Knoebel's Amusement Resort in Elysburg, PA

Knoebel’s Amusement Park is a free admission park located in Elysburg, PA. Just because the admission is free don’t be deceived – it isn’t some small park or a place reminiscent of a local carnival or fair. Knoebel’s has some of the best amusement park rides in the country and is the largest free admission park in the United States.

What does it mean when Knoebel’s says they are a free admission park – it means just that. You have a few options for paying to ride the rides at the park. On many days during the season you have the option of a hand stamp that allows you to ride most of the rides in the park. You can add on a roller coaster option to include them for your day at the park. Or you can opt to pay as you go. Each ride has a cost (starting as low as 75 cents for the kiddie rides to $5 for boat tag) and you buy tickets at the park and pay as you ride. Tickets never expire so don’t throw away those few extra ones you have at the end of your day at the park. The park also offers sundown plans on some days (starting at 5:00 pm until park closing) that allow you to ride the rides for one price.

There are a few attractions that are not included in the pay one price plans. The Haunted Mansion, Skyride and Pool are not included in these plans and must be paid for by tickets.

 Knoebel’s is probably one of the few parks in the country that allow you to picnic for free and allow you to bring your own food and drink into the park. It’s not uncommon to see families with large coolers in wagons as you walk around. It’s a great atmosphere because you don’t feel like you are doing something wrong when you bring in your own food. People with picnic lunches are seated at tables next to people who buy their food from stands and everyone is completely comfortable.

Strollers, wagons and wheelchairs are available to rent at the park. They are very reasonably priced (in 2010 - $6 to rent a wagon or $4 to rent a single stroller) and all that you need to rent one is a valid photo id for a deposit.

The land where Knoebel’s stands now was purchased by the family in 1828 when the Reverend Henry Hartman Knoebel bought the land.  It was Reverend Knoebel’s grandson, H.H. (“Old Hen”) Knoebel who realized the potential of the land for recreation.  During the turn of the century families would come to the land for a “tally-ho” which was a Sunday afternoon hayride with a destination.  Knoebel profited from these visits by families, charging a small fee to water and feed the horses and providing items such as ice cream and popcorn for sale.

In 1926 the Knoebel family opened a concrete swimming pool and marked the start of what is now Knoebel’s Amusement Park.  The pool opened on July 4th of that year.  The pool has been rebuilt over the years but remains in the same location as the original pool.  The first amusement park ride arrived that year, a steam powered carousel made by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company

Knoebel’s Amusement Resort today features more than 50 rides for families and people of all ages and all different thrill levels.

Since I am a parent to two young children this is the area I’ve spent the most time in over the past few years.  The Kiddie Rides are in a nice location and it is very shady – a great thing on a hot summer day.  Most of the rides are under cover as well.  There is no smoking allowed in the Kiddie area.  I’ve seen park employees ask people to put out their cigarettes in this part of the park.  

Some of the Kiddie Rides my family loves include the Kiddie Bumper Cars (it’s so funny to watch the kids try and steer), the Froghopper (think a mini free-fall ride for the preschool set) and the Fire Trucks.  My kids have one all time favorite ride though, and it is the Hand Cars.  The children sit on a car that reminds you of an old-fashioned rail car.  There is a hand crank and the children need to spin it to make the cars move. 

A great feature of the Kiddie Ride area is that parents are allowed inside the rides for free for many of the attractions.  No one yells at you to hurry up when you are putting your child in the ride or taking them off.  The attendants are very good and making sure all the kids are safely in the ride and obey the safety rules.  I’ve been to places where I was scared for my kids and their safety, whether it was the condition of the rides or the lack of attention of the attendants – not here.

There are several rides in the park that the whole family can enjoy together.  Most of them aren’t wild or crazy so even those who have a fear of amusement park rides can go on them as well.  Some of the rides do have a minimum height requirement to ride the ride, or to ride it without an adult.  Each ride is well marked to let you know if your child can enjoy the ride.

Probably the most popular family ride is the Grand Carousel.  There was a carousel at the park since it opened in 1926, but the current Grand Carousel was brought to the park in 1942.  It is an amazing carousel that was built in 1913 by George Kremer with hand carved horses by Charles Carmel.  Two organs provide the music for the ride.  The Grand Carousel was purchased from Riverside Park in Rahway, NJ.  This same carousel operates to this day, and guests can enjoy the beauty of the ride and even try to catch a brass ring.

The Bumper Cars were named the best in the country a few years ago by Parade Magazine. Whenever you go to the park you can always expect a long line to ride them, but it is well worth the wait.

Some other family rides at Knoebel’s include the Old Smokey Train, the Pioneer Train (which has a 1.5 mile track that goes through the woods), and the Giant Wheel.

You might not consider a haunted house a thrill ride, but this is how Knoebel’s Amusement Resort classifies their Haunted Mansion. It has been named the best dark ride in the country in 2009 by the organization known as Dark Ride and Funhouse Enthusiasts (DAFE). Some people might consider it hokey but it is perhaps my favorite attraction at Knoebel’s. The Haunted Mansion opened in 1973.

The Phoenix Roller Coaster is a traditional wooden roller coaster and is also recognized as one of the best roller coasters in the country. It was built by Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters, Inc. and designed by Herbert Paul Schmeck. It has been operating at Knoebel’s since 1985. It lasts about two minutes and riders reach speeds of up to 45 miles per hour.

The Twister is a roller coaster that was designed and built completely in house at the Knoebel’s Amusement Resort. It was based on the famous Mr. Twister from Denver, Colorado. Mr. Twister is a John Allen designed roller coaster. The Twister has been operating at Knoebel's since 1999.

As mentioned before, there is ample space for picnicking at Knoebel’s Amusement Resort. Families bring coolers full of food and drink to enjoy while spending the day at the park. Our family will eat at the car in the parking lot before heading to the park, and this is a scene you see repeated often. If you want to buy food at the park you have several different options. The Alamo is the park’s sit down, full service restaurant that offers a great variety of food, from peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for the kids to salads and burgers for the adults. Different food stands and food courts offer pizza, deep fried macaroni and cheese, hot dogs and hamburgers. Perhaps my favorite food of all time at Knoebel’s would be their funnel cakes. I don’t eat them anywhere else but here. Another specialty of the park is their Kettle Corn popcorn. The popcorn is served in huge bags and you see people all over the park eating this delicious treat.

Knoebel's Amusement Park has won awards for the park food for the past eleven years. They are the winner of the Golden Ticket Award for food by Amusement Today.

Knoebel’s Amusement Resort is much more than just amusement park rides. The Crystal Pool gives guests the chance to cool off on a hot summer day. There are water slides, diving boards and a fun splash park / water park area just for little kids.

If you live far away or want to experience Knoebel’s for more than just one day, there is a campground associated with the amusement park. You can bring your camper or your tents and enjoy a family campground atmosphere (no alcoholic beverages allowed). Reservations are available and guaranteed but you need to stay a minimum of two nights to have a reservation. Cabins are also available for rental. The cabins are a bit rustic but provide guests with tables, electricity, a main room and a loft, and three foam mattresses (no bathrooms). Information is available on the Knoebel’s web site for current season rates and terms.

Three Ponds Golf Course is an 18 hole golf course located not far from the park. Rates are very reasonable and there are specials if you stay at the campground or in one of their cabins.

Knoebel’s Amusement Park and Resort provides families with a great vacation.  The costs are reasonable and the atmosphere is very family friendly.  If you are looking for an economical way to have some fun with your family I would highly recommend the Knoebel’s expereince.