| Knoebels Amusement Resort | |
| Location: | Elysburg |
| Location2: | Pennsylvania |
| Location3: | United States |
| Owner: | Knoebel family |
| Opening Date: | July 4, 1926 (98 years) |
| Previous Names: | Knoebels Grove, Knoebels Amusement Park |
| Season: | April–September (limited days in October and January for seasonal events) |
| Area: | 150 acres (60.7 hectares) |
| Rides: | 64 |
| Coasters: | 6 (including kiddie coasters) |
| Water Rides: | 2 |
| Slogan: | "Fun, food, and fantasy!" |
Knoebels Amusement Resort is a family-owned and operated amusement park, picnic grove, and campground in Elysburg, Pennsylvania. Opened in 1926, it is the United States's largest free-admission park. The park has more than 60 rides including three wooden roller coasters, three steel roller coasters, a 1913 carousel, and two haunted house dark rides.
The amusement park is owned and operated by the Knoebel (pronounced kuh-NO-bel) family. The park's name has traditionally been spelled "Knoebels" without the apostrophe, and appears that way on all official park advertising and correspondence.
The park and its rides have won awards from organizations such as Amusement Today, American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE), and the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions. In 2014, Travel Channel rated Knoebels one of their Top 10 Family Friendly Amusement Parks in the United States.[1]
Knoebels is located in a small wooded valley in central Pennsylvania. In 1829, a local man by the name of Henry Knoebel purchased the land for $931 (equivalent to $26,638 in 2024). The valley, originally known as "Peggy's Farm", was used as farming land until the early 1900s, when a creek-fed swimming hole was introduced. Knoebel turned the property into a popular picnic destination, attracting Sunday travelers and horse-drawn hayride wagons. Soft drinks, ice cream, and snacks were sold to visitors. As the popularity of "Knoebels Grove" grew, Knoebel leased plots of land along the creeks for use as summer cottage sites. Some of these privately owned cottages, as well as cottages Knoebel built and rented, still exist on the property today.
In 1926, Knoebel added a restaurant, a steam-powered Philadelphia Toboggan Company (PTC) carousel, and a few simple games to his grove, marking the beginning of Knoebels Amusement Park. On July 4, 1926, he opened a large concrete swimming pool on the site of the old swimming hole. Featuring a filtration system that provided clean water instead of muddy creek water, the pool was named "The Crystal Pool". Since then, the park has developed around the pool, adding over 50 rides, assorted games, concession stands, and other attractions. A campground with six sites opened behind the amusement park in 1962, and as of 2004, the campground covered with 500 sites.[2]
On June 22, 1972, both South Branch Roaring Creek and Mugser Run, creeks that run through Knoebels, rose over their banks, swollen with heavy rains from Hurricane Agnes. The flood destroyed six cottages and damaged many other buildings, including 24 of the park's 25 rides, as well as the roller rink. The roller rink building was re-floored and used as a skating rink until the mid-1980s, when it was converted into the "Roaring Creek Saloon", which now contains a concession stand, an arcade, the XD Theater, and performances. A new building constructed after the flood became the Haunted Mansion dark ride, which opened in 1973. The ride has been recognized as one of America's best dark rides by organizations such as Dark Ride and Funhouse Enthusiasts (DAFE) and the National Amusement Park Historical Association.[3]
The park again suffered major flooding in 1975, 1996, 2004, 2006, and 2011. Each caused substantial damage, but the 1975 and 1996 floods occurred during the off-season. Although the January 1996 flood left substantial damage, the worst occurred after the waters receded, when everything froze, making cleanup and repair throughout the amusement park difficult. The September 2004 flood, caused by the remnants of Hurricane Ivan, was only a half-day affair, and the amusement park partially reopened by mid-afternoon.
On June 28, 2006, another large flood struck Knoebels. About 90 percent of the amusement park was underwater just prior to the July 4th weekend. As the waters began to recede, 60 percent of the park's attractions were reopened within two days, and 90 percent within four days. Because over 100 tons of mud had to be dug out of the Crystal Pool, it was closed for 10 days. The last ride to return to operation was the Kiddie Panther Cars, whose repairs took almost three weeks.
