Twister is the coaster that convinces skeptics wooden rides can still out-maneuver steel. Buried inside a dense lattice of timber at Knoebels Amusement Resort in Elysburg, Pennsylvania, it packs a two-stage lift hill, a self-crossing track, and a double helix that wraps around its own station into just 3,900 feet of layout — and it does it all as a tribute to a legendary ride that never got to make the trip east.
This guide covers everything riders actually search for before or after a visit: the height requirement and who can ride, what the experience actually feels like seat by seat, how Twister stacks up against Knoebels’ other wooden legend Phoenix, the real story behind its Mister Twister lineage, and the practical details — tickets, hours, and getting there — you need to plan the trip.
Quick Answer
Twister is a 101.5-foot wooden roller coaster at Knoebels Amusement Resort in Elysburg, Pennsylvania, with an 89.6-foot first drop, a top speed of about 51 mph, and 3,900 feet of track that crosses itself 36 times. Riders must be at least 42 inches tall, the ride lasts roughly 2 minutes 10 seconds, and it’s built from John C. Allen’s original 1964 blueprints for Mister Twister at Elitch Gardens.
Stats at a Glance
Park: Knoebels Amusement Resort, Elysburg, Pennsylvania
Designer: John Fetterman, based on John C. Allen’s Mister Twister blueprints
Trains: Two PTC (Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters) trains, six cars each, 24 riders per train; structure by Adams Construction Co.
Opened: July 24, 1999
Height: 101.5 ft (30.9 m) | Drop: 89.6 ft (27.3 m) | Top Speed: about 51 mph (82 km/h)
Length: 3,900 ft (1,200 m) | Ride Time: about 2 minutes 10 seconds | Inversions: 0
Minimum Height to Ride: 42 inches
The Ride Experience
After departing the curved station, the train threads down through the support structure before tackling Twister’s signature split lift hill. Rather than a single straight climb, riders ascend halfway, curl through a 180-degree turn on a swoop curve, and then finish the climb on a second lift stacked parallel to the first — a design that immerses the train in the wooden lattice before the descent even begins.
From the top, the train drops 89.6 feet and races through a relentless series of turns, airtime hills, and tight crossovers packed into a compact footprint. The 36 points where the track passes over or under itself create the classic ‘headchopper’ effect that fans of Golden Age wooden coasters prize, and the ride leans hard into lateral, whipping forces rather than the floating airtime style of many out-and-back woodies. An underground tunnel near the end houses the on-ride photo location before the train sweeps through the double helix and glides back into the curved station.
Height Requirement, Restrictions & Ride Intensity
Twister has a minimum height requirement of 42 inches to ride. There’s no published maximum height or weight limit, but as with any wooden coaster with a fixed lap-bar restraint, riders with larger builds should expect a snugger fit than on a modern steel coaster and can ask ride operators about seating options if unsure.
In terms of intensity, Twister is generally rated as a strong thrill ride rather than a family coaster — it has no inversions, but its tight, high-speed turns generate sharp lateral g-forces that catch first-time riders off guard. It’s rougher and more aggressive than a beginner wooden coaster, but tamer than modern hybrid or steel coasters with inversions, making it a common ‘next step’ ride for guests who’ve outgrown Knoebels’ kiddie coasters.
Twister vs. Phoenix: Knoebels’ Two Wooden Coaster Legends
Knoebels is one of the only parks in the world with two coasters routinely ranked among the best wooden coasters ever built, and comparisons between them are a constant topic among enthusiasts. Phoenix, relocated to Knoebels in 1985 after starting life as The Rocket in Texas in 1947, is an out-and-back design built almost entirely around floating, ejector-style airtime — especially in the back seats.
Twister takes the opposite approach. Instead of airtime, it delivers speed, tight turns, and forceful lateral g’s packed into a dense, twisting layout with zero downtime between elements. There’s no consensus winner: riders chasing pure airtime tend to favor Phoenix, while those who want a faster-paced, more physically aggressive ride with a more complex layout tend to favor Twister. Most Knoebels regulars simply ride both back to back.
A Living Tribute to Mister Twister
Knoebels originally hoped to physically relocate and restore the original Mister Twister from Elitch Gardens’ old Denver site after that park closed in 1994, but inspections revealed the wood structure was too deteriorated to save. The park instead acquired the original 1964 engineering drawings and asked designer John Fetterman to adapt them, mirroring sections of Allen’s layout to fit a new, more compact footprint while preserving the ride’s spirit.
A bolt salvaged from the original Mister Twister was ceremonially installed in Twister’s swoop curve at the top of the lift hill, physically linking the two coasters across three decades and roughly 1,700 miles.
Awards & Reputation
The homage paid off critically almost immediately. Twister debuted at No. 15 on Amusement Today’s Golden Ticket Awards top wooden coaster list in 2000, and it has continued to place in the rankings in the years since, cementing its reputation as one of the finest traditionally styled wooden coasters still in operation.
Planning Your Visit: Tickets, Hours & Getting to Knoebels
Knoebels is a free-admission park — there’s no gate fee or parking charge, and you only pay for the rides you take. Twister and the park’s other rides run on a pay-per-ride system using Ticket Books, or you can buy a Ride All Day Pass for unlimited rides on days it’s offered; pass pricing is typically tiered by rider height and time of day, with lower-cost options for evening ‘bargain’ hours.
Because ticket and pass prices, operating days, and seasonal hours change from year to year and even week to week, check the official Knoebels pricing page and the official Knoebels Amusement Resort site before your visit for current rates, hours, and calendar. Knoebels operates seasonally, generally from spring through early fall, with the fullest schedule of rides and hours running in the summer months.
Twister roller coaster at Knoebels FAQs
What is the height requirement for Twister at Knoebels?
Riders must be at least 42 inches tall to ride Twister.
Where is Twister located?
Twister is located at Knoebels Amusement Resort in Elysburg, Pennsylvania, USA.
When did Twister open at Knoebels?
Twister opened on July 24, 1999, after roughly eight months of construction at a cost of approximately $3 million.
How long is the ride on Twister?
A full circuit takes about 2 minutes and 10 seconds, covering 3,900 feet of track at a top speed of roughly 51 mph.
What makes Twister’s lift hill unique?
Twister uses a split lift hill: the train climbs halfway up, executes a 180-degree turn on a swoop curve, and then completes the ascent on a second lift stacked above the first — a rare design that sends riders deep into the coaster’s wooden lattice before the main drop.
Is Twister or Phoenix better at Knoebels?
It depends on what you want: Phoenix is built around floating, out-and-back airtime, while Twister is built around speed and forceful, twisting lateral g’s. Most enthusiasts rate both among the best wooden coasters in the world and recommend riding them back to back.
Do you need a separate ticket to ride Twister?
Yes. Knoebels is a free-admission park with no gate fee, but individual rides like Twister are paid for using Ticket Books or covered by a Ride All Day Pass. Check the official Knoebels pricing page for current rates.
What happened to the original Mister Twister?
The original Mister Twister operated at Elitch Gardens until the park relocated in 1994. Its wooden structure was too deteriorated to move or restore, so Knoebels purchased the original 1964 blueprints and built a new, modernized coaster from them instead — installing a salvaged bolt from the original ride in Twister’s swoop curve as a tribute.
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