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Industry => Industry News => Topic started by: WadeJ on June 28, 2006, 01:10:36 PM

Title: Knoebels Flooded
Post by: WadeJ on June 28, 2006, 01:10:36 PM

My co-worker has a niece that works for Knoebels.  He just heard from her that the park didn't open today due to flooding.  The game she runs was under 2 feet of water.  Lets hope that Bushkill park didn't experience the same situation :(

Title: Re: Knoebels Flooded
Post by: Bubba Z on June 28, 2006, 01:54:18 PM

^ I was thinking the very same thing about Bushkills yesterday after watching the news.

Title: Re: Knoebels Flooded
Post by: ChuckR on June 28, 2006, 02:10:00 PM

Oh geez, I hope everything is alright.

Title: Re: Knoebels Flooded
Post by: OrlandoRocks on June 28, 2006, 03:39:25 PM

Updated link for photos

(http://www.knoebels.com/images/index/flood.gif)

Well gang,

Due to some EXTREME flooding in the park from our last tropical storm, we're sorry
to announce that Knoebel's is currently closed until further notice.

BUT, we have some wild pictures of what the park
currently looks like. Take a look http://www.knoebels.com/flood.htm (http://www.knoebels.com/flood.htm)!

Please keep an eye on our website, and we'll announce our opening
as soon as we spiff-up the park into shape!

Thanks for your patients.

Things aren't looking too good  :(

Title: Re: Knoebels Flooded
Post by: WadeJ on June 28, 2006, 03:49:05 PM

Yeah, I had a bad feeling :(

Title: Re: Knoebels Flooded
Post by: coasterfan98 on June 28, 2006, 08:06:41 PM

I never thought of Knoebels. Bushkill Park entered my mind. I haven't out if Bushkill is ok or not. :'(

Title: Re: Knoebels Flooded
Post by: coastersue on June 28, 2006, 09:11:52 PM

Crap, that's awful about Knoebels.  I was supposed to go there next week.

I work about 5 minutes from Bushkill.  I'll try to take a ride by there during my lunch tomorrow.  I get the feeling it's not good news. 

UPDATE:  Bushkill's website states that the flood was no problem and that they'll be open on Saturday.

Sue

Title: Re: Knoebels Flooded
Post by: Dubya91 on June 28, 2006, 10:17:24 PM

Well, thats bad to see, I would also asume that this is going to push the Flying Turns construction back by at least a week. Hopefully they can get the mop and get cleaned up! Alright, Ill get in some SCUBA gear and try my hardest to get Phoenix running, sound like a deal?

Title: Re: Knoebels Flooded
Post by: PcMan on June 28, 2006, 11:30:15 PM

I just seen on Pocono TV Knoebels
they shown the flood it was up to the middle of the bridge and they had to raise some merchaindise.
And the pool was mucky.
Dick Knoebel said he hopes to get it back open this weekend.
I will try to post video of the news on thursday.
I will check that same channel in the AM to see if they have any more video.

I also just found some flood pictures on knoebels website see a few below more on below link
http://www.knoebels.com/flood.htm

Title: Re: Knoebels Flooded
Post by: sir clinksalot on June 29, 2006, 12:50:46 AM

At least they can add to their flooding signs.

Title: Re: Knoebels Flooded
Post by: Cyclonic on June 29, 2006, 01:14:28 AM

You know them, they'll have the park back up and running in no time.

There are a bunch of parks I am concerned about, Bushkill, Hersheypark, and Dutch Wonderland are all prone to flooding.

Title: Re: Knoebels Flooded
Post by: Bubba Z on June 29, 2006, 10:14:52 AM

Found some more photos over at CoasterFanatics, Thanks Ted for the link and CoasterPunk for the photos.

http://tinyurl.com/fd6v8 (http://tinyurl.com/fd6v8)

Title: Re: Knoebels Flooded
Post by: chilled182 on June 29, 2006, 12:29:05 PM

I have pictures from the 2004 flood.  I was there.. and it was fun actually.  Amazing how fast they clean the park up.  It flooded friday into saturday morning.. and sunday we were riding rides like it was no big deal.  Ill post a few from last time if i can still find them.

Title: Re: Knoebels Flooded
Post by: WadeJ on June 29, 2006, 12:40:45 PM

Here is another article - http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=16861661&BRD=2715&PAG=461&dept_id=558782&rfi=6

I know what you are saying chilled but after seeing how much water was rushing through that bridge, I have a feeling this is a little more extreme than the 2004 flood :(.

Title: Re: Knoebels Flooded
Post by: chilled182 on June 29, 2006, 01:04:50 PM

I stand corrected after reading that article.  I found a few from 04'.. and than i found the tree.

