Manuel Leopold, 5, of Lodi, rides the airplanes at Funderwoods amusement park at Micke Grove Park. (Jennifer M. Howell/News-Sentinel)

Johnstons continue family tradition at Micke Grove Park

Ken and Cynthia Johnston are middle-aged siblings, but they enjoy a good carnival as much as any teenager at Great America.

And the Johnstons are continuing a family tradition that spans four generations as operators of Funderwoods Station, one of Micke Grove Park's major landmarks.

"We tried to retire and get out of the business, but it was just too much fun," said Ken Johnston, 58, whose father, the late Sam Johnston Sr., developed Funderwoods Station with park founder William Micke more than 40 years ago.

Micke, who moved to Lodi in 1902, when the city's population was less than 800, devoted himself to developing Micke Grove into a park after his wife's death in 1952.

As memorials to his wife, Micke built the swimming pool in 1953, the Julia Harrison Memorial Building in 1955 and the Micke Grove Zoo two years later.

Ken Johnston and his younger sister, Cynthia -- and she emphasizes "younger" but without a number -- recall their childhood at Micke Grove Park, and Funderwoods in particular. They remember the first rides there -- live ponies, followed by a merry-go-round and a small train -- all planted right in the middle of the vineyards.

The Johnstons and another brother, Sam Johnston Jr., worked at Funderwoods on and off since the 1960s. So have Ken Johnston's two grown children, Gordon and Kelly Johnston, and Sam Johnston's two children, Lori Spring and Ashley Johnston. The fourth generation consists of Jennifer and Trey Johnston (Gordon's children), ages 18 and 20, respectively.

The Johnston family was ready to sell Funderwoods a few years ago, but the buyer wasn't a hands-on type person, so the Johnstons decided against selling.

"The last two years, the manager didn't keep it up," said Denise Strickling, Ken Johnson's girlfriend.

Strickling and Ken Johnson reassumed day-to-day operation in February and spruced it up, she said. Cynthia Johnston is there on a part-time basis only because she has other jobs, such as supplying clowns for birthday and company parties and working for the Stockton Parks and Recreation Department, Strickling said.

Due to some legal complications, the Johnstons formed a new corporation and will change the name from Funderwoods to Playland, Strickling said.

Ken Johnston laughs with his sister, Cynthia, on Monday at Funderwoods at Micke Grove Regional Park. The siblings have taken over the park once more after they felt it wasn't being run correctly. (Jennifer M. Howell/News-Sentinel)

Not only are the Johnstons back in the day-to-day operations, they have added three rides this year and an improved merry-go-round, said Ken Johnston, who lives in Elk Grove.

The new rides are the Whirlwind, a swing ride that circles counter-clockwise, bumper cars and a Super Slide, where people drop about 30 feet in a matter of seconds.

"We're continuing his dream, Mr. Micke's dream," said Cynthia Johnston, who lives in Stockton down the road from Micke Grove Park.

Micke, who died in 1961 at the age of 87, left the land that is now Micke Grove Park to the county for a regional park, in part for his love of children. He and his wife, Julia, never had children.

"Mr. Micke said, 'I want some rides out here for the kids,'" Cynthia Johnston said.

But fun events for "the kids" aren't limited just to the rides. For example, an Easter egg hunt was held Saturday at Playland, where organizers put out some 200 eggs each hour, Ken Johnston said.

The Johnstons appear to have so much fun at Playland that their 12 employees are also ... well, basically they're required to have fun as well.

"I have the greatest job in the world," said Leona Taylor, a Funderwoods/Playland supervisor the past four years. "I get to play all day with the kids, and I get paid for it."

Funderwoods Supervisor Leona Taylor sits in a bumper car in the play area while demonstrating the fun times that comes with her work. (Jennifer M. Howell/News-Sentinel)

In addition to operations rides and concessions, the Johnstons are involved in a variety of educational ventures.

"We're encouraging literacy," Cynthia Johnston said.

Playland will have puppet shows that teach health, hygiene and safety along with two clowns -- Hiccups and Sneezy -- who will teach the same topics.

Playland will also have occasional entertainment by a senior citizens clown band from Stockton.

And the Johnstons seem to have as much fun as the kids who get on the rides. Ken Johnston constructs and repairs rides, and he also sets up rides for county fairs and festivals.

Among them are the Galt Festival, held the Fourth of July weekend, Amador County Fair, Ripon Almond Festival, Elk Grove Western Festival and the Oakdale Rodeo. In fact, Ken Johnston will be setting up rides this week for the Oakdale event.

Brother Sam Johnston Jr., is in the same field, operating Paradise Island at Cal Expo in Sacramento.

Playland is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekends and holidays. Rides are $1.25 apiece or 10 for $10. For more information, call 368-1092.