In 2008, the park’s dark ride was the subject of a one-hour documentary, "Laff In The Dark’s Behind The Scenes At Knoebel’s Haunted House".[4]
On September 7, 2011, Knoebels experienced another flood, this time caused by Tropical Storm Lee. Water levels neared those of the flood of 1972, and damages exceeded that flood. The majority of the park reopened the following weekend, having missed only two days of operation.
For the 2013 season, Knoebels added StratosFear, the park's tallest ride at . In 2015, a new roller coaster opened named Impulse, which replaced two former rides, the bumper boats and boat tag.
On July 23, 2018, Knoebels was flooded when a creek overflowed and flooded the park.[5] About 150 employees aided in cleaning up the park. The park then flooded again on July 25, 2018. The park reopened on July 27, 2018.
In 2023, the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum acquired a trolley that had been converted into a cottage at Knoebels.[6]
The park offers free admission, free parking, and free entertainment. Visitors are able to ride the park's attractions by purchasing either pay-one-price, all-day/unlimited-access wristbands (which are not usually available on weekends, except near the beginning and end of each season), limited-access hand stamps, or books of tickets, with hand stamp costs varying depending on the height of the rider. Knoebels has several hand stamp options, such as "Sundown Plan" and "Bargain Nights", when the park offers discounts on regular ride passes. Knoebels all-day passes do not include the Haunted Mansion or the Crystal Pool, which are additional fees.[7]
Knoebels has six operating roller coasters. Knoebels' two main wooden roller coasters are well known, with Phoenix consistently rated in top ten lists and Twister ranking high as well.[8] [9]
| Ride | Season | Manufacturer | Description | Photo | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opened | Closed | |||||
| Overland Amusements | A steel roller coaster that had operated since 1955, believed to be the last remaining Overland coaster in the world. Although it was designed to be a children's coaster, it was very popular among adults due to its airtime on it bunny hills. | |||||
| Jet Star | Schwarzkopf | A standard production model Schwarzkopf Jet Star, removed from Knoebels after the 1992 season.This ride was purchased an independent operator who fell on hard times. After being removed from Knoebels, the Jet Star was relocated to Morey's Piers, where it also operated under the name Jet Star. The coaster was then sold to a traveling showman in France.[10] A regular stop for this show is Parc d'attractions Luna Park, in la Palmyre.[11] | ||||
| Phoenix | Designed by Herbert Schmeck; Built by Philadelphia Toboggan Company | A relocated and restored Herbert Schmeck (Philadelphia Toboggan Company) design. This coaster has consistently been rated as one of the top ten wooden roller coasters in the Golden Ticket Awards. Most notably, it won first place in 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023.This ride was built in 1947, and was purchased from the Playland amusement park in San Antonio, Texas. It operated under the name Rocket before being moved to Knoebels in 1985. It utilizes buzz bars. | ||||
| Whirlwind | Vekoma | A Vekoma Whirlwind double corkscrew roller coaster, removed from Knoebels after the 2004 season. It opened on the site of the former Jet Star coaster.This ride was purchased from the Playland amusement park in New York, where it operated under the same name before being moved to Knoebels. After the 2004 operating season the ride was moved to Parque de Diversiones Dr. Roberto Ortiz Brenes in San José, Costa Rica, where it now operates under the name Bocaraca. | ||||
| Twister | Designed by John Fetterman; Built in-house | A wooden coaster heavily inspired by "Mister Twister," a 1964 John Allen design. | ||||
| Flying Turns | Designed by John Fetterman; Built in-house | A wooden bobsled roller coaster modeled after a 1920s John Norman Bartlett and John A. Miller design. The coaster was completed in 2007, but its opening was pushed back numerous times due to problems with cars navigating the mostly-trackless course. It opened on October 5, 2013 on the site of the former Whirlwind roller coaster. It won the Golden Ticket Award for "Best New Ride (Amusement Park)" in 2014.[12] | ||||
