How to go
What: Stricker’s Grove will celebrate its 90th anniversary with a Family Day.
When: 2-10 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 10, with fireworks at 9:30 p.m.
Where: Stricker’s Grove, 11490 Hamilton-Cleves Road, near Ross in Crosby Twp.
Cost: $12 admission. Children ages 2 and younger get in for free. Price of admission includes all rides, rollercoasters and free parking. Cash only at the entrance gate. ATM available on site. $1 hot dogs, $1 cotton candy, $1 snow cones, $1 round of 18-hole mini golf. Free unlimited soft drinks.
More info: Go online to www.StrickersGrove.com or call (513) 521-9747.
Stricker’s Grove is turning 90. To celebrate the milestone occasion, the amusement park will host a Family Day on Sunday, Aug. 10.
The park will be open to the public from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. A special fireworks display will close out the evening at 9:30 p.m.
Serving close to 500,000 people, annually, about 92 group events were held at the park last year, Ziegler said.
Typically, the park is only open to the public about eight times per year.
Debbie Ziegler (Stricker), co-owner, Stricker’s Grove said, “This means a lot to the family. All of the original owners are now passed away. We started in Mount Healthy in 1924 with a fishing lake. People would come out to picnic and go horseback riding.”
In 1972, the park moved from 1354 Compton Road (now Compton Grove Apartments) to its current location at 11490 Hamilton-Cleves Road, she said.
“We are an old-fashioned, family park,” Ziegler said. “We are one of the few private amusement parks in the United States.”
Stricker’s Grove was originally founded by her grandfather Henry Stricker, who was employed at Procter and Gamble. The park continued under his leadership until the time of his passing in 1960. After his death, Stricker’s three sons, Ralph, Harold and Elmer continued to operate the park in Mount Healthy, until Ralph became the sole owner and relocated the park to its current location in 1972. Today, the park remains family-owned and operated. The first mechanical rides were added in 1954.
“It’s in my blood to put a smile on the faces of the little kids when they ride the rides,” said Ziegler, who is also Ralph’s daughter. “People are looking to stretch their dollar and this is a great way to enjoy a fun day of family entertainment.”
As a family-owned and operated private amusement park, Stricker’s Grove regularly rents to groups organizations and churches for family picnics, wedding receptions and meetings.
“In 1992, we had a picnic cancel and we decided to have our first open-to-the-public day, because of the cancellation,” Ziegler said.
Family Day ride hours are 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. (Rides close one hour for dinner.) The 25-acre outdoor park has about 15 midway rides — a Ferris wheel, a merry-go-round, tilt-a-wheel and scrambler, along with two, wooden roller coasters.
Stricker’s Grove also features an 18-hole miniature golf course, a game arcade, a skee-ball arcade, a concession stand, five horseshoe pits, a baseball diamond, booth spaces, several picnic areas and an air-conditioned hall.
A few of the other festivities throughout the day will include face painting and entertainment from the Elder High School Steel Drum Band.
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