Yeah, the one I heard a few years ago was that CP was buying it-- and was just going to ruin it. OK, the ruining it part was an editorial comment by the person telling me. That one's been around since CF bought Dorney, I guess they figured they wanted to buy every park in Pennsylvania.
I think most people in my area really like Knoebels. I think that's why they were worried about this rumor, that charging admission would change things for the worse. Of course, in the coal region people get on the buses to Atlantic City just for the roll of quarters. Then they sit on a bench along the boardwalk and bring the quarters home with them.
My mostly non-riding older relatives love to go to Knoebels just for an afternoon out. Maybe they'll ride the train and ferris wheel, but they'll also buy food and drinks and sweets, especially if the grand niece and nephew are along. And there are people from my area who'll just drive up on a Sunday afternoon to eat at the Alamo or Oasis.
People who are there to ride are already paying 25-30 dollars, which wouldn't change if a comparable admission were charged. It's the non-riding and light-riding crowd that put in that extra income that wouldn't be there with a fixed admission price.
And if all I would get with a 30 plus dollar admission would be landscaped borders and fancy paved walkways, I could do without it.
millrace said:I think the locals would have a conniption if that ever changed. It was tried and failed at Conneaut and Rye Playland...
...AND Lakemont Park.
Kennywood was almost a gated park even before this year. General Admission has been set to a level high enough to scare away (insert undesirable guests here) since the mid-to-late eighties.
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