My advice, flip a coin. Either way you can't go wrong.
While every one above is correct, Hershey is a corporate park, it is closer to a traditional amusement park than other corporate theme parks (Six Flags and Parmount parks). I would hardly call it a corporate park "like so many others." The only "characters" you will find walking around are Hershey products (giant walking Mr.Goodbars, Reeses Peanut Butter Cups, Hershey Kisses etc)and you will not find any rides named after super heros. I also beg to differ on the above opinion that Hershey is not an all day park. True, I rarely stay from opening to closing, but I have often put in a good 8 hour day.
Knoebels on the other hand is tratditional amusment park all the way. To those who were brought up in the era of big corporate theme parks, it will appear a bit lack luster, however it has a charm all of its own. This has got to be one of the most laid back parks around.
As for the coaster department, Hershey wins the Quantity award, but Knoebels slightly edges Hershey out in the Quality department. Both have exelent coasters. Hershey has Wildcat and Lightning Racer (two exelent GCI woodies) and the highly UNDERATED and (unfairly) much maligned Great Bear B&M inverted (this is truely a great ride, though short). From the historical point of view it has sooperdooperlooper, first looping coaster on the east coast, and the venerable old Comet. A standard boomerang (Sidewinder), a very short and slow mine train (Trail Blazer), and a very wild Wild Mouse round out the coaster count.
Knoebels has one lack luster coaster (the corkscrew Whirlwind) and two great ones. Twister, modeled after the legendary Mr.Twister, late of Elitch Gardens, is a very good coaster. However the masterpiece is Pheonix. A Herb Schmeck design (like Hershey's Comet), this coaster may not be the biggest, but it is truely one of the best.
For Pheonix alone I would say the nod should go to Knoebels. But either way, you can't go wrong.
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I promise I won't go off on a rant about those @#$%^&*! Toboggan's again.
*** This post was edited by SLFAKE on 5/2/2001. ***