(http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a36/xfallinmoonx/114_1484.jpg)
the covered bridge. 
(http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a36/xfallinmoonx/114_1482.jpg)
the "chocolate flavored" water
(http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a36/xfallinmoonx/114_1490.jpg)
thats an idea of what EVERYTHING looks like after the water washes out.
(http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a36/xfallinmoonx/114_1492.jpg)
the raging water.
(http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a36/xfallinmoonx/135_3515.jpg)
theres your comparison.  The water tore off the 96' mark from the tree.

Title: Re: Knoebels Flooded
Post by: PcMan on July 01, 2006, 07:09:17 PM

Now open :)
here are some photos I found
http://urlci.com/49d3cf

and more from today at www.knoebels.com/flood.htm

Title: Re: Knoebels Flooded
Post by: overlord on July 01, 2006, 11:38:45 PM

Woohoo! I was afraid that maybe the damage was so bad that I wouldnt get the chance to visit it this summer. But seems like they have a hard working staff there. Can't wait to make my way up there.

Title: Re: Knoebels Flooded
Post by: Bubba Z on July 01, 2006, 11:43:41 PM

all those photo's are freaking amazing. Then to have the park open in three days  is even more amazing.  

Title: Re: Knoebels Flooded
Post by: overlord on July 01, 2006, 11:46:33 PM

The water had to be about 3 feet high easily. Thats really a miracle that they got it cleaned up and running in 3 days.

Title: Re: Knoebels Flooded
Post by: ChuckR on July 02, 2006, 12:06:02 AM

overlord, get to Knoebols you will like this place. It has the coolest atmosphere and there flats kick butt and did I mention Pheonix?

Title: Re: Knoebels Flooded
Post by: PcMan on July 02, 2006, 12:54:48 AM

It's like going back in time.
It even felt like that when I was a kid in the early 70's at Clementon Lake Park.
(that's what the park was called back then)
-Free admission
-tickets for rides
-Swimming
-Picnics
just a great safe family feeling
You can't get that type of family atmosphere at any place anymore.

Is Indiana beach anything like this  ?

Title: Re: Knoebels Flooded
Post by: GADVwow on July 02, 2006, 08:06:24 AM

Yes and no. 

Indiana Beach still has ride tickets, but also offers pay one price (even on weekends, which Knoebels generally does not).  Note that IB offers two part day ride sessions that overlap a little, or one session that covers the whole day, and, naturally, costs more.

Indiana Beach has more of a seaside pier atmosphere and seems much more modern in a 60's sort of built way (if that makes any sense).  Be sure to visit the Sky Room, which is truly a one of a kind experience. 

Indiana Beach, Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Knoebel's Amusement Resort...all three of these parks offer an atmosphere that is now, unfortunately, unique unto each one's own self.

I love all three. . .yes, there are similarities, but the differences abound!

Title: Re: Knoebels Flooded
Post by: Bubba Z on July 02, 2006, 10:30:20 AM

What's so great about the Sky Room? I'm still trying to figure that one out?

Yes, it was nice to sit down and have a decent meal  but besides that,  I'm not really sure what kind of experience I missed out on.

Maybe I should finish my trip report, The problem with that is I only took One picture. :(
(http://gadvupdates.com/gallery/albums/album16/Midwest_2006_June_155.jpg)

Ok maybe two. Here's the layout of the park.
(http://gadvupdates.com/gallery/albums/album16/Midwest_2006_June_156.jpg)

I'll finish my report tonight, I promise  ;)

Title: Re: Knoebels Flooded
Post by: GADVwow on July 02, 2006, 10:41:02 AM

The Sky Room is still run and operated like a typical night club restaurant was in the 1940's.  It is a history type thing.  If you are into park culture, into how things used to be, a meal at the Sky Room can be quite the experience.

Or, apparently, not.

It's all in what floats one's boat, I guess.

Some people say that about coasters, by the way.

A friend once asked me, seriously:  "What's so great about the Coney Island Cyclone?  If you've ridden one roller coaster, you've ridden them all."

:)

Title: Re: Knoebels Flooded
Post by: sir clinksalot on July 02, 2006, 12:42:48 PM

Knoebels just rocks!!!

