Day 6: Knoebels
Day 6: Knoebels
Credits
Pictures and Editing: Richard Davis and Justin Garvanovic. Report Compilation: Chris Hull, David Elvey, Phil Coates and Susan Ellis.
Chris Hull
We were warned we might fall in love with this park - I can see why. My first visit and I have. A wonderful park in a fantastic setting run in a way that puts so many other parks to shame. A great selection of rides - many historical and neither needing to be the fastest or the biggest to provided an enjoyable time. The ERS on Twister proved enjoyable but Phoenix provided that extra edge (and airtime!) that had people shouting, cheering and clapping. A truely enjoyable ERS and a lasting memory for the trip. Thanks to all concerned for what proved to be such an enjoyable day!
Mark Sebley
This day will be live in the memory for a very long time. Knoebels sets the standard that all parks should strive to achieve, The park has character in abundance, great ride ops, great rides, and I would recommend it to anyone. Phoenix is not the biggest or the longest but for me the most fun ride in the world. Chris and I clocked up 37 rides during the day - we could of ridden all night. Flying Turns looks to be a great addition to the park - hopefully I'll be back to ride it soon! Thanks to all concerned for a wonderful day.
Mark Riley
I've had the pleasure of visiting Knoebels twice before - so I knew what awaited us this morning. I'm sitting here trying to figure out how to describe the park - the most perfect amusement park I've seen. Words fail me. Needless to say, I was very sad when we had to leave. The best day so far. Top that.
Andycoasterboy..
What a great day, fantastic park and staff, incredible selection of unique rides and attractions and two great coasters to boot.
Jeff Holmes
Knoebels is a brilliant park with great friendly staff who made you very welcome. They have a shocking haunted mansion ride which I'm sure it was Paul Worts which made the horrific ending. Their 2 woodies are extremely good especially Phoenix which has bags of airtime.
Martin Valt
Everything but beer. Almost perfect.
Viper
My first time to the park. What a lovely park, great staff, great selection of rides and two classic woodies. Plenty of giant rabbits.
Paul Orsmond
One word can sum up this park "WOW!" The staff are amazing, there are so many unique rides, It has a nice peaceful setting, and it's just beautiful. The park made us feel so welcome and what a delight to get an ERS on both the woodies to finish the day. Truely wonderful, I want a park like this in England
Bart Van Goethem
This park has got everything! Such a nice green setting with all these traditional rides. I loved the Flyer. It was really out of control. The Skooters was so much fun. Laughing out loud! Their home-made Haunted House scared the crap out of me. To cool down on this 32C day the pool was a welcome relief. The ERS on their world class coasters was so amusing! Thumbs up to the Knoebels family and their lovely staff. Merci beaucoup. Je t'adore!
Mick FK
liz,crystal,karl miss you. A family run park set in a forest with houses like a small village surrounded by two big wooden coasters. Twister - whixh it does quite drasticaly, whereas Phoenix is a classic - plenty of airtime and smooth. Staff, Well! They're warm, hospitable and very friendly and the guys are as well and we love you Marrisa! Very much a family park and very family orientated.
Paul Freeman
A stunning woodland setting for this family owned park. With a huge selection of flat rides strewn across the park there was plenty to do. Most of these were very well maintained vintage rides. There were two wooden coasters for the evening ERS, with Phoenix being the more reridable with great airtime. A really great day out at a park with a unique character and very friendly staff.
Midas van de Graaf.
Knoebels is exactly my kind of park. Plenty of nostalgic rides, friendly athmosphere, beautiful surroundings, a laid back attitute and to top that off a couple of very nice coasters. You just gotta love the Phoenix. The exhibition on the history of the park was very interesting. I'd like to thank all of the Knoebels for having us and for keeping this park the way it is. The way it should be.
John Coffield
Phoenix is incredible, fast and smooth with massive airtime. As always Knoebels is the friendliest park in the world where ever guest is family. Twister is still running very fast and is an excellent ride but it is no Phoenix...
