Captain Nemo Posted October 15, 2007 Share Posted October 15, 2007 Count-down from 3... 3 men 2 girls 1 park 3+2+1= 6 hours of total ride fun at Strickers Grove! Who are these three men who will partake in this Trip-Report? Bill, AKA (Zosobeast)! Special qualities... uh... Loves The Beast! Robbie, AKA (CoastersRZ)! Special qualities... If I even have to go on with the list! Gabriel, AKA (Captain Nemo)! Special Qualities... He is special in his own special way! First off, before I begin, thanks to The Interpreter for the heads up on the park being open! May you never EVER leave this forum! So I have never been to Strickers Grove before, to tell the truth I had no idea where it was. Actually I didn't know it was really that close to Cincinnati. All I know is that it apparently is a great place to hang out and get some good times on rides. KIC Forums once in a while have topics talking about the park but I never look or reply in them because I had such limited knowledge of the park. What I did know is that is had some wooden coasters that apparently attract ACE and other coaster enthusiasts. I love my wooden coasters. So my last class at Wright State (GO RAIDERS) ended on Friday and I head on home. It is about at forty-five to an hour drive but listening to 94.9 The Sound speeds it up. Upon arriving home I do my 'forum check' and wouldn't you know it Interpreter once again gives me a heads up in a topic of his about the park opening on Sunday. My initial plan was to lay low and not go till I heard some of the KIC team may go. Saturday night it ended up being down to Robby, Bill, and I going. Those other losers (Ryan, Dane, and Ronny) were I guess already were having to much fun listening to Ronny play the harmonica than go to the park. Bill (Zosobeast) set up a meeting time at 1PM to meet at the Grove. Because this was my first time ever going to the park I had no idea where the place was, and on top of that if I got lost, my phone (a Verizon Chocolate, BTW) was battery dead. I left at around 12:10 with a sweat shirt guessing it would be a cold day. I agreed with Robbie to meet me halfway, this way I would carpool with him and not have the chance of getting lost. Like always we talked about goings on in the world of Kings Island, but we talked more about the Grove. Approaching the park is much like how I remember approaching Holiday World. Corn... Corn... Corn... and then in front of you a roller coaster. At first glance I realized how small the park really was. All I could see was the Tornado, and a couple of flats. Pulling into the parking the smaller Teddy Bear became visible but like interpreter said it was closed. Walking up to the entrance I busted out my trusty Credit Card. I asked Robbie if they take card and he just shook his head and said, "I think it's a money box". One thing I learned is to never doubt Robbie, he knows his stuff. Walking up I found it was only a money box. I had only one dollar on me. I also learned from Robbie that day that he always seems to be prepared for these kinds of dilemmas. He lent me the rest to get in (Thanks again buddy I promise to pay you back). Walking into the park my first thought were mostly good. Looks like a nice small park, actually it seemed more like a permanent fair. We both walk the midway, passing the flats and the new '08 attraction, but I will get to that later! The park was a lot smaller than I expected, finding Bill will be like finding a needle in 10 peaces of hay. Walking the midway I really was not looking for bill but looking at the rides. Looking at the kiddy rides reminded me on the time I used to ride them. I remember riding the boats when I was just a small tike and going on small ferris wheels. We arrived in front of the Tornado. Looked like a fun ride. Robbie did warn me saying I do not know air-time/out of your seat sensation until I ride Tornado. Bill was not in sight and was not picking up his phone, so like all coaster buffs do we ditch him and get in line for Tornado. I really was getting pumped up, especially with Robbie reminding me about this 'surprise' out of your seat part of the ride, And yes just to let you all know there were two Acers is line... three now that I think of it . After pointing out the Acers, Robbie told me that the back seat is the way to go and I agreed. The train arrives back into the station and we get our seats in the back. While the attendant is checking bars a kid in front of me looks back at me and says "Bengals suck, Go Colts!" I guess it was my Bengals hat I was wearing. I noticed how differently they check restraints and send coasters out of the station. To tell the truth, I liked the fact that they did not need any thumbs up, and they had no green boxes and stand as close as they wanted to the track. The train leaves the station and ascends the lift chain. It is such a short lift it feels like once you start you already at the top. The first drop gave that classic wooden feeling, not to smooth but not to rough, just that jerky motion all woodies have. Second drop led into what I thought before riding were intense air-time hills. It was nothing more than the same feeling of going straight as if no hills were there. The third drop is where Robbie gave me the short but informative message "Here it comes". Going back up after the third hill came some small jumps before heading back down. When I say "heading back down" I am not using the phrase lightly. It