Have you ever been to Knoebel's?

[tdn]

The amusement park, that is.

I'm not planning on going, but a friend is going this weekend.

What was it like for you?

[lost4life]

Knoebels is one of my favorite parks. It's old timey, out in the woods, free parking, free admission (you can buy wristbands if you don't want to buy tickets), plus they serve great food including pierogies and birch beer (they win a lot of food awards). It's not a huge, world class park like Cedar Point, but more family oriented and fun. It's a bit like stepping back in time. Their main coasters are The Phoenix and The Twister, both wooden. They also are one of the last parks to have a dark ride.


Their train ride is pretty cool if you're into that, goes out in the woods and under the coasters. I always liked it at night. Also, I'm not sure if they still do it, but if you get to the park early before the rides open, you can grab breakfast at the restaurant next to The Phoenix (The International House - they didn't really advertise this).
Anything specific you/they want to know? My family is from close by and I used to go every year. I missed going for about 5 years and went last summer while attending a cousin's funeral. We all actually went to the park and rode the coasters in his memory.

[tdn]

I don't really have any specific questions, I just want to learn more about it.

What's a dark ride?

[Hal Briston]

We go to their Phall Phun Phest every October (I think this year will be our 15th), plus the occasional mid-season trip every few years.

Simply the best family park in the country. Terrific rides, low prices, excellent park food, all around a great time. About my only complaint is that they've been consistently too good, and now our "hidden discovery" park is now well-known. Our first few years at PPP, there would be a couple hundred people there -- now it's well into the thousands. Crowds have taken some of the shine off the place.

[robert_columbia]

Originally Posted by lost4life

Knoebels is one of my favorite parks. It's old timey, out in the woods, free parking, free admission (you can buy wristbands if you don't want to buy tickets), plus they serve great food including pierogies and birch beer (they win a lot of food awards). It's not a huge, world class park like Cedar Point, but more family oriented and fun. It's a bit like stepping back in time. Their main coasters are The Phoenix and The Twister, both wooden. They also are one of the last parks to have a dark ride.


Their train ride is pretty cool if you're into that, goes out in the woods and under the coasters. I always liked it at night. Also, I'm not sure if they still do it, but if you get to the park early before the rides open, you can grab breakfast at the restaurant next to The Phoenix (The International House - they didn't really advertise this).
Anything specific you/they want to know? My family is from close by and I used to go every year. I missed going for about 5 years and went last summer while attending a cousin's funeral. We all actually went to the park and rode the coasters in his memory.

Is the Black Diamond worth it? I must say that I'm interested in it because it is apparently based on the "Golden Nugget Mine Ride" from Wildwood, NJ.

[Hal Briston]

Originally Posted by robert_columbia

Is the Black Diamond worth it? I must say that I'm interested in it because it is apparently based on the "Golden Nugget Mine Ride" from Wildwood, NJ.

It's not based on it, it is the Golden Nugget. Knoebels' bought the track and trains, and, a few modifications aside, it's the same ride.

And yes, it holds up very nicely.

[lost4life]

Originally Posted by tdn

I don't really have any specific questions, I just want to learn more about it.

What's a dark ride?

Dark Ride.

Basically an enclosed ride that has effects and stuff. In this case it's a haunted house ride. Cheesy as anything, but I ride it like 3 times a day (it costs extra, like $1.50 or something).

I don't think the Black Diamond was operating when I was there...if it was, I will be pissed.

[tdn]

Originally Posted by lost4life

Basically an enclosed ride that has effects and stuff. In this case it's a haunted house ride. Cheesy as anything, but I ride it like 3 times a day (it costs extra, like $1.50 or something).

Ah, OK. The amusement park where I went a lot as a kid had one called the Golden Nugget. No animations, just weird stuff. One part was a spinning tunnel that made it feel like you were turning upside down.

[Hal Briston]

Originally Posted by lost4life

I don't think the Black Diamond was operating when I was there...if it was, I will be pissed.

It wasn't. It didn't open until last October.

[PaperBlob]

lost4life nailed it. One thing I haven't seen mentioned is that there's a campground adjacent to the park - you can pitch your tent practically under a roller coaster. I've never camped there, but I have some friends who do it all the time and they love it.

[lost4life]

Originally Posted by PaperBlob

lost4life nailed it. One thing I haven't seen mentioned is that there's a campground adjacent to the park - you can pitch your tent practically under a roller coaster. I've never camped there, but I have some friends who do it all the time and they love it.

Good point. They also have cabins, but I guess you have to book way ahead of time.

[tdn]

Originally Posted by PaperBlob

lost4life nailed it. One thing I haven't seen mentioned is that there's a campground adjacent to the park - you can pitch your tent practically under a roller coaster. I've never camped there, but I have some friends who do it all the time and they love it.

Yeah, my friend is camping there. But they're bringing a pop-up camper.

[robert_columbia]

Originally Posted by tdn

Ah, OK. The amusement park where I went a lot as a kid had one called the Golden Nugget. No animations, just weird stuff. One part was a spinning tunnel that made it feel like you were turning upside down.

Was this at Hunt's Pier in in Wildwood, NJ (on the "Jersey Shore")? I have fond memories of riding this as a child. It did have a spinning tunnel. It seems that it shut down in the late 90's, then opened up briefly in the 2000's before closing down for good. I haven't ridden it in over ten years and would love to again.

[tdn]

Originally Posted by robert_columbia

Was this at Hunt's Pier in in Wildwood, NJ (on the "Jersey Shore")? I have fond memories of riding this as a child. It did have a spinning tunnel. It seems that it shut down in the late 90's, then opened up briefly in the 2000's before closing down for good. I haven't ridden it in over ten years and would love to again.