| Kozmo's Kurves | E&F Miler | A steel roller coaster that opened on August 1, 2009. This is a successor to the High Speed Thrill Coaster, which operated on the site through the end of 2008. Kozmo's Kurves was designed to have the same appeal to all ages that High Speed Thrill Coaster offered, while also incorporating elements the former ride did not have. | ||||
| Black Diamond | Philadelphia Toboggan Company | A steel indoor roller coaster formerly known as the Golden Nugget during its years at Morey's Piers. The ride's track and cars were purchased by Knoebels after it was deemed irreparable by Morey's and dismantled. The ride was built on the former site of the relocated Bald Eagle Habitat.[13] The name change to "Black Diamond" was in recognition of the anthracite coal industry, which is prevalent in the area. The Black Diamond opened for the three weekends in October 2011 for their Hallo-Fun Nights program.[14] | ||||
| Impulse | Zierer | A steel Impulse coaster that opened in 2015. It has a high-hat initial rise to 98feet, and features a cobra roll, a vertical inversion and a zero-g roll. It replaced Bumper Boats and Boat Tag. | ||||
Knoebels has two carousels: one small merry-go-round in Kiddieland (added in 1976) which was built by Stein & Goldstein in 1910; and Grand Carousel, a 1913 carousel built by Kremer's Carousel Works in Long Island City, with a frame by Charles I. D. Looff, and 63 hand-carved horses by Charles Carmel. It was purchased on January 26, 1942 from Riverside Park in Piscataway Township, New Jersey, for $4,000 (equal to $ today) and relocated to Knoebels. Today, Knoebels' Grand Carousel is one of the largest carousels in the world, with 63 horses and 3 chariots. It is one of the few carousels remaining with a working ring dispenser, allowing riders on the outside row of horses to reach out and grab steel rings as they pass. The rider who grabs the brass ring has the fee of the ride waived.[15] Three band organs provide music for the riders. The largest, "Frati", was built in Germany in 1888 by Frati & Co. Berlin, and was converted to Artizan rolls in the 1920s. The smaller, outside organ is "Berni", a 1910 Gebruder Bruder, style 107, sold in the US by the August Berni Organ Company in New York. Frati and Berni have operated at Knoebels since their purchase in 1942. The smallest organ is a Wilhem Bruder organ, model 79, converted to a Wurlitzer 125 duplex roll system, and restored in 1996.[16] Grand Carousel has consistently been voted the best carousel in the Golden Ticket Awards competition held by Amusement Today since 2007. The carousel competition was retired in 2019, because the Grand Carousel was undefeated.[17] Today, Grand Carousel is the second-oldest ride in the park. The S&G Carousel is the oldest at 113 years old in the 2023 season.
The park operates two separate miniature railways
| Ride | Opened | Manufacturer | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crown Metal Products | A gauge[18] anthracite coal-fueled steam locomotive built in 1960 by Crown Metal Products meandering through part of the park. Old Smokey replaced Nickel Plate, which was installed in 1946. The train cars from the 1946 train are still in use as of today. | |||
| Allan Herschell Company | A gauge[19] gasoline-powered 1/2 mile railroad installed in 1960 by Allan Herschell Company. The railroad continues to operate an Allan Herschell G-16 model locomotive and train, which resembles a classic streamlined diesel locomotive train, as well as a few other locomotives that resemble classic steam locomotives, such as the Allan Herschell S-16. The track travels from near the edge of the park, under Twister, and into a heavily wooded area where there are feeders for viewing the local wildlife. The local wildlife consists mainly of squirrels, birds, and deer. |
In addition to a 110feet Ferris wheel, a 55-highNaN-high log flume, and a 50-highNaN-high Chute-the-Chutes ride named Sklooosh!, Haunted Mansion, and one of the last remaining Fascination parlors in the United States, the park maintains more than 63 rides, including:
