Knoebels Coaster 2004????

I live and work just off route 220 in northern PA and have seen a few flat beds carry what look very much like the Greased Lightning coaster parts heading south...can anyone confirm if the coaster ever left SFMW's parking lot and if so when??? I am going to make a trip to Elysburg to snoop around and see what I can find out.

Well, Schwarzkopf and Knoebel's would make an excellent match. You never know, but I think it is a little too late for a coaster, unless they announce soon and aim for a summer opening.

Because it is my home park, I remain optimistic, but Greased Lightnin' coming to Knoebel's is unlikely

Josh "Waiting for the Mountain Woodie in '05" Linn

On Knoebel's homepage it reads: "Knoebels opens April 24th 2004, and we have all kinds of neat fun in store for all you thrill seekers and ride riders."

I'm not sure if that remark is about the park in general or about a new ride.

I won't be surprised if a new flat would show up mid season but I don't think we'll see Greased Lightning in PA. I'm sure if it moved from Marine World there would have been somthing posted on Screamscape.

I'm still waiting for the hillside woodie as well. GCII would be perfect for that coaster since their headquarters is only a few miles from Knoebels. Imangine a GCII Boulder Dash. CRAZY!

There are a few other of Anton's coasters for sale, too.

Sorry to stray a litte, but does anyone know what park might have a Schwartzkopf, about 80', single loop for sale? In the US also.

Who said anything about a single loop?

(wink)

Jim 'jimvid' McDonnell

no. I am not talking about knoebel's. I am just saying in general.

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coasterpunk said:for the hillside woodie as well. GCII would be perfect for that coaster since their headquarters is only a few miles from Knoebels. Imangine a GCII Boulder Dash. CRAZY!

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Funnyyou should mention that because the original design for Thunderhead was a huge terrain coaster that, to me, looked very similar in style to BD. It had a spectacular pretzel turnaround at the bottom of the first sizeable drop.(the first drop had riders go into a helix atop the mountain, much like Great Bear does at the top of its lift then down the side of the hill)

Coasterman Mike

That was the layout that Jeff showed at East Coaster. They also had a few other layout ideas for Thunderhead as well.

I just hope Knoebels goes with GCII for their next coaster. They did discuss a coaster a few years back but Knoebels decided to build Twister themselves instead of hiring GCII. I'm not sure how far those talks went.

Coasterpunk is just looking for more work ;)

Knoebels actually appoached GCII to build Twister from my understanding, but GCII had to turn it down because they were busy with Roar at the time. I think with the experiance gained from building the Twister, and the fact that they save a tremendous amount of money, IF they build another anytime soon I think it would be done in house again. Besides, when you have John Fetterman on staff...

I still hope that when Knoebels builds a new coaster, it's a revival of the wooden mouse.

I can dream, can't I?

Knoebels wanted another coaster and aproached Clair Haine and Mike Boodley back in 94 then again in 95. I actually think that was early GCII days. Thats when Dick first wanted to use a differant plot of land than instead of where Twister is now. I believe that is where the "terrain coaster" idea came from.

Several years later in 98 after Knoebels came up with the final Twister layout they approached GCII again. This time to assist in construction but GCII was busy for the next two years and turned it down.

I got that info from "Knoebels An Amusement Park With Heart"

That layout you guys were talking about , anybody got a pic?

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Bosshawk said:
Sorry to stray a litte, but does anyone know what park might have a Schwartzkopf, about 80', single loop for sale? In the US also.

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Bobbejaanland in the Netherlands just replaced it's "Looping Star" Schwarzkopf classic single looper with a new Gerstlauer Typhoon.
I wonder if they haven't already sold it. :(

I drove past Knoebels earlier today. I didn't see any coaster parts but I didn't venture into the park or drive on the road that goes down by the Phoenix and up into the campground.

I did see some construction though. In the parking lot it looks as if they are adding a drainage system. Out by the enterance of the park near Rt 487 their is somthing being built, my guess is somthing for drainage or sewage. I did see the new cabins from the one road that follows the back of the campground. They all look to be crammed into a small area.

About a month ago, Greased Lightnin' was still all at Marine World. A lot can change in a month, but it seems as though they would sand blast and paint the track before it got the Knoebels. Here is a picture of the track and some old Texas Tornado stuff for those of you that need proof. Here are the trains. Those pictures were taken on February 10th. It does seem like that would make a great addition to Knoebels, but do they want to have to deal with the operating cost?

*** Edited 3/8/2004 5:28:49 AM UTC by GoliathKills***

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thepinkdoomofmonkeys said:
That layout you guys were talking about , anybody got a pic?

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I second that. I'd also like to see alternate Thunderheads, if any are available.

*** Edited 3/8/2004 6:51:20 AM UTC by Dukeis#1***

I don't think that it is necessarily true that they would sandblast and then paint the track before it got to Knoebels. Paramount Carowinds did not repaint Stealth until it was in the park.

I am a Knoebels employee. Knoebels made several improvements to the park over the past off season, which include but are not limited to hooking up to the Elysburg Sewage system along RT. 487, they also built several cabins in the campground, and made some major improvements to the swimming pool filtration system.

There were unfortunitly no new rides this season :-(.

However there are rumors around the park that there is something big in store for Knoebels next season, being as though there rumors and they circulate every year that can not be confirmed at this time.

Knoebels' Twister might go through trackwork at a MUCH slower rate...if only they had c-punk build some new trains for the ride...:)

No, but seriously, in the past two seasons I have pushed *pretty hard* for Knoebels to pick up PGA's Anton shuttle AND/OR the Little Dipper...(two Schmecks in the SAME park...yummy). I also recall a period in which I wanted KG to land Anton's Whizzer from SFGAm (but we all know how THAT turned out, LOL)...

Knoebels is going to grow at a rate that suits THEIR park, not our *fantasies*...but since I can (thanks to 'Buzz), let me PLUG a couple of those indoor flat rides available CHEAP from Miracle Strip...and DK can even write off his trip to the redneck Riviera, ROFL...

As for Knoebels Groves, let me say personally how much *I* appreciate the desire to refurbish, rebuild, repair, and *reinvigorate* some of the classic older rides...thanks, Knoebels!! Could the park use ANOTHER classic dark ride? ;)