Photo TR: Whoring across Ohio!

[CoasterFanatic]

OK. Since we have been to Ohio the last three weekends, I figured that I would spice things up this weekend and offer a little change of pace. That's right ... this weekend we are going ... BACK TO OHIO!

 

In probably one of my worst "credit-whore" inspired trips, we are heading to Wyandot, Kings Island, Wonderpark and Strickers Grove. All in the course of about 24 hours!

 

Enjoy the photos and be sure to leave your comments.

 

We left Weirton about "noonish" on Saturday and headed to Columbus where are first stop would be Wyandot Lake. I figured with the parks sale completing at the end of the year that it would be best to check this one just in case. We paid the $3 parking (remember this is a Six Flags park) and headed to the gate where we were greeted with this sign.

 

The Midway.

 

Wyandot is a fairly small park that was acquired by Six Flags as part of the Funtime Parks (Geauga, Darien, etc) acquisition. I don't think that ever really knew what to do with it.

 

As usual, if there is a waterpark anywhere we go, you better believe that it is PACKED!

 

The waterpark, however, is not why we came here. The Sea Dragon was the biggest motivating factor.

 

The Sea Dragon is a John Allen/PTC Junior woodie. It also has the distiction of being one of those "Classics" due to it's old school operation. As you can see in this photograph, it is still operated by hand and features single-position "buzz" bars.

 

The brakeman hard at work.

 

The first drop.

 

Drop Number Two.

 

The Sea Dragon, like most of the other Allen Juniors, was a very fun ride but it did have a little of a noise "bangy" streak.

 

The park also has a nice little 1914 Mangels Carousel that was originally at Olentangy Park in Columbus. This "Mangles" machine features a full set of wood horses.

 

After grabbing some food around Columbus, our next stop was Kings Island. Catrina and I aren't really big fans of this park anymore, but we did want to stop by and get a ride on Italian Job. Neither of us has yet to ride one.

 

Oh Bloody Hell!

 

To their credit, the line was very well organized and I did not see one "jumper" the whole time. We waited the full queue, but still managed to get on in about 40-45 minutes. Kudos to the great crew! They were running this thing about as good as you can.

 

While in line, you can see most of IJ's layout. The coaster features a launch right out of the station into this triple helix.

 

I know that the park has been taking some heat for the lackluster effects, but apart from sound problems in the car, the ride seemed to being running as designed.

 

As you approach the station, you walk right by the big finale.

 

"Almost there ... Stay on target!"

 

In the end, the ride was worth the stop. I thought for a "Family" oriented ride, IJ really fills the niche. It is a lot of fun and the whole family can truly enjoy it together.

 

After getting a ride on IJ, we stopped for some Blueberry soft serve. Enjoy this horrid self-portrait of "Zombie Ted" consuming some ice cream.

 

Catrina opted for a more balanced attack.

 

Before leaving, I was going to try getting some night photos around the park, but like most themers, the light packages are not much to talk about. I did manage to get a few though.

 

Drop Zone

 

Paramount Theater

 

Time to call it a night, so we headed to the hotel. Trip Tip: If you want to avoid the families and screaming babies, be sure to book a "business" room far away from the park

 

Rise and shine Sunday morning. It is now time for our next stop. Wonderpark ... You will never find a more wretched hive of credit whores and villainy. We must be cautious.

 

"OK. At least Williams Grove was a park, Ted! What the hell is this?"

 

"This is Boa Squeeze ... and we are going to ride it dammit!"

 

Check out that massive piece of Miler goodness!

 

On the way out, we posed for a shot with the massive Pac-Man statue.

 

POUND IT!

 

We had a little of time to kill before our next stop, so we check out the Cincinnati Mills mall for while. The mall itself was pretty nice, but it really looks more like it belongs in Florida or something.

 

This big piece of "Sprawl" heaven also houses a Bass Pro Shops store.

 

Complete with giant fake rock sculpture and aquarium.

 

Good to see that the old Pink Floyd stage designers are still getting some gigs these days.

 

Our next stop was to get some credits so special that they are only possible on two days of the year. Unforunately, the parks website uses the owners residence as the parks address. So before we headed out to the park, we paid a little visit to Casa Strickers!

 

Pretty nice digs. The corporate picnic park concept must work pretty well. (Please someone else tell me that I am not the only person that has knocked on the front door to get directions)

 

OK. Now at the park and we need to find the bathroom. The sign on the side of this building suggests that we just walk out in the field.

 

In all seriousness, the Mens Bathroom at Strickers was top notch and featured the same hi-tech urinals you can find at Indiana's finest theme park.