No, this was at Roseland Park in Canandaigua, NY. Your post got me wondering if it was sold to Hunt's Pier. Nope. It was sold to Knoebel's and is now called the Black Diamond.

Apparently it is very different now.

[tdn]

Correction, they bought it from Hunt's Pier, who bought it from Roseland Park.

So we've all been on the same ride but in different states and in different decades. How wild is that?

[wheresmymind]

Knoebel's has the sweetest bumper cars I've ever found - every other park is genteel in comparison. Also, teaberry ice cream!

[lost4life]

Originally Posted by wheresmymind

Knoebel's has the sweetest bumper cars I've ever found - every other park is genteel in comparison. Also, teaberry ice cream!

Oh yeah, teaberry is big in that area, and yes, you can hurt people with those bumper cars. They are the real deal. We just went to Dollywood and man, the bumper cars were lamer than lame. I like The Whip, but mainly because it looks like it's from the 1920's (AFAIK it could be).
I also found their souvenirs to be very reasonably priced. Don't forget to buy a pickle on a stick! And the corn, according to their sign, is a Buck-an-Ear...

[Minnie Luna]

I have not been since 94 or so, but the place was awesome when I was young. Free admission, free parking and just a real homey amusement park without all the commercial crap and crowds you get at Dorney, Six Flags or HersheyPark.

[Philster]

Knoebles: Yes. Friendly, old-time place.

Definitely a thumbs-up for families with little tykes.

Hunt's Pier in Wildwood, NJ: Golden Nugget mine ride was there until the 90's, then sat when Hunt's Pier changed hands a few times, and then was taken down. Many old rides are parted out or sold outright. Pieces of the ride are in a museum in Wildwood, but it would not surprise me if most of it lives on somewhere. That ride is one of the special rides people who vactioned along the Jersey Shore will always cherish. Since the Wildwoods sit in the middle of the northeast corridor, countless folks who took summer vacations there are familiar with them. The Wildwoods have long served Philly, NYC and Quebec (yes, Quebec).

.

[tdn]

My sister doesn't remember that ride, or even the park really.

[wheresmymind]

When I saw this thread I tried to think of a way to describe why Knoebel's is so great, but couldn't really put my finger on it so I just threw out two of the highlights for me (bumper cars and teaberry ice cream). Words like "old-timey," "family," and "charming" come to mind, but don't do it justice.

I thought about it a bit, and this is what it is:
It literally makes me feel like I'm a little kid again. I only started going to Knoebel's when I was a teenager, so I'm not just remembering old times gone by, and I'm only 29 years old so it's not like I was a boy in the '30's when every park was like Knoebel's. I worked summers at Hersheypark in high school and college, and enjoy all sorts of amusement parks, so I can deal with crowds and modern sprawled-out 6-flags style parks as well. It's just that the fun I have at Knoebel's feels exactly like the fun I had when I was 9 years old. I get off the bumper cars and practically run to the back of the line to queue up again. I sprint to get an outside horse on the carousel so I can pull the brass rings. I eat lots of ice cream. This sounds cheesy, but it's like I get a taste of that carefree, happy, fun state of mind that you remember from your childhood but that fades with adolescence. There aren't too many places you can recapture that feeling.

[asterion]

Just got back from a trip today. (Well, not back in NY, staying in a pretty good little motel in Bloomsburg.) Unfortunately, a lot of late rain and thunderstorms that shut down a lot of the park.

I think that part of what helps is that there is no upfront cost. Parking is free, admission is free, just pay for what you want to do. I went to Six Flags New England last year and hated just about every minute of it: $20 to park, something like $40 to get in, people line-jumping with that pass, overpriced food and long lines to get it, no shade, and way too many people. With Knoebels, you're already in a decent mood because it was quick and easy to park and you just wander on in. Then you find that the rides are generally really good, the food is great and reasonably priced (I had half a barbecued chicken, stuffing, mashed potatoes, corn, and gravy for dinner for I think $8.50), and generally everyone is just happy to be there overall.

I didn't care for Black Diamond. I'd much rather that they'd get Flying Turns up and running.

[Hal Briston]

Originally Posted by asterion

I'd much rather that they'd get Flying Turns up and running.

Any decade now...

[Count Blucher]

The park and rides are on dirt/clay and not concrete so your feet don't get sore? There are picnic grounds galore? Some of the trash cans have pig-heads on them that make an "oink!" sound when you throw in trash?
Nestled between some Pocono mountains so there is almost always a cool breeze, even on the hottest days of summer?

Nope. Never been there.

[rbroome]

Originally Posted by tdn

The amusement park, that is.

I'm not planning on going, but a friend is going this weekend.

What was it like for you?

It is fun. Small enough to be friendly. Well-shaded. Both I like.

[brix11]

No mention of the ginormous Crystal Pool? It's no Wildwater Kingdom, but, as with much else at Knoebel's, it's a well-maintained throwback to a time when 10-foot high dives and big metal slides were thrilling enough. The kiddie pool is great for the preschool set, and the huge shallow area of the main pool is perfect for those learning to swim.

I feel fortunate to have grown up with this park and to live close enough to carry on the tradition with my two kids (who are already head over heels). This will be our fourth year camping there with two other families, and we always leave with happy memories (even that time we got caught in the thunderstorm and all the lights went out while we were in the ball pit).

This DVD of the Haunted House ride is excellent. It gives a bit of history and shows what the ride is like with the lights on. Showing it to my six-year old made it a bit less frightening for him.

Also, the Knoebel's Facebook page offers some great behind-the-scenes photos of the TLC that goes into maintaining such an old park. The images from last fall's flooding (a strikingly regular occurrence) were heart-wrenching, but seeing the clean up process was fascinating and uplifting.