TR: Stricker's Grove - 6/17/12
Trip Report: Stricker's Grove
Ross, OH
June 17, 2012
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Every
year my parish, St. Cecilia’s hosts their parish picnic at Stricker’s
Grove on Father’s Day. This
year April and Dave had expressed an interest in joining me, and at the last
minute April asked if she could bring Adam. So, with all that settled, we were set
for a day at the park. I started the day with Mass, brunch, and then a trip
past the grocery to pick up our contribution to the pot luck dinner. In the end, this was just as well because
we had a heavy downpour pass through the area between 1 and 2. Shortly after 2, we headed out to the
park. There is some construction
between Norwood Lateral and I-75, so we used the alternate route the church had
published in the event flyer.
Essentially you head out Colerain Ave to 128, and approach the park from
the opposite direction.
Once
we arrived at the park, shortly before 3, we found a parking space, walked in
the front gate, and dropped our food off to the big hall. The event includes free parking, free
admission, free rides, free dinner, free soft drinks, and free beer. We picked up some drinks, and then I
meddled around the picnic grove waiting for the others to arrive. While I waited I signed up for my usual
blackjack dealing assignment at the church festival next month.
Once
the rest of the ride fanatics arrived, we got some free drinks and then headed
to the midway. In the Skee Ball building,
I noted they have replaced the skee ball machines with newer models. The midway layout itself hasn’t
changed this year, it’s basically one long straight midway. Starting from the entrance and heading
back, on the left you see a Carousel, Dumbo (yes the park has the guts to call
it Dumbo), Train, Ferris Wheel, Tip Top, Scrambler, Tilt-A-Whirl, Pirat, and
ending up at the Tornado wood coaster at the very back. On the right hand side, you have the
kiddie rides: boats, cars, planes, turtle, whip, and the Teddy Bear junior wood
coaster. Past the Teddy Bear but
before the Tornado are the Flying Skooters and Super Round Up.
We
all headed back to the Flying Skooters and had a somewhat satisfying if snap
free ride. The ride does have great
visuals as you fly over and near the wood coasters. From the Flying Skooters we headed to
the Tornado. With the light crowd
they were giving double rides on the Tornado. In the past they would allow re-rides if
nobody was in line, but if even one person was in line, you had to walk
around. This year they were giving double
rides, by which time a small line would have assembled. Last year, we had commented on how
smooth the Tornado was running, but now it is back to its usual self, which
means the two wonderful pops of airtime are back. Tornado isn’t the biggest wood
coaster, at only about 55’-60’ tall, but it based on a proven Herb
Schmeck design, the Rocky Glen Mighty Lightning.
From
the Tornado, we headed to the other wood coaster, the Teddy Bear, modeled after
a coaster of the same name at Cincinnati’s Coney Island back in the 30’s Or the standard PTC kiddie wood
coaster. It’s a smallish wood
coaster, but its not a bad ride at all.
From the Teddy Bear, we took rides on the Ferris Wheel, and by the time
that ride had ended it was time for dinner. At Stricker’s Grove the rides
close down during the dinner break, which gives the operators a built in break,
and makes it easy to get the entire family to the dinner table. We headed up to the front of the park
for the longest line fo the day, that to pick up our picnic meal of burgers,
hot dogs, brats, potato salad, roast corn and all the side dishes and deserts
people had brought. Dinner was a
social affair, and we had a great conversation over food before heading back to
the rides.
After
dinner, we started out with a ride on the train. Sometimes, we have seen some interesting
things on the train, but that hasn’t been the case for awhile. The train is the classic circle the park
train ride, including the parking lot.
The big feature of the train ride is the impossibly small tunnel under
the park entrance road. After the
train ride, we took a ride on the world’s slowest Scrambler, another double
ride on the Tornado, and a ride on the Flying Skooters. After that we went to get more drinks
and ice cream.
After
the ice cream, there was a bit of a disagreement between April and Adam
regarding leaving Stricker’s for Kings Island and Diamondback or playing
mini golf at Strickers. I would
normally be willing for the jump to Kings Island, but due to special
circumstances that isn’t an option this year. Which meant, I had no choice, so I could
step back and watch the discussion play out. In the end, we deicded on the round of
mini golf. The parks mini golf
course is located in the very back of the picnic grove, and runs alongside the
Teddy Bear. Mini golf is not
included in the picnic, but at only $3 for an 18 hole game, it is very reasonable. The course itself, is very typical of a
1970’s era mini golf. All but
one of the standard moving targets have been removed and the obstacles are
typical 70’s stuff, like the metal loop, or the pinball bridge, the
lighthouse (the park removed the moving target, but put a gumball light up
top). For the most part the course
is in good condition. One hole has
the carpet torn up pretty bad, but other than that, it’s in good
shape. It has a couple unusual
holes, like one where the tee mat could be easily missed as it is right next to
a pipe that runs under a flower bed.
Yes, you tee off right into that pipe. Then, there is a large diamond shaped
green. It appears to be a simple straight
shot, but as Dave said, “These are the holes that scare me, what am I
missing?” The final hole is a lot harder than it should be, it’s
the usual Putt Putt Golf and Games final hole, except they didn’t put the
short drop at the end of the tall hill so the ball can’t roll back down
once it gets to the top.
It
takes awhile to play mini golf, and so we were the last group in from playing,
which left just under a half hour to go in the park operating day. We stopped
by for some drinks, and then the rest of the ride nuts went to Kings Island,
and I headed home.