Andrew Lamb
Had a great day today. A great family amusement park with good selection of rides. Had a great time with multiple rides on Phoenix. An amazing coaster. Enjoyed the carousel which I managed to win the golden ring! I have spare ride tickets if anyone needs them! ERS proved to be a huge success especially on the Phoenix. I look forward to returning to then have a chance to ride Flying Turns which looks to be a great addition to the park!
David Elvy
Knoebels is an amazing Park, with a great atmosphere, and the Park is unlike any I have ever been too. A great collection of rides, lots of flat rides etc. On the coaster side of things, if you want to ride an amazing wooden coaster - then you must come here. Twister is great, though Phoenix is THE BEST wooden coaster I have ever ridden, totally amazing, especially in row 3.
Steve Fagin
One sultry Summer's day, deep in the heart of Elysburg, the Magic Woodsman scooped up a handful of Flatpack Growseeds and Woodie Seeds. He ground them into a fine powder, and then sprinkled this magic dust over Knoebels sacred woodland. After much watering, a delightful and surprisingly organic selection of amusement rides sprung up over the woodland. Fine coasters interweaved with the trees; log flumes nestled beneath the leaves. The Woodsman then populated the parkland with friendly local ride-ops, and a lovely surprise was born right in the heart of Pennsylvania. Nice work.
Lars Sorensen
There is a tale about the gold at the end of the rainbow, but In this tale it's Knoebels that is in the end of the rainbow. I really nice park, really nice atmosphere, incredible coasters, and some nice ride ops. No words descripe this park, my favourite park so far...
Malcolm Marr
In Pennsylvania it is against the law to sleep on a refrigerator outside, which is a shame as it meant I had to find another way to cool off on what was another hot day. Fortunately I discovered banana flavoured water ice, which kept me cool instead. Knoebels is like walking around a working museum of old rides and appeared to be the favourite park of most people on the trip so far (wait til they get to Wyandot, then they'll change their minds!!). Not being interested in the history side of the theme park industry, as with the trip to PTC last night, I wasn't really in my preferred environment. I rode the coasters and then took the opportunity to relax, which is very easy in this park. They had a nice sun-sheltered mini-golf course which I played twice.
Stefan Rothaug
Mit Abstand der schoenste Park bisher! Hier sorgt sogar der Kiddie-Coaster fuer Thrill und die geniale Geisterbahn schockt mit einfachen Mitteln. Eine Fahrt auf Phoenix setzt dem Ganzen schliesslich die Krone auf!
Marty Simms
Travelling fairs and parks need more rides like "looper" I forgot how great those were. The Haunted House was scary and well worth a go. Both woodies are amazing but make sure you ride Phoenix towards the front as you get more airtime!
Stu Simms
It's always great to escape into the mountains of Pennsylvania and head to Knoebels, a park which always feels so relaxed and a million miles away from anything else. Classic rides, exceptionally welcoming staff, beautiful scenery and a spectacular atmosphere. No matter how many times you visit each time you can always find a new surprise, today's was Cosmotron a mix of interactive jukebox and enclosed music express ride, select your tune and spin round and round through the smoke and disco lights, fantastic.
Tim Herre
Sorry for not having done the last one in telegraph style STOP Knoebels truely the highlight of the trip STOP Why not scrap the remaining itenerary and stay here for the rest of our time in the US STOP Haunted House best haunted dark ride out there by great amounts STOP Even Dirk Diggler liked it STOP Now let's hope he won't take his friends Frossi and Lord of Fire to Elysburg and let them ruin the atmosphere of this sacred place STOP Knoebels rules STOP
Michael Badelt
Highlights of the day: Too many to mention. A wonderful park run by wonderful and extremely helpful people (especially in regards to my medical condition today). A very big thank you Rick, Barbara, Jaimie (hope I spelled it right?) and Dick. You made my day!
