4H Fair at Stricker's Grove

[Hendrick]

Yesterday I went to the 4H Fair at Stricker's Grove. It was my 7th time I believe visiting this small park, one that everyone needs to check out. We drove 4 hours round trip for a park that was only open for 4.5 hours yesterday, but it's worth it. During the 4H fair, crowds are a lot smaller then normal. There were many times that the current ride cycle would only stop once someone else got in line. We rode the train one time, with literally only the conductor and the other ride op on the train. A few changes I noticed:

• Gone are the old push and hold faucets in the bathroom (at least in the men's.) They have finally been replaced with a standard faucet. I know it's small, but I really hated the old ones.
• TipTop had most of it's lights on the outside of the ride replaced. Last year only a handful of them were working, so it was really nice to see almost all of them on.
• Tilt-a-Whirl also had most of it's lights replaced on the outside of the ride.
• The Swing Ship has a sign next to the height chart that says "New for 2015". This sign has read "New in 2014" and "New in 2013" in years past...
• I believe the carousel had received new lights. I'm not 100% positive on this, but I don't remember it looking that nice.
• Tornado had a lot of primer on it at various points, and quite a few gallons of paint of primer below the ride.
• Stricker's Tilt-a-Whirl had often been one of those rides where you just get stuck on the outside of the ride, and you can't go anywhere. While we had a few rides like that, majority of them we spun around quite a few times.
• Same thing with their Scrambler. In the past it was so slow. While it's not nearly as fast as Kings Island, I thought it was perfect. Just fast enough to really move you to the side of the car, but slow enough that a second passenger didn't hurt. It seemed like a new ride to me.
• While the ride was down all day, Electric Rainbow received a new coat of paint (it's now orange and yellow).
• While the rides opened at 5:30, Tornado didn't start until 6:00. They were working on something with the train, and one of their test cycles ended up getting stuck on the final turn around. We were one of the first riders when it opened, and it just ran so slow. Even in the back, the drop that it's famous for was really non existent. As the night went on, the ride definitely picked up the pace, but it still seemed slower then in the past.
• Now, my only petty complaint. The drinking fountain still wasn't working (it was down when I visited in October last year), and they were charging $.25 for small or $.50 for a large cup of water. I guess I could see why they would charge if the water fountain was working, but with the water fountain out, I felt like it should have been free.

Here's a link to a few pictures that I took during my trip: http://imgur.com/a/hIqgA#0

[LoraX]

I am hoping we can go this year to Stricker's Grove. I have heard it's a great park to visit. Sounds like you really like the park.

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[westcoaster]

If you have never visited Strickers Grove its a absolute gem of a park, hope they continue to prosper, recreate, and have a vision for the future.

There roasted corn is off the hook too, incredible.

The rides are great.

[Oldiesmann]

I was there for a while last night as well (got there around 7 and stayed until just before they closed). I was wearing a Beast 35th Anniversary shirt, and when I went to buy my rides wristband, the lady working there asked if I was a coaster enthusiast and where I lived. When I told her I was from Cincinnati she said "Oh, so I guess you've been here before".

Also, thanks to Google, I discovered it's possible to get from my house to Stricker's in only 25 minutes by taking back roads

[coasterfanatic83]

I was hoping to make it this week, but it will have to wait until Family Day in August.