I can do you one better Sue. Here is a trip report... (don't forget to use those three dots at the top right)
Dawn of a new Season was an event held at Knoebels a few weeks ago. Knoebels is a park-in-the-woods amongst the mountains, with an attached campground and free parking and admission. It is located two and a half hours northwest of Philadelphia, between Allentown and Harrisburg and Scranton and Williamsport, (home of The Little League Headquarters.) It was a beautiful 70 degrees on opening day, and it cost only $20 for an hour of ERT on the two wooden coasters (Phoenix and Twister,) a lunch with the park?s owners, a free ride on The Haunted House and Sky Ride, a walking tour of The Haunted House and an all day wristband to ride 17 spin-and pukes and 19 other flat rides, water rides and coasters.
I left my house at 6:45am, met up with Matt at 8:15, and made it to the park to meet up with (Kingda)Kevin and his fianc? Emily before 10:30.
Tom (PCMan) jumped out of his truck to greet us. Here he is with girlfriend Tina.
The ride in the background is Skloosh. It would be closed for the weekend, but it had nothing to do with the weather or Mr. Skloosh. He was pretty warmed up and ready to go.
The park has a four-armed scrambler named Merry Mixer
Here are the park?s waterslides and the Crystal Pool in the foreground.
The park has a few houses which are rented by visitors. Here is one by Twister:
We began our hour of ERT on the Twister. Coastin? Steve and former Great Adventure ride employee Adam rode in the front seat; Matt and Tom rode 1-2.
I rode in the back seat. I used to like the back seat, but it was kind of sluggish.
Kevin, Matt and Tom rode again in the back row.
llama
The Flyers are a Knoebels institution.
Tom likes institutions.
We walked over to ride the Phoenix
I rode in the back seat. I never really cared for the back. Waaa
It?s like Holiday World, but fun.
Matt, Kevin and Emily waited for the Flying Turns to open
Everybody began queuing for ride bracelets
Tom doing the trough thing
Flyer Tyme!
Here are Matt, Kevin and Emily
At this point, Matt started bobbing up and down when he hooked his cable.
which looks like this
but is supposed to look like this
and makes you look like this
and you get out like this
Meanwhile at the Alamo?
Matt and Kevin posed with the prickly pickle
We sat down for a pretty ok lunch inside
(I?m not stoned.)
Their Round Up goes up a full 70 degrees and has a 5-minute ride cycle. But we just ate.
We went for a gentle ride after lunch on the Flume. The queue takes us past the final drop of the ride. Kevin and Emily rode along with Matt and me in a log. We climbed up the first lift hill and came down the drop, splashing into the cave. We were shocked how wet we got. When I went to cheer, I took in a mouthful of water. They use chlorine; It?s ok. We went through the trough and leaned to the left and took in water. We went to the right and took in more water. Then we climbed the second lift and all the water rushed towards the back of the boat. Then we crested the hill and coasted to the bottom. We heard all sorts of cheering when we soaked the crowd in the queue. We got a little wet too.
You might be able to tell where I was sitting. By the way, I'm not bloated, I'm wet.
Knoebel?s Best of The West
Hi Dainan
We went over to Kiddie Land and took a ?small? trip on the Ole Smokey Train. The steam train takes us past the staples of childhood rides.
Some of us have ridden the kiddie cars and the slide.
We went over to the ACE and DAFE pavilion for some pizza to listen to a pleasant update from Dick Knoebel about the park. Kevin, Emily, Matt and I sat with Tom, Tina, Rich and Sue. Mr. Knoebel talked to us about the ride he had on the Flying Turns in January. A few rough spots were found and workers were smoothing them out. He apologized for not having the ride ready for the start of the season. The park bought the flyer cars from Coney Island to study their construction. The park also bought a Wipe Out ride for 2008 and will be placing it by Fandango (a floorless Frisbee-type ride,) opposite of the campground. The campground received a new bridge and the 1000 Nachts flying carpet ride received a new lighting package. It was also Mr. Knoebel?s birthday.
Here are three generations of the Knoebel?s family on their 1940?s era fire truck.
A group photo of some Updates members in attendance
Left to Right: Tina, Tom, Rich, Sue and myself, Matt and Kevin and Emily (standing in for Rob and Melissa.)
Knoebels has so many rides throughout the woods, it?s easy to forget which rides we may have ridden or re-ridden.
More of my favorite people joined us for a ride on the Grand Carousel. Here are Rob and Melissa with Matt in the background.
While sitting on an outside horse, you reach for the brass ring at the sound of the bell. You can accumulate anywhere from 13 to 25 rings depending on the ride cycle and your level of skill.
We went back to the Flyers, and we teamed up! This was one wild ride as Mel and Matt are two of the craziest flyer drivers ever.
Here?s Mel?s BiF
This is what Flyers look like in action.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zP3F1P5Q66gWe rode the Looper. Rob and I sat together for a 20-flippin? good time!
Later in the evening, Matt, Melissa and Rob went back to ride the Flyers. Tom, Tina, Kevin, Emily and I went on the Haunted House walk-through tour. Dick and his son talked to us about the history of the ride. The base of the attraction was planned as a skating rink and props came from local parks. The ride opened on the day that his son was born.
WEEEELCOOOOME!
Mr. Knoebel?s son in the Library
The Haunted House sound system
Here is a trip wire that activates the props
This scene had not been tripped
The anti-rollbacks for the lift into the attic
Spider webs!
A new witch prop
What a nightmare!
The things you see with the lights on?
Knoebels has a Houdini that is 10-7 too:
That truck!
Some Philadelphians have the spit scared out of them
I took a video inside of the ride. Matt is riding with me. It?s very dark inside. This won?t ruin the ride for you if you haven?t been in it before.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvxn6ZZz0a8Rob, Mel and Matt waited in the car patiently for us to go through the tour. (Thank you guys!) We went over to OIP (Original Italian Pizza) and then to the hotel for some fun time in the pool.
Thank you for reading. Day Two coming soon?
Topic: Knoebels opening day event. (Read 21202 times)
