Knoebels Amusement Resort

 Knoebels Amusement Resort is about three and a half hours from the Sanders' house in Delaware.  That's quite a drive to make but worth it.  Knoebels is currently ranked the #3 park in the world by Amusement Today (Golden Ticket Awards) and also has the #3 wooden coaster in the world- The Phoenix.  With credentials like these, it was only a matter of time before we showed up.

Knoebels is unlike any park that I have ever been to.  To begin with, it is very inexpensive. There is no parking fee, no entrance fee, the entertainment is free, and you can either buy tickets for the individual rides or buy an all-you-can-ride arm band.  We went on a day where arm bands were buy-one-get-one and so we only spent about $100 dollars total to visit this park.  That's about the same cost as a one-day ticket to Disney for one person.  

The park is set in a rural area of Pennsylvania.  Since there is no entrance fee, a park gate is not needed.  You can walk into the park from many different points. There are cabins and a large camping area that are literally right next to the rides.  People are free to walk into and out of the park at will, and you can even bring your dog.  There were tons of four-legged friends walking around.  

 Since the park is ranked #3, you'd think it'd be loaded with really new and modern rides.  Not so.  Most of the rides at Knoebels are really old.  Their claim to fame is having rides that are so old that you don't find them anywhere else anymore. The carousel, for example, was built in 1913 but is kept in pristine condition.  It is one of the largest carousels in the world and it still has a working ring dispenser.  Riders on the outside row of horses can reach for the steel rings as they ride.  The rider who grabs the brass ring gets a free ride.  I scored two rings myself, but not the brass ring.  The kids tried to grab a ring, but they couldn't quite reach it.

The park has a ride called "Flying Turns" which is based off a 1920s bobsled coaster.  I have never ridden anything like it before.  The track disappears and the coaster rolls around like a bobsled.  Knoebels also has a ride called "The Looper" which is the last of it's kind in the U.S. They have a "whip" ride from 1915.  The bumper cars are throw-backs and have been voted best in the world by USA Weekend.  There are just so many good, old-fashioned rides.  The standout for us, though, was the Phoenix roller coaster.  I know I said in April that Outlaw Run (at Silver Dollar City) was my new favorite wooden coaster.  That is no longer so.  The Phoenix is simply amazing.  This coaster- built in 1947- has definitely stood the test of time.  It is smooth and gives lots of airtime.  Brian says that it's his favorite as well.

 After riding the Phoenix, the other wooden coaster at the park (called the Twister) just couldn't compare.  We rode Twister once, and that was sufficient for the adults.  The kids wanted to go again, so they went by themselves.  This is the first time that we've allowed them to ride a full-sized coaster by themselves while we wait at the exit.  Brian about died laughing when he saw the picture taken during their solo ride.  Olivia's hands are up and Owen is posing.

 Our trip to Knoebels was an all-day event.  We were really tired when we returned to the house.  Even though the park was rather far away, it was definitely worth the drive.