My memories of Micke Grove Regional Park are unforgettable.

As a youngster, I hopped aboard the Tilt-A-Whirl in the Fun Town amusement park. It was anything but fun.

It certainly looked fun, at least from the outside looking in. But once strapped in with my brother and younger sister, we quickly became frightened for our lives from the speeding, spinning, twisting pod. 

Rides like that set me back in my youth in terms of trying out Midway rides. It wasn’t until my teenage years that I was finally able to enjoy thrill rides like the Tilt-A-Whirl – it’s still there after all these years – and the various roller coasters.

Micke Grove’s Fun Town does feature 10 rides including a carousel, Kiddie Coaster and the Fun Town Express Train.

This attraction tucked by the side of the zoo is open year round.

I also enjoyed the zoo.

That was during the days of the sea lion exhibit, which ceased soon after the death of Buster in 2008.

At one time, San Joaquin County’s regional zoo featured bears, lions and gorillas upon opening in 1957.

By April 2006, the zoo lost its accreditation due in part for having old exhibits and cramped veterinarian space.

Today, the zoo is home to over 130 animal specimens representing over 50 different species, including mammals, reptiles, birds, amphibians, and invertebrates.

Some are endangered species such as the Cotton Top Tamarin and Black and White Ruffed lemur.

Among the exhibits is the Tropical Forest Canopy featuring Green Iguanas and Prevost’s Squirrels and the Island Lost in Time displaying lemurs and radiated tortoises from Madagascar. 

The 132-acre park which also features Wortley Lake, the Japanese Garden, and the SJC Historical Museum was a gift from the late Lodi farmer turned philanthropist William G. Micke