 

Free Pop Rules!

 

As you enter the rides area, you are greeted by this Hershell Carousel. Complete with operating band organ.

 

Detail

 

Detail

 

We actually still managed to make it to the park a little before the rides opened, so we passed the time with some Skee Ball. I managed to get enough tickets to purchase a couple of keychains complete with the park's "real" address on them.

 

The first ride of the day was the park's Junior woodie, Teddy Bear.

 

This ride was built by Mr. Stricker in 1996 using the plans of a similar ride at Coney Island.

 

The Teddy Bear trains rockets back to the station.

 

Ha Ha. Get it.

 

It isn't a very tall coaster, but it is a LOT of fun ... and also much much smoother than it's distant Wyandot cousin.

 

The turnaround.

 

First drop.

 

Strickers is littered with a bunch of classic flat rides. I am guessing that most were picked up from auctions or similar.

 

Strickers is also home to one of my personal favorites, Bisch Rocco Flyers!

 

The trees around the ride were cut less often than needed. This made for some very interesting collisions every now and then.

 

Flying high against the cornfield backdrop.

 

Strickers features not one, but two classic wooden coasters. The Tornado packs a little more punch than it's smaller neighbor.

 

In the foreground of this shot, you can see the parks latest acquisition ... A Hrubetz Round-Up waiting to be installed.

 

Like most of the other rides in the park, the Tornado also has a great view of the cornfields

 

A photo of Catrina and I before our ride (Thank you to the Mrs. Operator dude for the photo)

 

Lifthill

 

First Drop

 

Time to eat! We headed towards the front of the park, where the bar-b-que was in full effect. We grabbed 1 Hot Dog, 1 Brat, Potato Salad, Chips, Roasted Corn and a couple drinks. Total damages .... $4.75!

 

Strickers is also home to a classic Eli wheel. I think this pic brings a whole new spin on the "through the trees" caption.

 

Hrubetz Tip Top

 

Sellner Tilt-A-Whirl

 

Our last ride of the evening would be on the CP Huntington train. Over the years, I have seen quite a few of these, but never have I seen an engine nearly as clean as this particular one.

 

It looked brand-spankin new.

 

Well. Our weekend has come to an end and it is now time for us to drive across "scenic" Ohio.

 

And remember kids .... "HELL IS REAL"!

 

Thanks for reading!

[Screamomatic]

Wow, Strickers Grove looks like a really nice place

[QuakerOaties]

I can't believe I'm actually moving to that state in four days.

 

Nice photo trip report! I liked the nighttime Kings Island pictures.

 

Mark "And all the shots of cornfields" Luskus

[BeemerBoy]

lol @ Pink Floyd stage designers. Great report Ted! I guess "scenic" Ohio provides a few more whoring opportunities than I imagined. Looks like a possible '07 CP trip may include a few more side credits.

[Rugged One]

Nice pics Ted. We only saw you for a second at Strickers as we were waiting in line for the Tornado and you guys were just getting off. We never did see you again.

 

Also, thanks for the pics of the Cincinatti Mills Mall. We were in and out of Wonderpark so fast yesterday, that we didn't get to see but that small corner of it. We all gave Pacman a during the ride.

[CoasterFanatic]

^ it was good to see you Heath. Even if it was only for about .5 seconds.

 

I just figured that we would catch up after you got off Tornado. Never did I think that we wouldn't cross paths again. Weird.

[niiicolaaah]

Nice TR, Ted! That Teddy Bear coaster is super cute. The ferris wheel, however... yikes! No way in heck you'd get me on that thing!

 

 

 

Second favorite picture of you EVER!!!!!

Favorite picture of Ted ever!

[Guest]

Great TR Ted! I especially despise the drive on I-80. It's cornfields and strange signs. My personal favorite that I saw was for www.barnartist.com no joke check out the website!

 

I wish I was there this weekend. I had a bunch of friends out at Stricker's yesterday, I just wish I had gone.

[bgwfreak]

I love that DELERI-M ride!

 

Nice TR Zombie Ted.

[Rugged One]

^ it was good to see you Heath. Even if it was only for about .5 seconds.

 

I just figured that we would catch up after you got off Tornado. Never did I think that we wouldn't cross paths again. Weird.

 

Yeah, we were only there for like a 1/2 hour. In and out. It was getting to the point in the day where we had to start accelerating the pace or we weren't going to get it all done.

[DerekRx]

Wow, funny how we managed to have a very similar trip, with very similar pictures, yet we managed to only see each other for like 2 seconds. We would have talked more, but never saw you guys again (and thats really hard to do in a park the size of Strickers!)