Worth a 3 hour drive to Knoebel's?

(SF)Great American: take the Knoebel's bumper car challenge. I see your point - a median? What's with that? - but believe you me, it adds to the fun. How? You can slam/bam all you want, but you can also race your friends. And those original, gorgeous Lusse Art Deco scooters fly.

I have said that my two favorite non-coaster rides in the world are Spiderman at IOA and the bumper cars at Knoebel's - that's how much I think of them.

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Age and treachery will always overcome youth and skill.

It's just really hard to believe, 'cause I know that the median took away from the ones at Great America... But I'm willing to at least give it a chance. If I can ever get out there. Maybe in a few years. the Dodgem isn't going anywhere anytime soon, right?

Yes.

Danimales, Knoebels is approximately a 6 hour drive from Cleveland and is well worth it. I made a day trip out of it in 2001 (big mistake!) and did an overnighter last year and am completely hooked.

Cosmotron was a huge disappointment. It could very well be a cool ride, but since it's a Wisdom Himalaya, I was just not impressed with the ride it gave. Throw a Mack Musik Express in there and turn the lights down more and you'd have a heck of a thriller.

ray p.

The Cosmotron was way cooler when it was a caterpiller. A few years back the redesigned it to it's present form. The old way was so much better when you would go over that air vent "VWOOSH!" Now the only highlight now is going backwards, but by the time it gets to full speed forward it slows down to go backwards.

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Visits to Knoebels in 2002: 10 and PPP!

XBox Live Gamer tag: Coasterpunk

I'm in the rare "like Knoebel's, but don't love it" crowd. I do PPP mainly because you can expect everyone to be there and there are several parks within 5 hours that are open to hit (Kennywood, SFWOA, Dorney, Dutch Wonderland, SFA, SFGAdv). The park itself is nice. It has some charm, though it doesn't have the beauty of a Kennywood or Lakeside (IMO). Its nice.

The coasters all have different personalities. HSTC is sorta a "freak" coaster, in that its a Overland kiddie oval that produces a lot of air and ends up being very good. Whirlwind sucks (as can be expected of a Vekoma splitscrew). Twister sorta craps out for me after the helix. Moosh and Bob Hooley will swear its as good as the original; Mike Saunders, Paul Greenwald, and Matt Crowther will swear on a stack of bibles in the other direction. Phoenix is top 10 all the way. First drop doesn't do anything, but the rest of the ride does. Its probably the 2nd or 3rd finest all airtime coaster (Shivering Timbers being up there, and Comet being an almost megasized version of Phoenix).

The median on the bumper cars is necessary. They hit like trucks. They're my second favorite behind Rye's bumper cars (which hit like Porsches). There are a few other places with bumper cars like these, but only a couple run them the way Knoebels does (I know of none other than Hoffman's Playland).

The flyers are my second favorite in the world, behind PKIs. They haven't been as good the last couple years; the best the flyers have ever been in my now 4 years of Knoebel's visits was back at PPP 2000...you could leave the wing still and still snap like mad.

Haunted Mansion is the best dark ride experience I've seen in the US. Only thing that might top it is a suspended one in Rehoboth Beach that I've heard about for years. Otherwise, you're gonna have to go over to Blackpool or Efteling to see something better than this. Its really that good.

Other rides worth checking out at Knoebels include Downdraft (I believe that's the name), Power Surge, the Ferris Wheel, the new Skyride, Loop O Plane, Whip, the odd Teacup ride over by the Satellites, the trains, and that new Super Roundup they're constructing.

-Alan

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Mamoosh said:
Dawnmarie - if you can only make one trip to Knoebels this year, make it PPP. You won't be sorry ;-)

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Why PPP? It would seem that PPP would be the time *not* to go for a first time trip. I've never been to Knoebel's, and admittedly, I have no desire to go to a PPP, but aren't many of the rides closed during PPP? Are even the bumper cars open? From what I've heard it's only the coasters and the (ugh!) flyers. *Maybe* the Haunted House too (only makes sense). Wouldn't a "one time only" visit be better on like the 2nd or 3rd weekend in May? It's *very* cheap (only $15.50!!!!!111 :))

Hell, with HersheyPark open those weekends too, *I'm* thinking about taking that trip.....

lata, jeremy

--who wonders if "T" will have finals those weeks....

Jeremy - If I recall corrrectly, most of the rides are open at PPP. The only ride I remember being closed last year was the log flume.

However, I do somewhat agree with you about a first time trip being for PPP, but not because of the lack of rides. It's because of the lack of *food*. There are so many great food booths at Knoebel's that weren't open for PPP, that I was a bit bummed out.

The theming job on the antique car ride almost made up for it, though.

If I had it my way, I'd rather just get a bunch of friends together (the same group that I hung with at PPP, plus some others) and go to Knoebel's on a regular operating day.
*** This post was edited by chris 1/30/2003 12:48:18 PM ***

You know chris, I came to a similar conclusion recently. "T" and I were talking about summer plans as shee will be in school and she asked me was I planning on trying to make all the different events. I wasnt really feeling like going to the major events. It can be a little overwhelming. I'd much rather just call up a few folks and hang out at those parks. Problem is, with so many ppl at events like SRM, there is no time see everyone and still have time to yourself.

