Knoebels Amusement Resort

August 10, 2013

When I was a child some of my most favorite memories were those times spent picnic-ing in the wooded groves and riding the rides at a local family run Amusement Park, Angela Park.  It was the place everyone went to from the first moment the snow melted until the next flake fell and when the park closed in 1988, a huge void was felt in the community.

Pennsylvania has many other Amusement Parks to fill your summertime, fun times....but I have to say my most favorite park is also Americas Largest Free Admission Park:  Knoebels Amusement Resort. Family owned and operated since 1926, this is one of the few remaining no admission, pay as you ride parks.

Whether your in the mood for a day of classic rides, 56 of them...(big kids and small alike), hours in the pool cooling off from the summers heat....or if your just in the mood to walk around and enjoy the scenery while snacking on some tasty foods...this is the place for you.  If your a camper, there is even on site camp grounds that are usually filled up for the entire summer.  And navigating the park is even easier now with their APP....



There have been a few years this park was tested on its endurance of mother natures wrath...and with the help of all of their workers, they have overcome some truly daunting times.  Flooding is common with this park...but the last time in September of 2011 proved to be its worst.  Within a week the park was back open and the only noticeable signs of the flood were the signs posted around the park measuring how high the waters came.



 


We were lucky enough to take our daughter to Angela Park the last year it was open when she was three and then it was always Knoebels every summer afterward.  Even as an adult, we made sure we got to this park at least once in the summer and once in the fall for the beautiful changing of the leaves.

I haven't made the trip out to the park for a few years now since our daughter was killed.  Another one of those hurdles yet to overcome.

But today my brother and his girl met up with her family from out of the area to spend the day at the park ( I was invited) and he shared his experience with me.  In my keepsake drawer I have brochures from all of the visits to the park we made as a family and I was looking for my collection of pressed pennies to include in the blog. Sadly most were stolen when our house was robbed last year. I guess that means its time to go press some more.

Here are a few photos from their day.....

Grabbing the Brass Ring  (there is a carousel museum and store in the park)




September 2011




Skyride view:













































While I am not a ride person....(dizzy issues)  there are so many rides and attractions to see and experience....please check out the links attached to learn more about this awesome park tucked deep inside the beautiful woods of Pennsylvania.



Here is more interesting information---


Best Amusement parks in the World

The Golden Ticket Awards is an annual set of awards given out by Amusement Today, a newspaper published for the amusement and theme park industry. Each year, the magazine gives out awards based on a survey given out to park enthusiasts both in the US and overseas.

Below is the Top 10 List of the Best Amusement Parks in the World based on the Amusement Today Golden Ticket list. Also included here is the list of Top Ten Amusement Parks in the US based on attendance. Not surprisingly Disney Parks, SeaWorld, and Universal Studios dominate the list with incredible year-round attendance numbers. These theme parks vary widely based on the types of rides they offer and themes they adhere to. All these parks are worthy of any top list and all of them offer family-friendly attractions even if they are known for wild roller coaster rides.

Top 10 Best Amusement Parks in the World

Americasbestonline.net

1. Cedar Point - Sandusky, Ohio
2. Knoebels Amusement Resort - Elysburg, Pennsylvania
3. Islands of Adventure - Orlando, Florida
4. Holiday World - Santa Claus, Indiana
5. Disneyland - Anaheim, California
6. Pleasure Beach Blackpool - Blackpool, England
7. Kennywood - West Mifflin, Pennsylvania
8. Busch Gardens - Williamsburg, Virginia
9. Europa Park Rust - Germany
10. Magic Kingdom - Orlando, Florida (Tie)
10. Tokyo Disney - Sea Tokyo, Japan (Tie)

Amusements Parks - Top Ten by Attendance in the United States

1. Disneyland, California
Disneyland is a theme park in Anaheim, California, USA. It is owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company. More than 515 million guests, among them presidents, royalty, and other heads of state, have traveled to this American landmark from around the world since the park first opened to guests on July 17, 1955.  The park consists of different lands:  Main Street, U.S.A. , Adventureland, Frontierland, Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, Critter Country and Mickey's Toontown.
       
2. Magic Kingdom, Disney World, Florida

The Magic Kingdom is a theme park within the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, near Orlando. It is owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company through its Walt Disney Parks and Resorts unit. Opened on October 1, 1971, it is the most famous Florida theme park. The park's layout and attractions are similar to Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California, which opened in 1955.
 

3. EPCOT, Disney World, Florida 

Epcot is the second theme park built at the Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Florida. It was dedicated to international culture and technological innovation. The park opened on October 1, 1982, and was named EPCOT Center from 1982 to 1993. Based on square footage, it was the largest Disney theme park in the world until 1998, when Disney's Animal Kingdom opened.
 

4. Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park, FL 

MGM's streets are the home for some great movie-themed attractions. With the addition of the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, the park is now home to Disney World's most thrill-packed rides. 
 

5. Universal Studios, Florida

Go behind the scenes, beyond the screen and jump right into the action of your favorite movies at Unversal Studios, the number one based movie and TV theme park in the world.

6. Universal Studios, California

7. SeaWorld, Florida 

SeaWorld is a chain of marine mammal parks in the United States, with operations in Orlando, Florida, San Diego, California, San Antonio, Texas, and previously Cleveland, Ohio. The parks feature killer whale, sea lion, and dolphin shows and zoological displays featuring various other marine animals. The parks' icon is Shamu, the killer whale. SeaWorld parks also feature a variety of thrill rides, including roller coasters like Kraken at SeaWorld Orlando and Steel Eel and The Great White at SeaWorld San Antonio. Journey to Atlantis, a combination roller coaster and splashdown ride, can be found at both SeaWorld Orlando, SeaWorld San Diego and in 2007 at SeaWorld San Antonio.

8. Busch Gardens, Florida 
Busch Gardens opened on March 31, 1959, and has an African theme. The theme park is one of America's largest zoological institutions, with more than 2,700 animals. Attractions include: Rhino Rally, Montu, Kumba, Scorpion, Gwazi, Edge of Africa, and SheiKra, a vertical dive coaster which opened in 2005. The theme park is near Tampa, FL, bordering the town limits of Temple Terrace.

9. Great Adventure, New Jersey
Enormous Six Flags complex with a drive-through Wild Safari park, a separate admission Hurricane Harbor waterpark, and one of the country's biggest and most popular seasonal ride parks.

10. SeaWorld, California