Knoebels; And Many Other Side Trips
Associated parks:
Knoebels, Elysburg, Pennsylvania, USA
Hey Everyone,
First off, thanks for the tips that y'all provided me from a previous thread.
My family and I currently live in the mountains of northern New Mexico. We needed to drive down to the grocery store in Santa Fe, and we heard that Knoebels was on the way, so away we went. Total of about 5k miles.
We also visited many other non threme park attractions and will include a bit of feedback on those, along with plans that fell apart, and plans for the future.
Background
My wife and I typically take a trip back to the midwest once a year. Due to some family business, we spent more time than usual, which allowed us to visit friends in Pittsburgh and run over to Knoebels. I have two younger boys that are 38" and 46". My wife can't stand amusement parks due to the crowds and heat, so I planned carefully so that all would enjoy. My 46" likes rollercoasters, but has only been to a handful of parks (Lakeside, Cliff's, some Santa park in CS,CO, Cedar Point, IB).
Arrival
We drove from Mt. Lebanon, PA to Knoebels via State College, PA. With Penn State being out of school, the campus was a bit empty and peaceful. Parked at a university garage off of College Ave and ate at the Corner Room. The atmosphere was historical. Place was clean and service was good, but I'd say the food was average and had a limited selection. I think the key to this place is timing it right for the dinner menu to become available.
We arrived at our cabin in the early afternoon. We stayed at the Memory Lane Campgrounds which is right behind the Haunted Mansion. This was a must for us, as it gave my wife and kids a place to rest, during the prime of the day. Spending a bit more ($200 per night) and getting a cabin greatly increases the 'spousal acceptance factor'; it's important that everyone has a good time. The cabin was tight, but had enough room for all of us. On a side note, the fire ring and picnic table out front were nice. Wife and I spent a good amount of time out front on the rocking chairs.
Day 1 - Understanding the Layout
Haunted Mansion
The first day would be a half day. First off, we went on the Haunted Mansion, as we weren't going to buy wrist bands for the day, and we needed to pay for Haunted Mansion tickets anyway. Seeing the attraction in person was such a relief, as I cheated and saw it on The Youstoobs previously. The truck horn was rediciously loud, but great! What a nice difference you get with this 'homemade' type of dark ride, versus one of those Scooby Doo dark ride shooters. I can tell that Knoebels takes care of this ride; a theme that will show up again.
As per a recommendation from RCMAC, I rode again the following night. Yes, that’s a useful tip as it seemed easier to get my eyes adjusted to the interior of the building, since my eyes were already adjusted to the night outside. Thanks for the tip.
Fascination
We also visited the Fascination Parlor. A/C was appreciated by all. We didn't win, but my wife almost did. She enjoyed it, which was nice to see. We were surprised to see a wall of items that you could choose from. It looks like someone raided the 'home-goods' store and moved it to the prize wall.
My youngest had a few issues with dropping the coins in the slot at the correct time. As a result, he accidentally paid for the incorrect game. However, one of the girls working the game came over and gave him another token to add, in order for him to play at the right time. IIRC, the trick is to add the coin after the bell rings. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
We appreciated the employee that helped us out. She didn't have to do that, but she did. We'll see other examples of this throughout our visit to Knoebels.
Knoebels Museum and Mining Museum
They have some cool items in here. Would recommend for first-timers. Also A/C. We purchased the sifting sand packets and let the kids sift though the materials. They seemed to enjoy it.
Bayern Kurve
In the other thread, TheMillenniumRider was asking about the Bayern Kurve. She's still not open, and we didn't see any work being performed on it. However, the wood is new, and the paint is fresh. I forgot to ask at Guest Services, but was able to snap a few photos.
Understanding the Layout
The remainder of the first day was trying the food and getting the 'lay of the land'. First off, Knoebels initially appears like a maze. But after a few hours, it's relatively easy to understand the layout. In our case, I grouped everything into 'cabin side of the creek' to 'other side of creek'. BTW, the Knoebels app is a good resource to getting specific directions to an attraction, and the park offers WiFi.
For the first night, we tried hot dogs, cheese fries, and pirogies. The food was better than the average park food, but would greatly improve tomorrow, when we 'Remember(ed) the Alamo'....
Day 2 - Family Time and Thrills
The next day, we wandered into the park. Upon a recommendation from Guest Services, they told us that we were allowed to come into the park well before the rides start and grab some breakfast. We did. Food was fine, but once again….. ‘Remember the Alamo’. However, it was peaceful to sit at the table with my wife and kids and watch the park come alive. That’s something that you can’t experience at a mega chain, and at this point, my wife started to understand why Knoebels is so unique.
