Stricker's Grove

Ross, Ohio – Sunday, August 12th, 2007

(This review is actually from a 2007 trip, written for CoasterSims while on the car ride to the next park. I decided to include it here because it was an interesting, if not short write-up, and I highly doubt I’ll get to return to cover this park more thoroughly any time in the future, as it is only ever open two days a year. This also obviously predates getting an actual camera, since the photos I have to accompany this are grainy, overexposed freeze-frames taken from my old video camera. On the plus side, two full POVs of both coasters are included for your viewing pleasure.)

I got into Stricker’s Grove closer to 6:30. I was a bit disappointed to see they weren’t selling individual ride tickets, since I knew my time was very limited, but ten dollars was a pretty good price for one person (my dad decided to rest in the car.) I can definitely see why the park is usually only open for private events, since about half of the real estate is occupied by a picnic pavilion and a couple of reception/food halls, with a short midway consisting of about three children’s rides, five adult flats, plus the mini-golf, Teddy Bear and Tornado. What it was lacking in size it made up for in charm, and a large number of families and other locals gave it a very energetic atmosphere (as well as slightly longer lines than I was hoping for).

Starting with the Teddy Bear, the coaster was operated by one kid maybe 14-15 years old. Sensing a very laid-back atmosphere, I asked him if it was okay to bring my video camera on, and his response was so indifferent it didn’t even warrant anything beyond a grunt/shrug gesture. The ride itself reminded me of a half of a Zach’s Zoomer, with the first drop having a slight double-dip effect in the back seat.

Tornado was operating with the third-to-last and second-to-last seats roped off with yellow police tape Were they out of order or was there a crime? A police officer also stood in the station, chatting with the woman operating the ride, the only adult ride-op present in the entire park. I managed to nab the back row again for this one, and the guy checking the restraints told me I could do whatever I wanted with my video camera, just as long as I didn’t loose it.

The first drop was pretty good in the back seat, and the ride kept up its pace pretty well on the following turn. The two hills in between were also well-paced but somewhat lacking. After the second turn around we sped over another hill that had a very shallow and leisurely-paced dip between the next dip. This one starts out regularly for a split second, but suddenly turned violent with airtime as it jerk down in what was possibly one of the greatest coaster mistakes ever made. I’m not sure but I think you might be able to hear me swear in the video at this point.

After Tornado I picked up two free soft drinks that were included with admission, tried out the round-up ride (named the Electric Rainbow), where I got a too-long cycle since the ride op had to stop the ride to kick two people off who were taking their feet off the floor when he told them not to, and then decided to give the rest of us a double cycle after that first partial cycle for being so cooperative. I then tried the Flying Scooters, the only other adult ride in the park with a short wait. It’s been a long time since I’ve been on a Flying Scooters, and I understand that they’ve developed quite a cult-following. I had fun, but since I was inexperienced with the rudder I was unable to get as high as I saw some fellows do later in the evening.

I finished the evening off with a final ride on the Tornado. The guy checking the restraints walked over and then sat in the track while the train was out on the circuit, checking his cellphone while the woman at the operator’s panel was saying “I’m not gonna stop it when it comes in—I like cutting off legs.”

And that’s just the kind of place Stricker’s Grove is, apparently.

The same guy disappeared suddenly after unloading the guests in the train before me, leaving the station unattended for five minutes, save for the lady behind the control panel. When he returned I found out he was walking the tracks looking for a kid’s hat that blew off. I also managed another back-row ride, and despite the extra preparation I still cursed at the sudden volatile air-hill.

With the time closing in on 8:00, and with our hotel booked in Pigeon Forge five hours away, I had to call it a day, grabbing a quick park dinner for the car on the way out.