literally, Sends, You, Down!!! The wheels basically jump off the track, and the back of the train is what receives the recoil. It basically Whiplashes you down that sucker. It was fun, but at the same time unpleasant. It was quite unexpected even though I knew I would be expecting it. I'm unsure what I said exactly after the... experience, but I'm sure somewhere after it I probably blurted out "Holy (four letter word)". I was still feeling it as we pulled back into the station. I just did NOT expect THAT! I really... REALLY, did NOT expect it! REALLY! Exiting the station all I could do is repeat that to Robbie. Still recovering from 'THAT', we walk the midway back towards the entrance continuing our search for Bill. I mean, if you know Bill he is not that hard to miss. We also knew he had his two daughters there so it would be dang near imposable to not see him. That park had at least no more than 200 people inside. As we are walking back a small thought came into my head. "How are we possibly going to stay here till 8:00!?" It is such a small park and I had no clue how I would survive seven hours with the limited amount of rides there were. Robbie finally got a call from Bill, who was in the park. We headed back towards Tornado, passing the "Coming in 2008" sign, but still that comes later. How bill got through us will forever be a mystery, but he and his girls were in line for the Tilt-a-Whirl, or as Robbie call is, Tilt-a-hurl. I explained how imposable it was to have not seen you in this park. Bill and his girls rode the tilt-a-whirl. I myself never remember being on one, and it looked tame. When they were finished riding Bill, Robbie, and I decided to go on Tornado. I made the flat out decision and told the guys I don't want to sit in or near the back. As much as they wanted to go in the back Bill and I agreed on sitting near the front. Bill and I step into the first car, 3rd seats (or seat 13). Bill continually tried to pull down the Single-Position Lapbar witch was locked in place until the operator releases it. I lean over and tell him, "No matter how hard you try to pull that down, it's not going anywhere". The ride attendant overheard this and smiled and said "I like you, I can’t agree with you more!" From there on till the train left the station we just continued to bash Bill for his strange restraint ways. On a different note I will say that the front has a much less whip during the Slammer part of the ride. Arriving back into the station I make sure Bill knows not to pull up on the restraint until we are at a full stop and you hear them unlock. I could tell Bill probably wanted to punch me. Walking back into the midway we all just don’t agree on it, but we know we must ride the Flying Scooters. While they are not as big, or fast, it was something that had to be done. Unlike other rides, the line for this ride did not matter. If you did not run to a car you weren’t riding because the kids behind you wound dash in front of you if you walked. So I got my own bird, Bill got his own, Robbie did not get a bird to ride in, poor chap had to skip this one out. The ride still has that great Flying Eagles feeling but just did not have the speed, or snapping the eagles had. After the flight down memory lane it was time to take a spin on tilt-a-whirl. All three of us thought that maybe the more weight in a car the faster it will spin, that seemed to be what was happening for two women currently on the ride. Once it was our turn to get on, all three of us entered one car. Sadly our plan went nowhere, literally. We basically got one whip on the ride. Still the single whip from the ride was enough to make me want to try it again. I mean we had 5 hours left in the park, with its number of rides we were probably going to ride everything over and over. Next up was 'Spin the Apples'. Nothing like a name of a ride that also gives you directions on what to do! The ride was insigne... that is if you spin it fast enough. As our last ride before the hour break where all the rides close the choice was made to go on the Ferris wheel. I can't remember the last time I had been on a Ferres wheel to tell the truth. At 5:00 all the rides closed so all the ride attendants could go on break. For that hour break we stayed in the park. Again to my disappointment, food was cash only. This time good budday Bill took care of it. By the way, I am not a freeloader! So I had myself two hamburgers. Good thing drinks were free that day, as well were popcorn, snow cones, and cotton candy. We all found a table to sit at, and the antics really started to pick up. Without going into detail on everything that happened during that hour, things that did happen were as followed: A kid cutting in front of me and getting the BIG STICK of cotton candy, Feeling sad for a dog in the back of a truck, Dancing to the Cha-Cha without leaving my seat, watching Bills kids build a cup tower, and finally finding out what we thought was a ride was actually just some farm equipment. Before the hour ended I thought back on when I said to myself how on earth I will be able to have fun and not get bored with the limited amount of rides there were. It was turning out to be the best time I had ever had at any park! At 6:00 the rides reopened, that is all except Teddy Bear and the new '08 attraction (but the '08 attraction is not important right now, it can wait a bit longer). Even in a small park like this I was surprised that the running of the