4th of July Parks--Least Crowded??

I am in one of those jobs where I got stuck working July 3 and 5th with the 4th of July off.

How are things, generally, in terms of attendance on July 4th at parks in the Midwest? Anybody able to weigh in on parks within 500 miles of Cincinnati?

I remember Paula saying that Memorial Day and Labor Day were always good times to come to HW and one year I went down to HW on Labor Day and had a blast!!! Hardly anybody was there!

Thanks in advance,

Barry J.

If you can find a park *without* fireworks, that might be a good place to start.

I've been to HW on the fourth before but thats before they held fireworks. It wasn't too bad. Legend still had one train and was about a hour fifteen minutes, We did the waterpark, some other rides and still got both coasters five times so it wasn't too bad, With Voyage and the Thanksgiving sections even memorial day weekend seemed more spread out compared to the last two SRM's that seemed extremely crowded in the park.

Kings Island and CP will be a little busier than normaal, consider them saturday crowds but one word of warning, Many peeps just pay for the parking and watch the fireworks shows from the parking lot. Exit times will be over one hour from the parking lot.

IB, Id say will be busy for what that park has capacity for. Geauga, Now that park might be the ticket for the fourth and not have much bigger crowds than any other day.

Thing about the Fourth of July, There are a ton of family gatherings and picnics that make theme parks not high priority. It is however prime time for vacationers.

Chuck, going to Holiday World on the third and Strickers Grove on the fourth.

Have fun!

I'd go with GL. Even with fireworks, it's usually not crowded on the fourth. ( i base this on last year and the year before. Hardly anyone was there at all.)

Charles:

Stricker's Grove is open on July 4th? Hell, that may be the ticket for me! 20 minutes across town!!

Thanks for the input. I really appreciate it!!

BJW

We'll be at the flyers most of the day!

Chuck, strickers hours are 3-11 so if you wanna stop by coney or PKI beforehand, You should be able too.

Ride the Tornado early as it gets a long line about 900 but its one or two train wait the rest of the day. They have a POP of I think 15 bucks with five dollar parking. The food is to die for and cheap as well as the dollar drinks but you can bring your own.

Chuck

I'm not 100% sure yet, but I plan to go to Strickers if I can find a buddy. I'd be happy to meet more of you, so look for the blonde lady in the pink "Coaster Chick" tee shirt (most likely also near the flyers).

-Nicole

I'm thinking of making a short appearance at Stricker's as well. Just enough to check it out and move on. We'll see, nothing set in stone yet.

I won't be anywhere near the flyers. ;)

I may head down there just for some attempts at flying.

Will do Coaster Chick. I'll be the big guy in a holiday world shirt!

Chuck, always great to meet new peeps!

I'm DEFINITELY planning on coming to Stricker's Grove on July 4th! I always forget that that is the day that they open every year and, thanks to Charles and this thread, I now have a destination.

I'm going to get there at 3 pm and see you at the Flyers!!!

Sounds like a party in the making!

Barry J.

Its small, Quaint, BYODrinks and you can have fun, Better than the PKI close half the park and have 35,000 cramed in two areas of the park and a hour to get out of the parking lot!

Chuck, C U there!

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Lord Gonchar said:
I'm thinking of making a short appearance at Stricker's as well. Just enough to check it out and move on. We'll see, nothing set in stone yet.

I won't be anywhere near the flyers.

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That's typical of you, Gonch....make a cameo and then disappear! ;)

Barry and Nicole, you will LOVE Stricker's! I went last July 4th. I wish I could go this year but I can't. The two coasters are fun, the Flyers are insane, and it's the only park I have ever been to where you can husk your own corn. ;) The food is cheap and not too bad! It's very laid back. Bring a cooler if you want....but they don't allow booze.

The fireworks show is one of the best I have seen. It's worth it! Be sure and ride the train as well.....you can get some great photos! Wonderpark at the Cinci Mills Mall (is that right, Chuck?) is right down the road as well if you are into arcades and credit ho-ing.

-Tina

*** Edited 6/29/2006 1:23:09 PM UTC by coasterqueenTRN***

I went to IB on the fourth a few years ago. It was certainly crowded, but still not bad at all. The waits for HUrricane and Cornball were 15-20 minutes tops. There were fireworks that night, it was a weekend and it was very nice weather. What a great day!

Gonch: Thanks for that overview! I am soooooooooo there!!! I love that photo of the food, too! That is hysterical!!!

It is nothing short of a crying shame that I have NEVER been to Stricker's Grove and I probably live 25-30 minutes from there! But, you do have to do some advance planning to get to that one, as this business of being open only 1-2 days a year is tricky.

What's this Cincy Mills Mall thing you mentioned? I'll google it but I don't remember hearing anything about that.

What's the next Coasterbuzz event, btw??

Tina, I'm sorry: I inadvertently thanked you for the overview and thought it was Gonch's.

Thank YOU for that and for the hilarious corn and hamburger photo!

Barry J.

Oh no prob, Gonch has the better coaster photos, but I rule as far as the FOOD photos. :-P I usually take them to tease my Scottish friend, Jimvy.

Wonderpark is fun.....

http://www.wonderparkusa.com/main.asp

That should help. They have some very cool DDR machines as well, if you are into that. They have a kiddy coaster called the Boa Squeeze as well as some other kiddy-ish rides.

I have some current pics taken last year, as well as 2003.

Like Chuck said, PKI is crowded on July 4th. Wonderpark is a nice alternative, or Coney Island, before making your way to Stricker's. Some friends of mine are even visiting the Indy Zoo before going to Stricker's....so that may be something to think about.

-Tina

*** Edited 6/29/2006 2:33:11 PM UTC by coasterqueenTRN***

^I was at Hershey on the 4th about 7 years ago and even though they had fireworks it the park was not crowded (even got a ride on the then new Wildcat while the fireworks were going off, the lift was perfectly situated to see the show as we were going off, felt like I was in a postcard :), great experience.)

don't go to martin's fantasy island... everyone on Grand Island gets in free after 5. I worked last year, and the park was completely empty until 5:00... and then, all hell breaks loose. good luck trying to walk. seriously.

Only day I've seen the queue rails used for the Silver Comet at ALL, and to make matters worse, every single railing...

* this year crazy mouse will be open. I estimate a 4 hour line, at least.

So long story short, don't go there if you have the choice :-P

// alan j
*** Edited 6/30/2006 12:10:23 AM UTC by SFDL_Dude***

So my idea of a Coney/Wonderpark/Stricker's 4th of July isn't all that original?

Crap.

I'd go to SFKK, but our SF passes are still in Pittsburgh. Of all the things to forget...