Jeppe Nygaard
Knoebels!! Yes, I did fall completely in love with this park. It is beautifully placed in the trees in the surrounding hills. The atmosphere is cozy and relaxed, and I enjoyed a great day of great fun. The staff members are very nice, and I like the variety of ages of the staff. They like their jobs and cause people to have fun at the park. I felt very welcomed by both Dick and Rick Knoebel and appreciated the way they showed us their newest creation: the Flying Turns, which I will look forward to riding when I return to the park. Twister was a very fast, well-paced wooden roller coaster that was not too rough. But the best ride in the park is definitely Phoenix; riding it in rows 1 - 3 was fantastic and superb!! It is amazing that a ride that is actully 58 years old would be so fun to ride, and I loved hearing the story of how the coaster was reborn at Knoebels.
Og saa lige en hilsen paa dansk til alle jer derhjemme i Danmark, saa I kan se har vi en fantastisk tur.. Kh. Jeppe
Yvonne Janik
Phoenix is my favorite wooden coaster because I love airtime. I appreciate the hospitality of Dick and Rick Knoebel and their families, and I love the park - it is an amazing place. What a perfect day!
David & Susan Ellis
Carlsberg don't run amusement parks... but if they did it would be Knoebels. Today was pretty much a perfect day in a perfect park. Great rides, superb hospitality and a fantastic ERS on two coasters. Twister was as wild as ever, but, unlike J2 the other day, it was re-rideable. The day finished with almost an hour on the Phoenix, one of the best wooden coasters in the world. It was run by friendly, efficient staff, who couldn't do enough to help, including letting us film on the ride, and also exit on to the loading platform so we didn't have to walk all the way around.
David Harrington
I'd heard stories about Knoebels - all of them glowingly positive - and I'm pleased to confirm that they're all true - it is a fantastic park with superb staff. I didn't go on a single ride with a less than friendly staff member. On paper there are only three coasters at this park, but there are a large number of supporting flat rides, many of them unusual. The Haunted Mansion is probably the best dark ride I've been on. Knoebels has two woodies - and we had an ERS on both. Twister I felt was an unusual coaster, concentrating more on turns than drops - it was OK but Phoenix was just superb - the back row in particular was an absolutely insane ride where I definitely felt more like I should be holding on for a change. At lunch Dick Knoebel gave a talk and answered our questions. There is also an interesting museum of the park and an adjoining Anthracite mining museum. Overall, the best atmosphere of any park so far, particularly on the Phoenix ERS. Magic!
Lutz Konerding
There are a few things you have to do once in a lifetime. As an ECC-member going to Knoebels is not (!!) one of it. You have to go there (many) more than once. Great park, lovely people and a warm hopitality that you won't find anywhere else. Many thanks to the Knoebel family. Can't wait to ride the "Flying Turns" and re-ride the Phoenix, Twister, Haunted Mansion ....
Alan Prior & Carolyn Buckley
Knoebels is a lovely little park and the hospitality and warm welcome we received was great, as was the food. We spent a good portion of the day in the park sampling the rides. We had heard a lot about the Phoenix and the Twister and they were both absolutely correct. As this trip is quite arduous we needed some rest time and spent the rest of the day in the water park and sampling the excellent water slides having our own ERS (joined by other members) on them. Very relaxing day. The water quality in the pool was excellent with clean mountain water with no chlorine and was suprisingly warm. On a slight change of subject, it was nice to check out of Fawlty Towers this morning after yet another "fun" night. We arrived back last night to find the security latch jammed in the open hotel room door, It had been left like that by the hotel after the room had been cleaned, so the room was probably open all day for anyone to walk in (it's a good thing we hadn't been robbed!). Later on last night, after an amusing night in the bar with Pete Procter and his anecdotes, we returned to the room to find that the keys didn't work - again! We went back to reception to get them reactivated - again! When we finally got back, I sat on the edge of the (unused) twin bed that It few da forgot had a leg missing and nearly fell onto the floor. We would have complained about it the night before but we love thrill rides and surprises so said nothing. On an even more general theme, Pennsylvania has proved to be a most interesting place to spend time in. We already knew that witchcraft is illegal, but from the parks we have visited here, it also appears that caffeine in diet Coke, salad and caffeinated coffee are also illegal. It would have been nice to see Tim in the water park today, on the inflatables, going down the water slides, but that would have made him Herre der Ringe and I suspect that Lord of the Rings might also be against the state laws as well on witchraft grounds ;)
Tim Tipler
Its been hot again 85deg so cooler than the last few days that were 95 deg so Jan and James you would not have enjoyed it as you can see we all liked Knoebels many old rides are here from traveling fairs
we are on the coach now and it has started raining will it rain tomorow?
