Williams Grove for sale

Morgan also inspired many parks to buy new, flashy import rides. Cedar Point was one of them

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If it is bought by a larger company it would be interesting to see what happens to the Cyclone.... I just wonder if someone would spend the money to rebuild it or just build somthing new.

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We all hate to see coasters dissapear...

However...

There is a point in time when sentimentality gives way to economy. A coaster that is in need of minor (sometimes major) repairs is one thing... a coaster that basically needs to have all of its lumber, tracking, rollingstock, hardware replaced is another.

At what point is the Cyclone? It seemed like it was about ready to fall apart the last time I rode it. Economically, would it be worth sinking money into this coaster to rehab it, or would it be simply cheaper to knock it down and build something new?

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I think if someone bought it and turned it into a mid sized waterpark it could be a gold mine..... It could be one thing they have on Hershey.

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Which would be a good reason for HERCO to look at the property.

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Knoebels! Cyclone is amazing now and I can only imagine what a totally insane ride it would be under the care of the big K

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IF that would happen... I would not even care so much about the old Cyclone. Just put in a Skooter / Dodgem / Bumper Cars AND a set of Flyers and run them like they do in Elysburg! For me, the 20 minute trip to Williams Grove is a heck of a lot shorter than the 2 hour trip to Knoebels.

*** This post was edited by SLFAKE 8/12/2005 9:16:53 AM ***

A park for enthusiast... Ran by enthusiast.... Anyone interested in starting a venture?

Oh well.... What ever happened to Great American Family Parks?

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It's looks to be very beautiful with it's wooded, grassy areas

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Pictures can be deceiving...this place is loved for a rather unique atmosphere...I'd compare it more to a sick curiosity...much like slowing down to watch a crash site...it is not real pretty...but if you do it once there is a good chance you will do it again!

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It seemed like it was about ready to fall apart the last time I rode it.

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I rode it in 1997 for the first time and could not believe it was not condemned THEN! I gave it a 2nd try in 2001 (that sick curiosity thing) and felt the same way!

Anyhow, this thing has been falling down for AT LEAST 8 years now if reports are correct!

http://www.coasterbuzz.com/forum.aspx?mode=thread&TopicID=38220

This thread from a while back has some good WG and especially Cyclone takes! This should help you understand a little more about the place. Do not come to WG expecting a "charming" little experience like you would at any small picnic park. WG is a different beast. I dare say, you have to experience it to understand! I can't promise you will like it, but I bet you'll have an opinion one way or the other!

I'll go back every time I'm in the area! :-)

Williams Grove is clearly not a park for everyone but if you can appreciate anything nostalgic, chances are you'll have a good time at the place. I'd go back in a heartbeat.

The best way I can describe Williams grove is imangine Knoebels if the gravel was grass and the rides were sun faded. Williams Grove could probably fit in the area of Knoebels that has all the pavillions, Sklooosh, and pool.

I must say they have the best Tilt A Whirl and Chance Twister I've ridden since the ride ops actually control the rides to make you spin. You know it will be good when you tell a ride op to make you spin and they get a smile on their face and say they got 15 people sick last week on the ride! Their Monster is pretty damn good too, and their Music Express runs like a carnival one.

Williams Grove may be rough around the edges but they know how to run their flats!

Knoebels! Cyclone is amazing now and I can only imagine what a totally insane ride it would be under the care of the big K (and I don't mean Kennywood although that would be cool too).

My first thought was also, "I wonder if Dick Knoebels want to start a small park chain...?"

I love this place...

I just don't want to set people up for anticipointment! This is a park that many GP would not like. The pure enthusiast can find all sorts of things to love here. My mother would hate it... :-)

P.S. She loved Holiday World and quite a few other parks I've dragged her to over the years. If I took her to WG I would lose my credibility and could never get her to come to another suggested park again...

I have to say I'm more worried about the fate of the Schwarzkopf Wildcat then I am the Cyclone.

I wouldn't think Hershey would want the park except as a defensive move. It's too close. Dutch Wonderland made sense because it is a kiddie park. Different market, even though in the same area as Hershey.

I doubt that CF would be interested in a park this small. Especially since I don't think there is much acerage with it to expand.

SF, I think is reentrenching now and unlikely to buy anything.

Kennywood, could be.

Knobels. If Knobels wants to expand past one park this could be a good match. It's the same type of business, a small, traditional park that relies heavily on company picnics. Williams Grove has been short on maintenance, and Knobels just might bring it up a notch or 2 with nice results.

At this time Williams Grove doesn't really serve the Baltimore market. Coaster enthusiasts and racing enthusiasts are the only people I've met here in Baltimore that even know Williams Grove exists. So far, its market is pretty much just the Dutch country of Pennsylvania.*** This post was edited by Jim Fisher 8/14/2005 5:49:01 PM ***

And even in that Dutch country of Pennsylvania, at least in York County (Williamsgrove's neighbor to the south), people know it exists, but mention the name and many have the reaction "Is that place still open?"

*** This post was edited by SLFAKE 8/15/2005 8:23:16 AM ***

This company seems like a prime suitor:

http://www.weloveparks.com/

I emailed knoebels on the subject and I'll post the response....

This kinda sucks. Williams Grove has the feel that if anyone but the current owner is under control it just won't be the same. The missing steel running track on the top of the Cyclone, the blatant disregard for any safety (like the operator leaving his post mid-cycle to take a picture at the bottom of the first drop of my friend and I on the ride), and the 10 minute vomit-inducing cycles on the Twister. I'd hate to see anyone touch the Cyclone. If there's one way it should be experienced, it's in the dillapidated state it is now :)

There is so much potential... especially when the lap bars wouldn't lower on the Cyclone without a 12inch screwdriver jammed into each joint, the operator using his foot to push the car to the lift hill, and the second ride in a row since it didn't stop the first time around and everyone was forced to ride a second time...they were petrified. I haven't even seen faces like that on people coming off Kingda Ka (when it works). Why lose a true thrill ride? Furthermore, where else can you take a nap in a grassy field in the MIDDLE of an amusement park?

At least the lap bars would close.

When my wife and I rode Cyclone back in 2001 (my first ride on it, her first in about 20 or so years), we each rode in our own seat... I was in front, she was in seat two. Her lap bar closed, but would not lock. The op tried to lock it, but it just would not lock. He said... "As long as the seat belt is buckled..." and sent us on our way!

Although I kind of knew already, but the Knoebels hve NO intention of ever buying another park.

"Thank you for your msg., however Knoebels is a
> full-time plus job. We would rather keep Knoebels as
> a FIRST-CLASS park than extend ourselves in trying
> to operate another park.
> Dick Knoebel"

Any ideas what the asking price is?

How about Holiday World East?