After breakfast, we went over to the wristband office and showed our previously purchased online tickets. After that, we went over to line up for ‘Flying Turns’, as recommended by CoasterFantom2.
Flying Turns
We lined up 10 minutes prior to opening, and a line already formed around the corner. However, the crew was running three trains, and they’re running efficiently. My son and I boarded the front car and went for a ride.
He was excited to ride on this knowing that it’s the only one in the world. Additionally, we both let out a ‘woah’ during the first two turns, as they feel like you’re overbanking. Smooth, fun ride with good ops. It was a good start to the day.
Also rode it at night. Cool lighting inside the track. I was not expecting that.
Phoenix
Next we went on The Phoenix. Not sure how to explain this ride, but it’s like this…. It’ll make you smile, and you’ll laugh the entire ride, as that airtime should not be possible. I’d easily put this on my top 5 rollercoasters. Additionally, my kid loved this ride, and became is favorite in the park.
The ride was running smooth. Not sure if it has any new wood, but I would have to say that this is the smoothest wooden I’ve been on. No jackhammering, no potholes, no shimmy. I bet the carpenters who maintain this ride have the best decks on their street.
The ride was operating with one train. However, a front seat wait was only about 15 minutes. Completely manageable. And as someone with young kids, I liked that they had a car out front so I could get my 46” kid warmed up to what the coaster train looks and feels like.
So how was the airtime? Sitting in the front, it was maintained floater with a pinch of ejector. At no time was my kid or I in any pain (Magnum, but that’s a good pain). However, I did experience something that I did not expect. I’m not sure at what part of the ride, but multiple times we would float over the top and then it was like we got an extra boost of airtime about 1/2 second later. Pretty cool, enjoyed by all.
Twister
<DucksFlyingObject> Honestly, I think I might like Twister better </DucksFlyingObject>. This ride has it all. Great laterals in the helix, cool tunnel, split lift, pops of air, sections of positive G’s; she seemed to be a much more balanced ride, and I appreciate that. While Phoenix will put a smile on my face and make me laugh the entire time, Twister made me smile but I wanted a park bench and cigarette afterward. I don’t smoke, but this may have been a good time to start.
One train operations; front seat 15 minutes. Crews were on point. As an old CP Park Operations guy, no airdate made me nervous. But, they know what the risks are, and seem to handle it properly.
While the ride was aggressive, the train did have slight jackhammering in the helix and throughout the remainder of the course. However, this is like ‘nit-picking’ a classic car; something can always be worked on.
Oh and we saw a kid trow up over the railing right after riding. Dodged that one.
After riding, we met back up with the wife and my 36” kid. They hung out at the little kid car ride and rode that about a dozen times. According to my wife, they all got to know the operators quite well.
The Alamo
He had lunch at The Alamo. I had the chicken and waffles, as recommended by BariMan. Good call. They hit the spot. We all enjoyed our meals, and I could tell that this was freshly made food. Total bill with a good tip for 4 people was about $50. I appreciate the value for a ‘home-cooked’ meal. A/C was a good touch, also.
I’d like to mention our waitress. While I don’t remember her name, she was great. I ordered the mac & cheese as my side, and I thought it tasted good. However, about 5 minutes after our food was delivered, she gave me a side of coleslaw for free, as she stated that the chef said that the mac & cheese was slightly off. However, I would not have noticed anything if she didn’t mention this. Comping the mac & cheese and giving a free side of slaw really made me appreciate the place, and led to the cost of those items simply being added onto her tip.
At this point, we decided that we’d like to go to The Alamo for dinner, due to our experience for lunch.
Quickly mentioning our dinner visit, the wait was about 20 minutes. Service was just as good as before, and I tried the roast beef. It was equally as good as the chicken and waffles. Everyone enjoyed the food.
Black Diamond
Cool little indoor dark ride / coaster. Y’all know what it is. Line was moving quickly.
Nap Time
We went back to our cabin to take a nap for a few hours. Once again, with a wife who has been scarred by Six Flags in her teenage years, taking it ‘slow and easy’ was the key to keeping everyone happy. I had no reservations about taking a nap, as it was 91 deg_F outside.
Cosmotron
Well, I’ve never been on WDW’s version of Tron, but Kosmo’s version of Tron was great! Good music, cool lights, not too intense, good crew. We rode this four times, as my boy loved this ride.
