Knoebels Amusement Resort has welcomed guests to Elysburg, Pennsylvania since it first opened on July 4, 1926, and the Knoebel family still owns and operates the park a century later. Spread across roughly 150 acres of wooded grounds, Knoebels combines an old-fashioned picnic grove, a campground, and an amusement park into one sprawling resort-style destination.
What sets Knoebels apart is its admission model: there is no gate fee. Guests pay only for the rides they choose, whether through individual tickets, hand-stamped ride blocks, or an unlimited-ride wristband, making it widely known as the largest free-admission amusement park in the United States.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Elysburg, Pennsylvania
- Opened: July 4, 1926
- Size: About 150 acres
- Admission: Free entry, pay-per-ride
- Rides: About 58 rides
- Signature attraction: Phoenix wooden roller coaster
- Ownership: Still owned by the Knoebel family
The Ride Experience
Knoebels is best known among enthusiasts for its wooden coaster lineup. Phoenix, built in 1947 by Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters as “The Rocket” at a Texas park, was relocated to Knoebels and reopened in 1985. Its double out-and-back layout reaches about 78 feet with a top speed near 45 mph, and it has been named Best Wooden Coaster at the Golden Ticket Awards every year since 2018.
Alongside Phoenix, Knoebels operates Twister, an in-house-built wooden coaster that opened in 1999 and takes design inspiration from a 1964 Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters ride called Mr. Twister. The park’s Grand Carousel is another standout, having won Golden Ticket Award honors for carousels every year the category existed before it was retired undefeated in 2019.
A Family-Run Tradition
Unlike most major amusement parks, Knoebels has never been sold to a corporate chain. That century of family ownership shows in the park’s mix of vintage rides, wooded picnic groves, and a campground that lets visitors turn a day trip into a weekend stay.
The pay-as-you-go model keeps Knoebels accessible to casual visitors while still drawing dedicated coaster enthusiasts who travel specifically to ride Phoenix and Twister, cementing the park’s reputation as one of the most respected traditional amusement parks in the country.
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Knoebels Amusement Resort FAQs
Is there an admission fee to enter Knoebels?
No. Knoebels does not charge general admission; guests only pay for the rides they use, via tickets, hand stamps, or an unlimited wristband.
What is Knoebels’ most famous roller coaster?
Phoenix, a wooden coaster built in 1947 and relocated to Knoebels in 1985, is the park’s signature ride and has repeatedly been ranked among the world’s best wooden coasters.
When did Knoebels open?
Knoebels opened on July 4, 1926, and has been owned and operated by the Knoebel family ever since.
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Photo: Joshua Wilmot / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.