Stricker's Grove: October 13th, 2013

[MDMC01]

Hey all, I just got back from Stricker’s Grove near Ross (OH) and it was a blast! This trip was a big deal because this was the first new theme park I’d been to in 5 years (last one was Six Flags Great America in 2008). Here’s what went on during the awesome day:

I got there around 11:30 and waited until the park opened at 12. As it turned out, I was the first KICer there (and one of the first people there in general). I just listened to some music and then waited for others to show up. NoChickens and Mrs. NoChickens arrived shortly after I did and we talked. Finally, the gates opened and we went in. The first thing I noticed was that the park was divided between the rides area (which opened at 1PM) and the picnic area/food stands/arcade area. After taking a look around, I decided to play some skeeball, which was really fun. I played eight rounds (1 token each) and ended up earning approx. 11 tickets. I then had a hotdog and chips for lunch while chatting with other KICers. The hotdog was really good, but the chips were surprisingly just ok.

The gates finally opened and I decided to make Teddy Bear my first ride (and coaster) of the day. I sat in the back because I knew that I got good air on Woodstock's Express at KI (which is a bit similar) and I thought the same would happen here. It was a pretty fun ride and a good pick for the first ride of the day. I then made a beeline to one ride I had been wanting to ride ever since I had planned this trip: the Round-Up (or as it’s called at Stricker’s, the Electric Rainbow). It was a pretty unique ride as centripetal force left you stuck to the wall and it got interesting once the ride went vertical. Although it was fun, I did have to sit and recover from the awesomeness.

After this, I decided to ride the park’s second coaster, The Tornado. I ended up sitting in the second to last seat (back) and had heard about the airtime back there. Overall, the first drop was great and “the cliff” of airtime (as it’s called) did catch me off guard, but not really in a good way. Also, I noticed that the turn after the first drop reminded me of Son of Beast’s drop/turn section before the big drop. After this, I decided to do my new favorite ride, Electric Rainbow, again. I then decided to ride the Turtle, a Tumble Bug ride similar to the old Boo-Boo’s Baggage Claim kiddie ride that used to reside in Hanna Barbara Land when KI was owned by Paramount. That turned out to be a bit more forceful than I expected, but it was all good.

I then made my way to the Tip Top. It’s basically one of those spinning cup rides on steroids as it raises up and down while you are spinning. I had seen a Youtube video of one of these rides and had watched the ride cycle before I got the chance to ride. I was a little nervous as I’m not typically one to try those “crazy flat rides”. It was not as bad as I thought (it looks a lot worse than it really is), but I found it really hard to spin and therefore didn’t spin much. This all changed when I rode it again with fellow KIC member ZombieNinja, who spun it like crazy!!! It turned into one of the most intense rides of my life, but it was great! I then went back to the old favorite Electric Rainbow for a third time. It was around this time that I noticed that my head hurt due to the lack of padding on the wall that you are standing on (preferably for head support). This seems vital as you are pushed into your “seat” by force and I think more padding would make it a more comfortable ride.

After this, I rode the train with NoChickens, Mrs. NoChickens and their nephew. I was advised to ride the train by a friend of mine, and it was worth it! The tunnel reminded us all of The Beast’s first tunnel as the train seemed like it wouldn’t fit and the material the tunnel was made out of reminded me of the concrete used for the third tunnel (after the break shed in the first half of the ride). After this, I decided to brave the tilt-a-whirl. As some of you may or may not know, I had a very bad experience riding a tilt-a-whirl while visiting Michigan’s Adventure when I was younger (I didn’t like it, but had to ride a second time). Thankfully, the results were not the same here; I loved it. I especially loved spinning really tightly and fast, which was the part I used to hate the most. I then rode Electric Rainbow for a fourth and final time (I had to quit because of the head issue I mentioned earlier, which made the ride a bit less enjoyable). I then tried to win a Homer Simpson stuffed animal at a ball toss game, but failed (my aim was mostly too short).

It was around this time that Gator and his family had gotten to the park, so after they exited the Teddy Bear, we (as in, all the KICers present) decided to ride Tornado before the line closed down for dinner. Most of us made it on one train and I led a “K-I-C” chant up the lift. The airtime “cliff” was taken a bit better as I was sitting towards the front, but it was still noticeable. It was after this that I wanted to ride the Whip as I’d never been on a Whip before. It was pretty cool and was definitely different.