Title: Re: Knoebels Flooded
Post by: Cyclonic on July 02, 2006, 04:55:43 PM

Coastin' Steve posted this note from Joel Styer on RRC.  Thought you folks would be interested:

To the casual visitor, Knoebels may have appeared just as it always
had, with little evidence that anything happened in the last three days.
Indeed, several people had no idea. That says a lot for the staff and
their preparations for this weekend. And this was the worst flood at the
park since June of 1972 (Hurricane Agnes). With only two days to
prepare, they managed the following by Saturday afternoon:
 
All major (adult) rides were operating except the Italian Trapeze and
the Bumper Boats (the Italian Trapeze was being worked on and the bumper
boat pond was already cleaned.
Many of the kiddie rides were operating, a hand full were not (more
later)
All walkways were free of mud and debris, the grounds had a fresh
coating of gravel (I cannot even venture a guess how much they used)
All of the major food area were open (a few smaller ones were not). They
even had Ice Cream and Waffles (made my day).
All the food seating areas were very clean.
All the park benches were clean.
The grounds were clean and little mud could be seen, very little
debris could be seen.
The covered bridge was put back together and had a fresh landing of
blacktop on the light house side.
Much of the mini golf course was cleaned but not quite ready for
opening.
Many game stands were open.
Both trains were operating.
Most rest rooms were clean and working.
The office was operating even though it too had eight inches of water in
it.
There was no odor at all from the flood.
And Jack was at the Bumper Cars just like always.
 
The park actually reopened Friday!
 
Considering how much water and mud covered all of the lower areas, the
above is nothing short of astounding for two days work. Knoebels and
their staff have always amazed me with their attitude and dedication but
this time they topped themselves. Even master ride builder Lenny
Adams was out along with Bob Rarick (who took the excellent on-line
Twister construction photos several years ago) putting down fresh gravel
- everyone pitched in for the cleanup.  I saw Joe Muscato and his
wife, they arrived back from vacation the night of the flood, what an
awful thing to come home to. As I was walking up toward the
campground, a maintenance man stopped to show me a picture of 'stuff''
from the park that just floated downstream and piled up. He was on his
way to work on the Italian Trapeze. They felt a responsibility to get
everything safely running that was feasible.
 
They had to throw away a lot of food, prizes and souvenirs - anything
that was near the water. I watched as they threw case after case of
bottled water into a dump truck along with other supplies inside a food
service area. The loss is tremendous. The flooding came so quick that
there was little time to react. No work was done on the Flying Turns as
cleaning rightfully took precedence (although they did get a LOT done
there a few days before the flood).
 
They did get a some help though, some local fire companies came in and
hosed off the walkways. Del Grossos Amusement Park sent 200 hoagies for
the people working for cleanup (you just have to love them for that.
Many times Knoebels has helped or offered to help other parks in their
time of need, it was nice to see it work the other way. DelGrossos is
another park run by nice people). And there were volunteers who have a
true love for Knoebels.
 
I do think maybe the cleanliness of the park today may have people
thinking that the flood wasn't so bad, but it was. Most people will have
no idea how much work was put into getting things ready. All you need to
do is look at the pictures on Knoebels web site (www.knoebels.com) and
realize that much of what you see has already been cleaned, think about
how much effort that takes even with a lot of people. One of the things
that impresses me is that their recovery appeared very methodical and
organized, likely born out from dealing with previous flooding (I think
in '72, '75, '96 and 2004).
 
Most of the damage was to Kiddieland however. The Panther Cars look
awful, the track is twisted and buckled at numerous places. The cars
were open and drying out. The Hand Cars weren't much better, the track
being washed out in places but I suspect that will be fixed fairly
quickly. The S&G (kiddie) Carousel got hit pretty hard from the looks of
it. A few other kiddie rides were out of service. Kosmo's Klubhouse was
being cleaned up today. The pool is still full of muddy water, that will
take a bit more time to drain, clean and fill. The newer water area
behind it (near the Twister entrance) was being cleaned by about 8-10
people.
 
At the Phoenix Steakhouse, there was a small booth set up with photos of
the flood in it, people were amazed. At the park office, they had a
computer set up that had a slide show running and a lot of photos from
the flood. Again, people were amazed, many tried to take photos of the
monitor (with their flash on no less!). The crowds were very light today
and many rides were close to walk on, including Phoenix. The weather was
nice and it was a nice day to be in the park.
 
I didn't mean for this to get so long and convoluted. I wasn't sure what
to expect when I got to Knoebels but the more I looked, the more I
realized how much work had been done. I am still incredibly impressed
with what they accomplished in such a short time. We all owe our thanks
to everyone who put the long hours and hard work into putting the pieces
back together. Hopefully they won't have to do it again any time soon.
 
Joel Styer
1 July 2006

Title: Re: Knoebels Flooded
Post by: GADVwow on July 02, 2006, 10:27:13 PM

And very, very good news that is.  I was just as Knoebels a couple of weeks ago, and hope to make it back as soon as Flying Turns is working, if not before!