I also found out that he’s not epileptic.
If I were to give some advice, Knoebels needs to scrape up a few dollars and put a mini-split HVAC in the building. While it was 91 deg_F outside, it probably was around 115 deg_F inside. However, this does not become an issue when the ride starts moving. But, It’d be a good addition for the health and safety of the operators.
SkyRide
Next we went on the chairlift. My kid and I enjoyed it. Nice and relaxing and the view is great. I bet this would be a good ride to do at sunset or at night.
Ferris Wheel
Went on the ferris wheel next, just as the sun was starting to set behind the hills. Good long cycle, which I seem to have noticed that Knoebels runs the rides on a longer cycle. Anyway my kid loves these, but the unsecured ferris wheels secretly freak me out.
Log Flume
This has got to be the cleanest log flume I’ve ever seen; not even close. Two good drops and we only got a little wet. No swamp shoes on this one. My little one wanted to ride again, but we ran out of time.
Grand Carousel
We rode this a handful of times both on the outside and inside. My 46” was too short to reach out, but he gave it a shot. I saw other kids stretching way out to reach the rings, but we both haven’t acquired that skill.
I didn’t get any rings, and was trying to figure out the technique. How do y’all do this? Is it a hook of the fingers, or a pinch-and-pull?
Good crew on this one. I liked the added touch that they would do, in regards to announcing the name of the winning rider. Additionally, one can tell that Knoebels keeps good care of all the hardware and artwork. No damaged horses on this one. One of our family favorites. The boys enjoyed the combination of motion, sights, and sounds.
Train Ride
Not sure what this one was called, but it was the bigger train. We rode this as recommended by BariMan, and it did not disappoint. Thanks for the tip. Good long ride (not Little Amerika long), and went through two tunnels that the kids both liked. Don’t stick your elbows out in those tunnels.
Flyers
Saved these for the last ride. I grew up with the Flyers from CI/KI and this cycle went on forever, which was appreciated. Once again, the small little touches that Knoebels adds. We were able to snap the cable a few times without much effort. Could only run one cycle, as I was starting to feel a little nauseous after the long cycle.
Cool ride. Wish I had one of these closer so I could build up my rusty skills again, like back in the 90’s.
Jerry’s Final Thoughts
In honor of my old hometown mayor, Jerry Springer, these are my final thoughts.
Knoebels is special. It’s a place where I could see it possible to spend multiple days riding all the rides, or simply spending a day walking around and soaking in all the sights and sounds. That’s a feeling that I don’t get at many other parks. The surrounding is calming, unique, and the employees get it. Small touches add up, and it shows.
As an older coaster enthusiast, my focus has changed from riding the biggest and the baddest rides out there, to now focusing on what my family enjoys, and getting more of a rush on seeing their experiences and reactions, more than my own. Interesting how time changes your outlook.
Going to a small park like this renews the thought of how our hobby is enhanced when spending time with others. Either in the form of seeing the reactions from your non-enthusiast family, other friends, or simply sharing one’s personal experience with others in our community via a trip-report. So no matter who you go to the park with, please make sure to experience it with others (in person or digitally via a community), as we all have an unknown finite time left before our last ticket is punched.
Future Plans
Arriving to our cabin after the second day, my non-coaster loving, crowd loathing, long line hating wife stated that we need to find a way to do this again for one to two more times each year, especially during the halloween season. Remind you, we live in New Mexico. My older kid also cried once we got to Elysburg and he said that he didn’t want to leave Knoebels. They both don’t do that.
I’ll follow up with photos and other non-coaster info tomorrow. Running the bases and PNC park, Ohio State Reformatory tour, Phipps Conservatory, local eateries…. Look for an edit. Thanks for the previous input as it helped out.
We’ll be back. We’re planning a trip to the Outer Banks next year, and we’ll make a side trip to Knoebels. I heard it was on the way.
-Ryan
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Non-Coaster Update:
We also attended a few other activities, just incase y'all are interested. Additional info on a few 'stand-out' restaurants attended.
Additional Attractions
Ohio State Reformatory - Mansfield, OH
My wife and I were looking forward to this one. I've toured this place about 25 years ago, but this was the first time for her.
If you're unaware, this is the prison used for the filming of 'The Shawshank Redemption'. For example, remember the scene where Andy plays the opera over the PA speaker and then the guard smashes in the window? The speaker is there, and the window is still missing; never replaced from the movie. Additionally, the tour was open to places like the admin building, both cellblocks, library, hospital, chapel, intake, dining room, warden's office, and solitary confinement.