The time was about 4 o’clock and the rides had shut down for the hour break for dinner. During this time, I tried to coordinate all the KIC’ers sitting in the same table (or at least in the same area), which sort-of worked. It was also during this time that I thought we should all have a KIC mini golf tourney as sort-of a team building activity. Most people were cool with the idea, so after we ate (I had another hotdog), 9 of us played a round of 18 holes at the mini-golf course. JCGoble came in first place, RaptorGuy came in second place and OhioColts came in third place. A great time was had by all and I suggested that if we have a KIC gathering at Stricker’s next year, we should definitely do another mini-golf tourney like this (seriously, we should!).

After golfing, I decided to ride the Flying Scooters (very similar to the old Flying Eagles there were at KI) and although it was a fun ride (I got a Nickelodeon orange tub), it didn’t really do much for me. After this, I decided to do the tilt-a-whirl again and surprisingly spun more this time than I did the first time. With not much time left (I wanted to get on the road before dark), I decided to ride Tip Top and Teddy Bear (this time near the front) with BeastForever before cashing in my skeeball tickets and calling it a day (by the way, I got a cool frog-hopping toy like I had when I was little and two tops for those Skeeball tickets). Overall, it was a great day and I had a blast. Thanks to all the KICers who joined me on this amazing day of awesomeness and I’m definitely looking forward to bigger and better coaster destinations in the future.

-MDMC01

Top Rides: Tilt-a-Whirl (both times), Electric Rainbow (1^st and 2^nd times only), Tip Top (2^nd time only)

PS: As with the Dollywood TR last year, I apologize that there are no pictures to go along with the Trip Report as I only took one picture while I was there. Also, here's a breakdown of the ride count:

Electric Rainbow: 4

Flying Scooters: 1

Teddy Bear: 2

Tilt-a-Whirl: 2

Tip Top: 3

Tornado: 2

Turtle: 1

Train: 1

Whip: 1

[GamesAndRides]

Great Trip Report! I really Hoped i could go but i was to tired from Halloween Haunt last night

May I ask what happned on the tilt-a-whirl?

[MDMC01]

When I was younger, the tilt-a-whirl's fast spins made me feel sick (I didn't eat anything before riding) and I didn't really want to go on it again, but I did anyway...

[jdf21972]

Always enjoy my church's parish picnic in July every year and the kids enjoy the coney mall type rides. They get those spinning rides that KI no longer has and enjoy the small area.

Sent from my iPhone using Taptalk

[malem]

Nice report - glad you all had fun! Perhaps I should make the ~130mi drive next year.

Organizing a mini-golf tournament was a great idea. I may have embarrassed myself, though; I had the highest score in a group of ~40 the last time I played mini-golf.

[jcgoble3]

Great report!

Yeah, I've always been somewhat of a "ringer" at miniature golf. I probably would have done even better if I had brought my own putter, which gives me a bit finer control over the ball. As it was, I shot 53, RaptorGuy shot 56, ohiocolts 59, Mark (can't recall his screen name) 60, MDMC01 63, and ohiocolts's sister... I'll be nice and not post her score. That's all the scores from the two scorecards I kept; XGatorHead 8904 has the other, which has the scores for him, Mrs. Gator, and GatorGirl. They were all in the 60s.

[Mrs. No Chickens]

Great trip report! It was a fun day! We didn't get to play golf. We had that yuk thing called work to go to.

[zombieninja]

Great trip report!

Tornado and Tip Top were both good rides that really surprised me. It was nice to hear a real working carousel organ again.

This park has a lot of charm.

[ohiocolts]

Great report! It was awesome seeing everybody, and getting 3rd in Mini Golf!

[VortexBFForever]

I would've thought of coming, but I was at Kings Island that day

If I am able to do it next year, I can't wait to play the miniature golf! I'm pretty good at it...some of you better watch out!

[jcgoble3]

If we're going to do another miniature golf tournament next year, then I'm going to bring my own putter for the title defense. Then you'll need to watch out!

[coasterfanatic83]

As long as it doesn't break any of the official mini golf rules (section 3), go for it!

http://www.minigolfsport.com/rules/2_3.pdf

[jcgoble3]

^

3. The putter
3.1 Minigolf and golf putters may be used. Other golf clubs are permitted only if so defined in the system-specific rules.
3.2 The putter must have no gadgets for aiming. Notches and lines on the putter head are permitted.
3.3 The area of the putter face must not exceed 40 square centimetres.

I'm good.