One man built his own wooden roller coaster here, by hand, over nearly three years. He’s the only person in the United States known to have pulled that off.
I can’t imagine the patience that took.
The twist? This Ohio park stays closed to the public most of the year.
Companies and wedding parties rent it out instead, so regular folks only get a handful of chances to ride.
On the Fourth of July, admission is free. You pay for rides, but strolling the grounds, grabbing a snack, and catching the fireworks costs nothing at the gate.
I like how this place feels frozen in a sunnier decade.
Classic rides, cotton candy, shady picnic groves, and a family that has kept it going for generations.
So how do you snag one of those rare open days?
A Homemade Wooden Coaster Steals the Whole Show
Most coasters come from big design firms with teams of engineers. At Stricker’s Grove, the star coaster came from Ralph Stricker himself.
He started building the Tornado in November 1990 and finished in June 1993. That makes him the only person in the United States known to construct his own wooden roller coaster.
The ride stands 55 feet tall. That might sound modest next to the giants at bigger parks, but height isn’t the point here.
You’re riding a piece of one man’s stubborn dream, board by board.
Think about what that took. Ralph built the wooden coaster himself, following a design by Al Collins, while running a business.
That’s a lot of weekends spent with a hammer instead of a hammock.
Coaster fans travel from other states just to check this one off their lists. It shows up on enthusiast databases, and it has a story no corporate ride can match.
If your family loves a good tale, share this one while waiting in line. Kids tend to look at the track differently once they know a real person put it together with his own hands.
Bragging rights for the Stricker family, forever.
Little Riders Get a Coaster With a Famous Family Tree
Not every kid is ready for a 55-foot drop. Luckily, the Teddy Bear coaster offers a friendlier introduction to the world of wooden thrills.
Here’s the fun twist. Ralph Stricker assembled this family-sized ride using blueprints from a coaster at the old Coney Island park in Cincinnati, which has since closed its classic ride area.
The Teddy Bear opened in 1996. So when your kids climb aboard, they’re riding a design that thrilled Cincinnati families decades earlier.
That’s a neat way to connect generations.
Grandparents might even remember the original version. Ask them about it during the ride home.
You may hear stories you never knew about summers along the Ohio River.
Height rules apply on some rides for safety, so check the signs before getting your child’s hopes up. Staff take those limits seriously, which parents can appreciate.
For nervous first-timers, this coaster makes a great test run. Ride it once, celebrate the bravery, then decide whether the Tornado is next.
Some kids will want to go again immediately. Others will head straight for the carousel.
Both choices count as a win in my book, honestly.
You Can Spin, Swing, and Soar on Rides Straight Out of a Postcard
Seventeen classic rides fill the grounds. None of them need fancy screens or virtual reality headsets to make you grin.
The lineup reads like a greatest hits album from the county fair. You’ll find a Ferris wheel, a Merry Go Round, a Scrambler, a Tilt A Whirl, a pirate ship, and flying scooters.
Then come the quirky ones. There’s the Electric Rainbow, the Elephants, and a junior drop tower called Freefall.
Each adds its own flavor of fun without overwhelming younger guests.
Toddlers have plenty of options too. Kiddie Boats, Kiddie Cars, Kiddie Rockets, and a Kiddie Whip keep the little ones busy.
A miniature train ride rounds things out nicely.
Fun fact: the very first mechanical rides arrived back in 1954. They included a Boat Ride and Rockets, so kiddie classics have deep roots here.
My advice? Make a loose plan before you arrive.
Let each family member pick one must-ride, then hit those first. After that, wander freely and see what catches your eye.
The Tilt A Whirl has a way with laughter, and the pirate ship pairs well with a strong stomach.
Free Admission on the Fourth Makes Fireworks Even Sweeter
Walking through the gate without paying a cent feels almost rebellious these days. On July 4th, Stricker’s Grove lets you do exactly that.
Admission is free on Independence Day. Rides cost extra, and you can choose individual tickets or an all-day armband.
Parking usually carries a separate fee too.
Fireworks are typically part of the celebration. Picture the classic small-town Fourth, just with a Ferris wheel in the background and cotton candy in your hand.
So what’s the smartest strategy? If your crew plans to ride a lot, the armband often makes more sense than counting tickets all day.
Fewer ride-by-ride decisions means fewer arguments too.
Bring cash. The ticket booths are often cash-only, and nobody wants to leave the line hunting for an ATM in a field.
Also plan for a pause. Ride hours on public days usually include an hour-long break, often around dinnertime.
Use it to eat, rest, and stake out a good spot for the evening show.
This free day ranks among the best holiday deals in Ohio. Arrive with patience, snacks, and a sense of humor about parking.
Mark Your Calendar Now Because Open Days Are Rare
Blink and you’ll miss it. Stricker’s Grove opens to the general public only a handful of days each year, usually somewhere between four and eight.
The rest of the time, groups rent the park for company picnics, weddings, and other private events. Some fans joke it’s the park you’re almost never allowed into.
