Stricker’s Grove: The Smallest Amusement Park I’ve Ever Visited

Labor Day weekend is usually the last summer weekend for amusement parks before they switch to weekend only operation and the start of their Halloween activities. It’s a good time to get some last summer coaster rides in at our seasonal parks before the weather starts cooling off. I spent part of my Labor Day adding a few of those hard to get coaster credits to my count when I visited Stricker’s Grove in Ross, Ohio. This tiny, family-friendly park is unique in that it is only open to the public a handful of days each year as their main business model is to serve company picnics, wedding receptions, private parties, and other events.

The park is so small they don’t even need a park map.

The first perk you’ll find when pulling into the grass lot is not having to pay for parking!

The next, and even better perk, was the free, unlimited drinks, which were much appreciated on this 91 degree day.

The Roller Coasters of Stricker’s Grove

Teddy Bear Coaster

The minimum height requirement for most coasters starts at 36 inches so I was pleasantly surprised to see the Teddy Bear Coaster’s height requirement was 35 inches. My son is 35.5 so he was able to get his second coaster credit (after Ladybug at Marineland) and first wooden coaster.

Side note: I believe you really could’ve taken a baby onto the coaster because the un-interested ride op was not checking anyone’s height. Overall, I thought many of the ride ops were just not friendly, at all, which is disappointing to see in a park this size. Maybe it was just the heat?

Tornado

Tornado is the park’s “big” coaster and marquee attraction that acts as a giant billboard positioned alongside the road. It’s a good, classic wooden coaster, not rough at all for being twenty years old, but then again it probably doesn’t get the same amount of wear and tear as other twenty year old coasters have. There’s no real airtime on any of the hills but there are two or three good “butterflies in your stomach” moments.

For a park of this size, this is exactly the type of wood coaster you want, one lacking strong forces to make it easier to maintain. This could be one of the first coasters I’ve ridden in years where I didn’t really know anything about the double-figure eight layout until riding it. And it gets a plus one for having buzz bars!

Stricker’s Grove Video

Here’s a few short clips I added together to give you a feeling for the size of the park, including some shots from the train ride that circles the property.

Is Stricker’s Grove Worth Visiting?

With so few operating days and being located in the middle of nowhere, Stricker’s Grove two coaster credits are not easy to get. However, if all you’re doing is chasing coaster credits, I would not recommend going out of your way to visit. Stricker’s Grove is all about families and your children will surely have a great time and enjoy the short lines. But due to the smaller nature of the rides and small park size, I think you might feel a bit awkward walking around without kids, as well as a lack of things to do. And there’s exactly one restroom, of which my two year old said “We gotta get outta here!”

With a 2-almost-3 year old we spent about two hours in the park. Admission for adults is $12.50. In total, I rode four rides (each coaster, train, and carousel), so a little over $3 per ride. But riding a coaster with your son is priceless, and he got to ride several kiddie rides as well. I am glad to say that after riding the two coasters at Stricker’s Grove, there are now only four roller coasters in the state of Ohio I have not been on.

The next day Stricker’s Grove is open to the public is October 9th, 2016. Stricker’s Grove 2017 new ride is going to be a new frog-hopper style kiddie drop tower and is already installed on site but not complete yet.

Have you been to Stricker’s Grove? What did you think? Is there a wooden coaster out there with a smaller height restriction than 35 inches?

Tags: strickers groveteddy bear coaster