Iczkowski once changed his price to $25 when traffic was backed up near his house.

“It was like, ope, pull the sign, change the price,” he said.  

The Wisconsin State Fair runs through the end of the day Sunday.