Chris Penn
Knoebels is a fantastic family owned park with some old classic rides and two great woodies. Twister is good but Phoenix is better the hospitality we received today was outstanding. The ice cream and milkshakes are out of this world here.so if you can make a trip to Knoebels you won't be dissapointed.
Bob Clark
Knoebels - Wish you were here - Wish we were here - Goodbye Knoebels - a wonderful park with two wonderful coasters. Phoenix is now my number 1 woodie.
Darren and Mary
A nice family run and family orientated park. Darren enjoyed a day going on the variety of rides which the park offered in addition to the two excellent woodies.
Eirik Erstad
A visit to Knoebels has been a dream of mine for a very long time. Because of all the parks and coasters the last few days, I did not have much time to prepare myself. That did not matter though, Knoebel's took me by surprise. And what a pleasant surprise it was! Friendly staff, good food, beautiful location, incredible collection of classic rides and of course world class coasters. I now have a new favourite woodie, The Phoenix. I am in no way a coaster veteran (I will go on my 200th coaster sometime on Saturday), but I have completely fallen for the old, classic woodies. Phoenix delivers an extreme amount of airtime. My favourite seat, the smoothest one, is row 5. I could have spent hours in that seat tonight, but we have to move on. I hope I will have the chance to visit Knoebels again soon, though! The trip so far has been amazing, and I can only imagine that it will get better and better. A little note on Kingda Ka: it's incredible! That is if you ride in the front seat, in my opinion. The back seats were way too rough for me, so I am glad I managed to ride once up front. Cecilie, jeg har kjoert saa mange baner for deg naa at jeg har kommet ut av tellinga, men jeg skal ikke forlate CP foer jeg har tatt en tur paa Blue Streak for deg. Gleder meg allerede... neste stopp Toeyen!
Peter Jackson
An enjoyable day with lots more walking. A combined ERS on Twister and Phoenix. Really enjoyed Phoenix ERS.
Paul Hindle
Quite the best pair of wooden roller coasters I have ridden,
Mats Hummel
Lots of great classic rides. The pricing in the park is fantastic. $2.20 to ride a world class woodie, and that's the expensive one... Two GREAT wooden costers. The combined ERS on Twister and Phoenix was great.
This must be the greatest theme park, period. If someone is going run an amusement park they should be forced to check this park out to learn how it should be run. I did not want to leave the park.
Steve Davies
Hi! Great, friendly little family park up in the hills. Two great woodies- Phoenix, well, can't tell you what the seats were like, my bum wasn't in them long enough to find out or was I riding it standing up? Twister was good.....it was different. Would love to have tried the home made fudge but it was just too hot here, and it wouldn't have survived the journey. Till next time.....
Ole Bredesen-Vestby
This park was very differen from the large six flags parks. Simply another atmosphere, and somewhat off the beaten track. Had a great time, and not as much walking as the other days.
Even Stangebye
Knoebels was a very pleseant park - probably the most European of the parks we have been to so far. I loved the Phoenix, and almost got a new top of the rank woodie (almost beat Balder there....) Looking forward to see Hershey Park again tomorrow - which is the only park I've been to prior to this trip... Er lei av hamburgere naa ja... Give me some Troendersodd!!
Nina Kleppe
Knoebels was a nice park with a friendly staff. Got to do most of the rides, and all three coasters. Two good woodies, but Phoenix was the best with lots of good airtime. One of my new favorite woodies. Great ERS.
Odd Arne Roste
A great little family park with lots of rides for smaller children. And two really great wooden coasters. Yvonne told me to look forward to the Phoenix and she was right. This was the best wooden coaster so far and in every seat from 1 to 12. And Twister wasn't bad eather. The staff was very nice and prices on food and T-shirts cheap. A very nice day.
