originally posted on 6/18/2021 12:26:12 PM
Photo: Jimmy Titko. View full-sized image.
How fun is it to visit a park that is seldom open to the public? That question was answered for the 165 attendees who gathered at Stricker’s Grove on a cool, overcast Saturday of Memorial Day weekend. Picnic at the Grove was the first organized ACE event on a closed-to-the-public day at the Ross, Ohio, park in 14 years (since Coaster Con XXX). Some of the guests, from 13 states, traveled great distances for this event, the ones from California traveling the farthest. For Grace Kelley from Illinois, Picnic at the Grove was her first-ever ACE event. She left for Ohio the night before and traveled via Greyhound bus to see this small, traditional family park, founded in 1924 by Henry Stricker.
Dan Jones, Earl Shick, Bill Chachko and Susan Shick welcome attendees at the registration table.
Photo: Jimmy Titko. View full-sized image.
Attendees greeted one another enthusiastically at registration, which began at 11:30 a.m. For some, this was their first event or park visit since the COVID-19 pandemic made group gatherings potentially dangerous. The concession stand opened at 12:30 p.m. with free popcorn, cotton candy, sno kones, soft drinks and soft serve ice cream included as part of event admission. Cotton candy flavors changed every few hours throughout the day, so it wasn’t surprising to see a pink version at one time and a blue one later on. Beer was available for purchase, as were the arcade games, but every attendee received four free Skee-Ball tickets as an inducement to play. Stricker’s Grove’s 18-hole mini golf course was also free all day.
Mini golf.
Photo: Jimmy Titko. View full-sized image.
At 1 p.m. rides opened, and most attendees headed straight for the two wood coasters, Tornado and Teddy Bear. Tornado, the first-built and larger of the two, opened in 1993. It was designed by Al Collins of Kings Island and built by Ralph Stricker, son of the park’s founder. Tornado is a mirror image of the former Comet at Rocky Glen Park (Moosic, Pennsylvania). Its one 18-passenger train is from the Philadelphia Toboggan Company. Attendees who had never ridden Tornado were surprised at the airtime on this 55-foot-tall coaster that speeds around its double out-and-back layout at 45 mph.
Tornado.
Photo: Jimmy Titko. View full-sized image.
Teddy Bear, which opened in 1996, is an ACE Coaster Classic and was also built by Ralph Stricker using blueprints from the defunct Teddy Bear at Coney Island in Cincinnati, Ohio. Also featuring a double out-and-back layout, this smaller family coaster runs one Philadelphia Toboggan Company train along its bright blue-and-white 700-foot track.
Teddy Bear.
Photo: Jimmy Titko. View full-sized image.
In addition to the two wood coasters, attendees could ride Tilt-A-Whirl, Scrambler, Electric Rainbow (Round Up), Train, Merry Go Round, Ferris Wheel, Free Fall and Pirate Ship. The Flying Scooters weren’t running, but there were also several kiddie rides, and adults were thrilled to learn that they were allowed to ride the Kiddie Whip!
Beginning at 3:30, attendees could enjoy a dinner buffet of hot dogs, sausages, burgers and sides in an indoor dining hall and could peruse the silent auction items as well. And there was more. During dinner, an unknown man entered the hall, stood on the table by the door and offered to baptize anyone who was willing to accept Jesus that day. He then abruptly left and was not seen again.
Wearable Stricker’s Grove auction items were prized because the park doesn’t have a gift shop.
Photo: Jimmy Titko. View full-sized image.
After some announcements by Regional Rep Jimmy Titko, attendees were treated to a brief history of Stricker’s Grove by Ralph Stricker’s niece, Pam Stricker. She provided details about the early days of the park, its first location and the current schedule and operations. A Q&A followed.
After the Q&A, Titko announced that ACE Eastern Great Lakes was donating $500 to Stricker’s Grove for the upkeep and maintenance of its two wood coasters. Silent auction winners were announced, and attendees were free to ride more rides and play more mini golf until the park closed.
Pam Stricker and Jimmy Titko hold a check symbolizing the region’s donation to Stricker’s Grove for the upkeep of their wood coasters.
Photo: Jimmy Titko Collection. View full-sized image.
For many attendees, this event was their first visit to Stricker’s Grove, but comments overheard throughout the event suggest that it won’t be their last. Attendees thanked the ACE Eastern Great Lakes regional rep team and Stricker’s Grove for this fun day.
— Lee Ann Draud, ACE Publications Director
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