Stricker's Grove

Infobox Amusement park
name = Stricker's Grove|

caption =
location = Ross, Ohio
opening_date = 1924
previous_names =
area = 25 acres
season = Closed to the public most of the year.
rides = 16
coasters = 2
water_rides = 0
owner =
slogan = "A park for families and children."
homepage = [http://home.fuse.net/strickersgrove/index.html Stricker's Grove]

Stricker's Grove is a small family owned amusement park located in Ross, Ohio, USA. Unlike other amusement parks, Stricker's Grove is closed to the public for most of the year. Instead, it is rented out for private functions, such as weddings. The park is open to the public for two days a year, on July 4 and the second Sunday in August (Family Day)

History

The park was first started in 1924 in Mt. Healthy, Ohio by Henry Stricker on 55 acres of property. Stricker initially used the land for a place for coworkers to come to on weekends to picnic and enjoy the countryside. A dance hall was later added, and was designed so that if the park failed, it could be converted into a chicken coop.

In the 1940's, a pony card ride was added along with a horse and pony track. The first rides arrived at the park in 1954, including the Boat Ride and the Rockets, both of which remain in operation.

Upon Henry's death in 1960, the park was passed on to his three sons, Harold, Elmer, and Ralph. In 1972, the park was relocated to Ross, Ohio and Ralph became the sole owner.

Rides and attractions

Stricker's Grove currently has several amusement rides, including two "classic" wooden roller coasters.

Tornado

The larger of the roller coasters is "Tornado", designed by Al Collins and built by Ralph Stricker. Construction started in 1990 and finished in 1993. The ride runs a single Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters train. The Tornado is a mirror image of the former John Allen designed Comet at the now defunct Rocky Glen Park. [ [http://www.rcdb.com/id326.htm RCDB - Tornado (Stricker's Grove)] ] [ [http://www.rcdb.com/id448.htm RCDB - Comet (Rocky Glen)] ]

Teddy Bear

The "Teddy Bear" wooden roller coaster is small family sized ride first built in 1996, also by Ralph Stricker. Like the Tornado, the "Teddy Bear" coaster was built from blueprints from was built using the blueprints from the 1935 built Teddy Bear at Coney Island in Cincinnati, Ohio. The coaster has been recognized as an ACE Classic Coaster. [ [http://www.rcdb.com/id325.htm RCDB - Teddy Bear (Stricker's Grove)] ]

Other attractions

* Boat Ride
* Rockets
* Little Cars
* Kiddie Whip
* Turtles (a kiddie sized Tumble Bug)
* Carousel
* Helicopters
* Crazy Daisy
* Train Ride
* Ferris wheel
* Tilt-A-Whirl
* Scrambler
* Flying Scooters
* Topsy Turvy
* Electric Rainbow (Round Up)
* Mini Golf

Pictures

References