Compared to my visit around 2000, the prison was in much better shape now. Looks like the preservation society that looks after this place is doing a good job. Additionally, the tour is divided into three themes; paranormal, Shawshank, and corrections. We'll take the boys back in a few years when they're older for the 'behind the bars' tour. One can tell that they have many more areas to explore, outside of the general tour.
Niel Armstrong Museum - Wapakoneta, OH
Small museum in a tiny town. Neil's hometown. Well put together, with a strong background in the Cold War origins of the Space Race. Give it a try if you're in the area. Good movie half way though the museum.
PNC Park - Run the Bases Night
Now I not a big fan of giving money to Bob Nutting, but the Pirates had a 'Kids Run The Bases NIght'. Pirates won, which was good timing with the boys. I haven't visited Fenway or Wrigley, but this is the most beautiful park I've seen.
'Running the Bases' was reserved for kids 14 and under. Long line, but the line moved fast. We were brought in from right field and walked down the first base line. Parents of young kids and all other kids ran. I wanted to do this, as I imagine this would be something that the boys would remember forever.
Pretty cool having random people from PGH just randomly starting conversations with us. Enjoyed hearing the local dialect.
Phipps Conservatory
Much bigger than what appears from the outside. Particularly enjoyed the 'Sunken Garden' room. Boys enjoyed all the interactive components and seeing all the new and unfamiliar plants. Also enjoyed driving along Forbes and go though Pitt, especially the Cathedral of Learning. The Conservatory was expensive, but it shows that they sink the money back into the place. Easily a half-day place.
Heinz Center
Ran out of time, but it was cool to see the set of 'Mister Rodger's Neighborhood'.
Duquesne Incline.
It went up. It went down. Operators on both ends were very social and welcoming. People from PGH seem to be a bit more welcoming than may current home location.
Recommended Restaurants
Kewpee Hamburgers - Lima, OH
Urban legend is that this was the inspiration for Dave Thomas when he founded Wendy's. Fresh hamburgers, frosty malts, and Wendy's traditional style fries (not the current sea salt junk fries of today). Very affordable. Feed a family of 4 for less than $20.
Uncle John's Diner - Mansfield, OH
Local diner with a cool historical interior. Philly Cheesesteak burger was exceptional. Might be the best meal o the trip. About half the price from what we would pay in northern New Mexico.
Badamo's Pizza - Dormont, PA
Good pizza, excellent sauce. Right off of the Red Line in Pittsburgh. Garlic Knots were so good that we had a few servings.
Brunton Dairy Farm - Aliquippa, PA
Good milk, best chocolate milk my wife and I have ever had. We had a party with some friends from Pittsburgh and brought over some milk in glass bottles. Sounds lame, but trust me on this one.
Primanti Bros - Strip District Pittsburgh, PA
I've been here before. Good experience for the family, but a bit of a 'one and done' for all of us.
FAILED PLANS
City Museum - St. Louis, MO
Wife vetoed this. Our kids would be too young for this 10 story madhouse. She's right. We'll mark it down for a few more years
Kennywood - West Mifflin, PA
We tried, but completely wiped out from all the travel. Plus, I'd like to go back when one of my boys at least hits 48".
Idlewild Park - Somewhere, PA
We decided to spend the additional time at Knoebels instead. Seemed a bit expensive for what it is, especially that we'd only be able to attend for a few hours.
EDIT 8/5: Added photos and non-coaster details.
I was there in July and yup, no Bayern Kurve.
The ring dispenser is simple once you get the motions down. You need to thread a finger in as you drift by and then pull it basically straight out. The ring dispenser in Santa Cruz is far more forgiving and you can yank the rings out basically however. But Knoebel’s has to come out almost straight or it won’t release it.
Please tell me you didn’t skip the Skooters, or the Looper, or the Whip, or the Rock O Plane, or the Roll O Plane.
There are so many great rides there and so many examples or perfectly restored stuff that no one else has.
Great trip report, and a great reminder of why Knoebels is such a special park. And this was probably the best example yet of how it's always on the way.
Wildcat_Four:
I bet the carpenters who maintain this ride have the best decks on their street.
Phoenix is always in top form, and possibly one of the smoothest wooden coasters around. Pretty sure John Fetterman (designer of Twister and Flying Turns, as well as Thunder Run at Kentucky Kingdom, and I believe the project manager for the Phoenix move) still works at Knoebels, and I might be wrong but I believe he is responsible for all or most of the ride maintenance there.
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