Public days usually include July 4th and four days in mid-July for the Hamilton County 4-H Community Fair. Family Day falls on the second Sunday in August.
Labor Day often joins the list. Then the season wraps with Customer Appreciation Day on a Sunday in October, a cozy fall finale.
Family Day and Customer Appreciation Day work differently than the Fourth. Those days use one admission price that covers all rides, both coasters, mini golf, and unlimited soft drinks.
Kids two and under get in free.
The October event has even included free popcorn, cotton candy, and sno kones. That’s a sugary bonus round.
Arrangements can shift from year to year, so check the park’s schedule before you go. Then set phone reminders, because these dates sneak up fast once summer gets busy and school calendars take over.
Skee-Ball, Putt-Putt, and a Shooting Gallery Await Between Rides
Rides grab the headlines, but the games deserve some love. Somebody in your group will turn competitive the moment a skee-ball lane appears.
The arcade mixes video games with skee-ball. There’s also a shooting gallery, a classic attraction you rarely spot at modern parks anymore.
Outside, an 18-hole miniature golf course offers a calmer kind of challenge. It’s a nice break when legs need rest but nobody wants to sit still.
Horseshoes add another old-school option. Grandpa might finally get to prove he still has his pitching arm from decades ago.
On Family Day and Customer Appreciation Day, mini golf is included with admission. That makes it easy to squeeze in a round between coaster rides without extra spending.
Here’s a practical tip. Save the putt-putt for that midday ride break.
While the rides pause, the course gives everyone something to do besides staring at the motionless Ferris wheel.
Keep score if you dare. Family rivalries born on a mini golf green tend to last for years.
Just agree ahead of time on the rules about windmill shots and do-overs, or the car ride home gets loud.
Pack a Cooler or Grab a Burger, Your Choice
Hot dogs and cotton candy taste better outdoors. That’s not science, but nobody has proven it wrong yet.
Concession stands serve classic fair-style food. Expect burgers, hot dogs, popcorn, cotton candy, sno kones, and soft-serve ice cream.
Unlimited soft drinks often come with public day admission. On a hot Ohio afternoon, that perk alone feels like a small miracle.
Now for the part budget-minded families will love. Guests are welcome to bring their own food and drinks to enjoy in the picnic areas.
Yes, really.
The park offers large outdoor picnic groves, both covered and uncovered. There’s also an indoor air-conditioned dining hall for when the heat gets serious.
That picnic tradition runs deep. Back in 1924, the grove began as a picnic spot for Henry Stricker’s coworkers.
Packing a lunch here keeps a hundred-year-old habit alive.
My suggestion? Bring a cooler with sandwiches and fruit, then buy treats at the stands.
You save money and still get your cotton candy fix. Lockers are available to rent if you’d rather stash belongings while riding.
Everybody wins, especially whoever claims the last sno kone.
A Century-Old Story Started With Picnics and a Backup Chicken Coop
Talk about a backup plan. When the Stricker family added a dance hall, they designed it to become a chicken coop if the park failed.
Spoiler: the chickens never moved in. The story began in 1924 in Mt.
Healthy, Ohio, on 55 acres owned by Henry Stricker.
At first, the land served as a picnic destination for his coworkers. A pony cart ride arrived in the 1940s, and mechanical rides followed in 1954.
Henry passed in 1960. His three sons, Harold, Elmer, and Ralph, inherited the park and kept it growing.
In 1972, the park relocated to its current home in Ross, and Ralph became the sole owner. He later built both coasters, adding his own signature to the family legacy.
After Ralph passed in 2007, his daughter Debbie stepped in. She runs the park today alongside a team of longtime employees.
That’s a family legacy of commitment to simple, wholesome fun. Very few amusement parks in America can say one family has guided them for a full century.
Next time you ride the carousel, give a quiet nod to Henry and his clever coop idea.
Smart Planning Makes Your Trip to Ross Run Smoothly
Your GPS may identify the address as Hamilton, but don’t panic. The park’s official address is 11490 Hamilton Cleves Rd, Ross, OH 45061.
Ross lies in southwest Ohio, an easy drive for families around the Cincinnati area. The setting feels pleasantly rural compared to busier big-city attractions.
Bring cash for ticket booths, since they’re often cash-only. Budget for parking too, which usually costs a small separate fee.
Leave the dog at home. Pets aren’t permitted, though service animals are welcome.
Designated smoking areas sit around the park for those who need them, keeping the rest of the grounds clear.
Remember that hour-long ride break. Plan your meal around it so nobody gets cranky waiting for the rides to restart.
Check height requirements before promising rides to small children. A quick look at the signs saves tears later.
Finally, think beyond public days. Stricker’s Grove rents out the whole park for company picnics, reunions, church gatherings, and weddings.
If your workplace needs an outing idea, suggest it. Having seventeen classic rides all to your group beats another conference room lunch by a mile, maybe two.