| Ride | Opened | Manufacturer | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| William F. Mangels | A William F. Mangels Whip ride from 1915 (purchased from Croop's Glen, Hunlock's Creek in 1950). | |||
| Lusse | A set of Auto Scooters (bumper cars). | |||
| Allan Herschell Company | A restored vintage Looper flat ride.[20] | |||
| Allan Herschell | A boat ride. | |||
| Knoebels Amusement Resort | A slide that winds around the outside of a rocket ship. This is an American version of a popular British fair attraction called a helter skelter. | |||
| Kasper Klaus | A classic ride from 1952.[21] | |||
| Allan Herschell | A children’s helicopter ride. | |||
| Hrubetz | A Paratrooper ride. | |||
| Garbrick Amusements, Inc. | A Scrambler ride. | |||
| Arrow Development | A ride similar to Antique Cars. | |||
| Lee Eyerly | A Roll-O-Plane ride. | |||
| Bisch-Rocco | One of the fastest-running Flying Scooters rides in operation. | |||
| Hrubetz | A ride in which centrifugal force pins the rider to the wall of a large wheel as it slowly tilts upward. | |||
| Philadelphia Toboggan Company | A classic teacups ride. | |||
| Morgan | An Antique Car ride partially steered by passengers built into the support structure of Phoenix. The original cars were purchased at an auction for Rocky Glen Park in Moosic, Pennsylvania after it closed in 1987. | |||
| Hopkins | A log flume ride. | |||
| Soli of Italy | A children’s bumper car ride. | |||
| Hampton | A children’s fire truck ride. | |||
| William F. Mangels | A children’s Whip ride. | |||
| Zamperla | A ride similar to Whipper. | |||
| Chance Rides | A 110-foot tall Ferris wheel. | |||
| ! | Hopkins | A modern Shoot-the-Chutes ride that is 50 feet tall and has an observation area. It is named for the sound wet sneakers make while one is walking. | ||
| Wisdom Rides[22] | A completely enclosed Himalaya-style ride in the dark. Original ride was replaced in 1998.[23] | |||
| Zamperla | A swing ride. | |||
| Zamperla | A submarine-like ride. | |||
| Zamperla | A spinning flat ride. | |||
| Hampton | An umbrella ride. | |||
| Hopkins | A triple chairlift which climbs a south-facing hill to the north of the park. Formerly the Spring Fling lift at Sugarbush Resort. | |||
| Moser | A sidewinder ride. | |||
| A.R.M. Rides | A 148feet drop tower, the tallest ride at Knoebels. | |||
| Zamperla | A pirate ship ride. Replacement of an older model.[24] | |||
| Battech Enterprises | A Downdraft that replaced an older version of the ride.[25] | |||
| SBF Visa Group | A spinning ride that replaced Over the Top. | |||
| Wisdom Rides | A Tornado ride. | |||
| Schwarzkopf | A refurbished Bayern Kurve ride.[26] [27] |
Knoebels has restaurants throughout the park, both sit-down and counter service in nature. These eateries have contributed toward the park winning awards from organizations which judge amusement park food, including Amusement Today's Golden Ticket Award for Best Food every year from 2000 to 2012. The park tied with Dollywood in 2013, but Knoebels reclaimed the prize in 2015, 2016, and 2018.[28] [29]
The park's Cesari's Pizza and the International Food Court were featured on a Food Network special. The alligator bites served at the International Food Court were selected by Delish.com as one of the top seven daring amusement park foods.[30]
Knoebels Three Ponds Golf Course is located on Pennsylvania Route 487, roughly a quarter mile from the park and campground. It is a par 71 eighteen-hole golf course which provides two nine-hole layouts.[31] There is also a restaurant on the golf course grounds.[32]
In 1999, an attorney representing two girls who sustained injuries while riding Speed Slide discovered 15 injuries had been reported to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Ride and Measurement Standards in recent years. Both girls underwent emergency surgery. The park was charged with negligence, failure to monitor the amount of force of the water and its effect on riders, failure to fix defects, and failure to provide adequate warnings to riders. Both of the plaintiffs fully recovered.[33]