Actually, that the reason I still owe the P'burgher's a visit ;)

lata, jeremy
--who *will* see KennyWood one day this year...

I drove about 2-3 hours from Hershey to Knoebel's. It is one of my favorite traditional amusement parks. It's like amusement park in the middle of a forest. The Phoenix has some great airtime. The food is good and reasonably priced and the employees are friendly. It was worth the price of an armband several times over.

Alan sez:

"Moosh and Bob Hooley will swear [Twister is] as good as the original;"

I can't speak for Bob however I don't recall claiming it "as good" as the original. But, it is definitely comes much closer to recreating the feeling of the original than #2 at SFEG.

Jeremy sez:

"Why PPP? It would seem that PPP would be the time *not* to go for a first time trip. I've never been to Knoebel's, and admittedly, I have no desire to go to a PPP, but aren't many of the rides closed during PPP?

Your assumption is incorrect, based on the fact that you've never been to the park or the event. All the rides, with the exception of the water rides, are open the weekend of PPP. Its only during the event itself that certain rides are available for ERT. This year it was unseasonable warm and the Shoot-the-Chutes was open.

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Welcome to the New & Improved Coasterbuzz...now with 25% more tomfoolery!
*** This post was edited by Mamoosh 1/30/2003 1:17:17 PM ***

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2Hostyl said:

--who *will* see KennyWood one day this year...

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Just give the word. :)

As for PPP vs. a "normal" day -- yes, most rides are up during the day, and many of them remain open into the nighttime festivities. The parking lot is usually PACKED during the day, but most of the cars there will be people going to the Covered Bridge Festival, not the park itself. Unfortunately, during the day the park is tickets-only, no handstamps. Except for early in the season, the park only sells handstamps on weekdays, not weekends.

Now that said, my first visit to Knoebels was PPP 3 years ago. I fell in love with the place then, and I've been to every PPP since.

As Chris said, some of the funky food stands are closed during PPP, but that's because there's so much food available over at CBF.

My solution? I'll be at Knoebels' at least twice this year -- opening day and PPP. :)

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--Greg, aka Oat Boy
My page
"Friendship -- more lasting than love, more legal than stalking."

I'd love to visit Knoebels on a regular operating day but its tough when I live in LA and have one chance to get to that area each year...if I'm lucky to go at all. I'd rather be at the park when I can see a bunch of friends and get some ERT. Sure I might miss out on some food and yes I've missed out on some of the water rides but the fun of the event more than makes up for what I feel I'm losing.

YMMV.

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Welcome to the New & Improved Coasterbuzz...now with 25% more tomfoolery!

Ok, maybe I wasn't very clear the first time.

*PPP* is *very* *phun*, and shouldn't be missed. *However,* I also really enjoyed myself when I visitied during the regular season, *particularly* the phabulous phood, which *isn't* available at PPP. *If* I could have my cake and eat it too, I'd like to go to Knoebels with the PPP crew and still get my grub.

My advice would be to go to Knoebel's on a regular operating day as a *first time visistor.*

'damn, it feels good to be a gator...'

chris - you *were* clear the first time. My post was intended more as a *follow-up* to Hostyl's post. Its been my goal for a few *years* now to make it to Knoebels on a regular operating day...it just hasn't *happened* yet.

'damn...it's good to feel gator..."

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Welcome to the New & Improved Coasterbuzz...now with 25% more tomfoolery!

Now now you two...;)

Anyone else notice that Moosh and Skloosh have something in common....no, I'm not talking about them RHYMING....although you *know* I love that too...;)

'Gator - even better would be Swoosh & Moosh riding Skloosh.

Back to the topic at hand...sort of. We've all pretty much agreed that Knoebels is worth the drive so I'll pose this question: what kind of coaster would you like to see the park get next, and why?

I'll start: it had been rumored that the park may bring back a version of the Barlett Flying Turns. I heard somewhere that they have blueprints, but I have no confirmation of that. But I'd love to see them continue the trend of resurrecting historic rides.

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Welcome to the New & Improved Coasterbuzz...now with 25% more tomfoolery!
*** This post was edited by Mamoosh 1/30/2003 4:10:38 PM ***

I'd like to see another woodie head to Knoebels (preferably GCI) and maybe an Arrow-S&S looper like in Dollywood, in place of Whirlwind. That's the only steel looping coaster I feel is *fit* for Knoebels.
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Emerging from the ashes of Eric 013...

I would definitely. I went there twice last year. Once in July and for PPP. PPP is amazing. Also a great way to meet people. Phoenix is incredible.

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-Sean Newman

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Mamoosh said:

what kind of coaster would you like to see the park get next, and why?

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A wooden wild mouse. If there's any park left in America that would do it, it's Knoebel's.

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--Greg, aka Oat Boy
My page
"Friendship -- more lasting than love, more legal than stalking."