bulls event happened once the gates opened (Running of the bulls is a term ride employees use to descried the crowd running to be first in line when a park opens its gates). The Cream of the Crop that really got me was seeing a father practically drag his daughter during the run. We gradually walked back to Tornado to give it another spin. By now the ride attendants knew who we were and couldn't get enough of my speech to Bill about the restraints. This time I agreed to go in the back row again. Now the first time in the back row the Slammer part of the ride was okay but fun, the second time it was really not that pleasant. Not that it was pleasant the first time it was just something I did not want to experience again. Bill and I were done with the back row after that. We took another spin on the flying scooters then the Tilt-a-whirl, then back to the Tornado where this time we agreed anywhere as close to the front as possible. Bills kids got on before we did, and wouldn't luck have it got to ride it twice in a row since it did not slow to a stop in the station. It was at this time Bill had to say "Right now they are living my dream, they are grounded!" Hope was not lost though. Becoming palls with ride attendants have there incentives as Bill, Robbie, and I got double rides as well. The sun had already set after we had been on a couple more rides after our double ride on Tornado. We agreed on one last ride on Tornado where events that shall not be said took place, but these events made our night and surly got me smiling. The last ride on Tornado was a great, sat in seat 12. Everyone left happy, Bill had his pictures and videos, Robbie found out the year their scrambler opened, Bills girls got a Garfield doll, and I had the most fun I had ever had at any park. I just can't wait for the '08 attraction. It's a Blues Skidoos but only elephants! Thanks for taking the time to read this gargle mesh, hope you had fun reading it as I did writing it! Have a great day. -Captain Nemo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avatar Posted October 15, 2007 Share Posted October 15, 2007 I wish I lived closer to Cinci for those quick opportunity trips. I thought the new attraction must have opened this year and was named the twilight zone after hearing about bill paying for your food. Sounds like you guys had a great time and you got a new experience with a old park, thanks for sharing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOPGUN1993 Posted October 15, 2007 Share Posted October 15, 2007 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZosoBeast Posted October 16, 2007 Share Posted October 16, 2007 Words do this no justice: 8fhtkWg4xrY You can also find a few pictures here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buchers Posted October 16, 2007 Share Posted October 16, 2007 ^ What a dork!!! But I say that in the best possible way cause I am a dork too! Looks like you sure had a good time, loved the dance. hehe My wife either hits me or runs when I do stuff like that in public, she's no fun, no fun at all I tell ya! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cory Butcher Posted October 16, 2007 Share Posted October 16, 2007 haha what a piece of work, lol Looks like you all had some fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted October 16, 2007 Share Posted October 16, 2007 Doncha worry! I ain't going nowhere! Quite literally of late, but that's another story. Glad y'all had fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoastersRZ Posted October 16, 2007 Share Posted October 16, 2007 Yep. Had a fun time, and always do at Stricker`s Grove. You forgot to mention Gabriel that the train was also not operating due to maintenance. (Teddy Bear was down due to some extensive retracking at the top of the lift hill and the first turn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Nemo Posted October 16, 2007 Author Share Posted October 16, 2007 I probably only act like that in front of Bill, why? I don't know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raptor Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 Yeah I missed Strickers Grove For the first open to the public date in 4 years as I was out of town. Brings back memories of Kings Island when I was a kid, I usually squish into the kiddie whip, the kiddie turtle (tumble bug) and my only chance now a days to ride the flying scooters. They have the best desserts for reasonable prices, not to mention the free soft drinks, I do miss the steak burgers that they use to have, now they just have the regular burgers but they are good. I don't know if you sat in the back seat on the tornado or not but you really fly out of your seat on that hill if you get in the back. Last year they sent the train through 3 times without us having to get off because of the short line that was awesome. I love going to that park very old fashioned, reminds you of a park out of the past when there use to be little amusement parks in just about every town, always a lot of fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 ...and the Silver Queen roasted corn. The fresh tomatoes and onions... I only wish Ralph were still among us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raptor Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 Indeed RIP Mr. Sticker, your memory lives on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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