TR: Knoebel's Grove 8/27

After many attempts, my hopes of getting to Knoebel's for Labor Day weekend were not to be. I couldn't find anyone interested enough or with enough free time to go, and I was getting worried that I wouldn't get one more normal season visit before PPP. Luckily I found a few friends that were free on Tuesday, so I played hooky from work and made the trek to Elysburg.
Yay!

We got to the park around 1pm and the parking lot was half full - I had hoped for a smaller crowd, but it turned out to be needless worry as almost everything was a walkon. The weather was warm and humid (high of 87 that day), the clouds were overcast for much of the day, but it never rained. My friends, Kendall and Sean, are by no means coaster or amusement park enthusiasts but they were quickly smitten with the charm that it Knoebel's. After getting our wrist bands and a quick bite to eat it was time for our first ride, the Flyers. Flyers have easily become my favorite flat ride (if run well), and Knoebel's set are my favorite by far (I've yet to ride PKI's and hope to next year). As many here have already reported Knoebel's Flyers are really running well this year. The new restrictions on the rudder do take a little getting used and I had to change my strategy slightly, but I have been getting cable snaps this year that I never thought were possible. Simply Amazing!

Since this was my friends first visit it seemed only fitting to do the once around of the park. We started with the Whipper (Mangel's Whip), High Speed Thrill Coaster, Satellite (Rollo-Plane ?), Lusse AutoSkooters, Roto-Jet, Flume, Downdraft, Haunted House, and then it was time for the coasters. Pheonix was up first and I threw my friends in the Schmeck seat (1.3). It was great to see them slam their hands down and hold on tight after the first part of the double up. Phoenix was running incredibly fast and the final bunny-hop laden run home was extreme. I really felt like a rag doll being tossed around. Then it was on to Twister. Last year I had hit and miss luck with Twister, I felt that it delivered best in cooler conditions (best after rain), so I was a little nervous that it would be sluggish today with the heat and humidity. Not to be. Twister was running great. The severe pop into the helix was so pronounced I was really caught off guard. I realize that Twister is not everyone's cup of tea, but I really love it and think that it's really maturing into it's own. I'll be interested to see what people think after PPP this year.

My friends really wanted to ride Whirlwind despite my strong warnings against it. Alas, there was no telling them otherwise, so up we go. I really loathe this ride and my OTSR really stapled me this time. It was very uncomfortable to say the least and being stapled made those horrible Vekoma transitions all the worse. To top it off, they were giving everyone double rides. UGH. At least my friends agreed how horrible it was. I know something is coming next year, and I really hope this is going. - Taer it down.

The park looks really good this year, you can really see where Knoebel's put money into their infratructure. Lots of new paint, siding, roofs, and even a couple of new buildings. 1001 Nachts (Falling Star-like ride) was in pieces next to Skloosh. There was a maintenance man working on it (banging on it with a hammer), but I couldn't tell what was going on with the ride. I know that it was posted that it was being rebuilt, but from the shape I saw it in I can't see it going back up this year. Also, in front of Twister there is a large clearing space that looked like it was being prepped for construction, but I couldn't determine much else. I'm really looking forward to whatever may be coming for 2003, and while I'd love another coaster - the addition of flat rides like Downdraft would be equally as fine.

We ate an awful lot that day, Chicken Fries, pizza, tri-taters, candy, etc. Due to school starting back up there were a number of food stands down, but I'll hopefully get some Rib-b-q and Cheese on a stick at PPP - it's just not a complete visit to Knoebel's without them. Played a number of rounds of Fascination to no avail, and of course many more rides on the Flyers. My last Flyers ride of the day was amazing - snap snap snap. I so want my own set of Flyers.

All in all an absolutely wonderful day at my favorite amusement park in the world. PPP cannot happen soon enough.

All the best,
Jim 'Jimvid' McDonnell

Jimvid wrote an excellent TR and said:

"PPP cannot happen soon enough."

Truer words have never been spoken. I'm glad the tides have turned and that I am actually making this event ;-)

Moosh

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"Three simple words: I am gay." - Homer Simpson, giving advice on how to dump a girl.

*** This post was edited by Mamoosh on 9/4/2002. ***

Glad you had a great time Jim! Definitely worth skipping work for.....:) See ya at PPP!
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Brad Sherman
"Well sir, there's nothin' on earth like a genuine bona fide electrified 6-car Monorail!"
Model coasters and rides

I visited Knoebels for the first time this year and fell in love with it. I'm not going to be able to make it to Phall Phun Phest this year but hoping to go next year. I was wandering what is it like, what kind of things are planned for this year, any info would be great. I really want to go this year but I can't get off work.

*** This post was edited by Binaural on 9/10/2002. ***