I have been coming to Knoebel's almost every summer since 1979. I have watched it change and grow, but what's remarkable is how much it has stayed true to itself. It is still family owned. It still feels personal. It still feels like the kind of place built for joy rather than spreadsheets. Knoebel's has one of the most unique setups of any amusement park in the country. There is no admission fee. None. You pay only for what you want to ride, or you can get an all-day wristband on weekdays. Parking is free too. You can bring in your own food and non-alcoholic drinks without any hassle. The food they sell is good and affordable, and the variety is incredible. This is not frozen burger-and-fries territory. Knoebel's regularly wins the Golden Ticket Award for Best Food, beating out giant, big-budget parks from across the nation. And it is not just the food that gets recognition. The Phoenix, a masterpiece of a wooden roller coaster rebuilt from the bones of a coaster in Texas, has been named the Best Wooden Coaster in the world more than once. The Haunted Mansion is consistently ranked among the best dark rides anywhere. These rides are not nostalgia pieces coasting on reputation. They are legitimately great. Add in the one-of-a-kind Flying Turns, the steel thrill of Impulse, the twisting chaos of Twister, and the wonderfully unpredictable Flyer, and you have a lineup that would stand out even in parks five times the size. The park's setting is part of its magic. It is nestled in the mountains, shaded by towering trees. On hot days, the shade makes all the difference. The paths wind like a midway at a state fair, and in fact, that is what Knoebel's most closely resembles: a permanent state fair where you are not constantly being wrung for every dollar. It is relaxed, welcoming, and wonderfully unpolished in the right ways. It is dog friendly, which means you can bring the whole family, four-legged members included. For those who want to stay overnight, there is an on-site campground with everything from tent sites to cabins, as well as the Crystal Pool for swimming on hot summer afternoons. Knoebel's has been part of my life for over four decades, and it remains my favorite amusement park in the world. I love being able to watch my sons create memories on some of the same rides I loved at their age while exploring new additions together. It is proof that you can grow and improve without losing your heart. Every year I leave with the same thought: I cannot wait to come back. read more

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What can be said that has not already been said before. This is a very quaint family owned amusement park nestled down in the woods, which makes for an amazing backdrop to view and it's really nice is there are plenty of trees throughout the park so if it is one of those 90° days you'll find relief under a shade tree somewhere in the park . We went there for the first of their Halloween nights and it was decorated really nice. I was impressed and we had our granddaughter with us so we spent a lot of time in the children's area for the rides and we were able to get her in on a few big people rides, which was very nice. We did want to go on the haunted train, but it was closed, which was kind of strange They do have plenty of food selections and it seems their prices are just a little bit on high side for what they offer and what portion you get so I would walk around and take a look and see what you really really want and the pricing but the food that we had was freshly prepared. It was good worth the money no The lines were not that long at times we were able to go on the rides pretty much when we walked up to them until it started to get more in the evening and the rides got a little bit longer lines, but it move very fast. The rides are in great shape. They're very well lit very very nice looking Parking on the other hand, we forgot where we parked and it took us a lot to find our vehicle so make sure when you park you look at the road number for which we failed to do It's a really nice ride at this time of year out of Harrisburg to go up there. Plenty of open highway traffic moved well getting off the highway and going down the back roads to the park. We had no problems whatsoever. Note there is a Starbucks there that it's not an actual true Starbucks you need to put your own cream and sugar and other items in your drink so just be aware of that We highly recommend us amusement park and we look forward to many more visits over the next coming years read more

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Love Knoebels! It has been a vacation spot for me over & over. The favorite rides are Impulse, Tilt a Whirl & Phoenix. The food--so much variety. I love the baked potato with pulled pork and crunchy onion straws. Omg, so good! read more

Knoebels Amusement Resort - Twister from ferris wheel - Amusement Parks Near Me - Elysburg, Pennsylvania

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Went on Saturday sept 13 th hoping to avoid the huge crowds. Sadly this was not the case as it was totally packed. However, everything about the place is fantastic! There is no admission. It's pay per ride with old style tickets. The ride prices are very cheap ($2.50 to $5). The food prices are very reasonable compare to other parks that price gouge (pepperoni pizza slice $4.25, hot dog $3). The museum was excellent. I did notice the people in the photos in the museum (posted) those oeoole from back in the day weren't extremely large, misshapen, heavily tattooed and stupidly pierced, but that's not the parks fault. Just be prepared to see a good portion of the clientele that looks like this. They even allow dogs. We even saw a cat in a stroller! There were none of the certain demographic to cause problems like in other parks. No usual suspects coning in on busses! I do not smoke, but sadly the park does allow cigarette and cigar smoking anywhere that's not on a ride. The lines for the rides were very long, often overextending the queues. It was a day trip so I can't comment on camping or prices. Unused tickets can be used again and do not expire. Overall a great day! read more

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My husband and I are amusement park enthusiasts. This park has great roller coasters, Phoenix has won awards a bunch of years, Twister is one of my favorite coasters anywhere, Impulse and Flying Turns are great too. I'm not here to talk about these top-notch rides. I'm here to talk about the amazing trip I had while watching my mom's dog. You read that right, I'm here to talk about going to an amusement park with Ralph, the best boy ever. When I told my husband we were going to be dog-sitting the first thing he asked is "are you sure he's a good boy?" but only moments later he asked "are we taking him to Knoebels?!" First off, the tram people were kind, and patient. I was slow getting on as I have never tried to board a tram while holding..well anything more than a water bottle, let alone a dog and more dog supplies than I really needed. Me and my husband passing Ralph and the bag of things I brought for him back and forth was probably funny to watch. (Spoiler alert, we did get the hang of it before the day was over.) We all enjoyed the tram ride. After we were dropped off near the entrance Ralph had to smell everything. And I mean it everything. There are a lot of shady trees for sniffing or sitting under. They are of course dog-friendly, so lots of dog smells for him to smell. Luckily the dog smells aren't strong enough for me or my husband to notice, but Ralph sure did. A lot of people old and young asked if they could pet Ralph, what kind of dog he is, how old he is, etc. He's a Hava-poo, 1.5 years old, and seriously the best boy. With the best doggy in the world we rode both trains, both carousels, and his absolute favorite the antique cars. Ralph got to ride for free. He sat on my lap for both trains, and next to me on the carousels and cars. It was a lot of fun for all three of us! Ralph even got a milk bone dog biscuit from one of the train conductors. My husband and I got soft serve ice cream and got a pup cup for Ralph, which I didn't know was an option, but it was offered, and we took it! He loved his first bowl of ice cream. Knoebels with a dog...if you have an easy going pup in your life, who can handle being around lots of other dogs and people while still remaining calm and happy, and if you like amusement parks, great rides, and yummy food I can not recommend Knoebels enough. Also, if you don't have a dog you should still go, it's just a really great park. Free parking, free admission, pay per ride or buy a bracelet to enjoy all of the rides (haunted house is always extra I think.) And since it's free admission if you just want to pop in for a snack it's not costing you anything to walk in a buy whatever you want! read more

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My family and I visited Rochester and decided to make our way to Pennsylvania to visit this park. The drive was definitely worth it with free admission and free parking. Best of all is they allow you to bring in your own food and drinks which is amazing especially if you have kids. Food and drink prices at amusement parks are usually pricey so if you can bring in your own food, you can certainly save some money. The park is really big with lots of things to do. The tickets for the rides aren't expensive. They have huge rollar coasters, bumper cars and lots of kiddy rides. We went when they opened and spent the full day there. My kids had a blast! I wish we had something similar to this in Toronto. I would definitely be coming back in the future if we're in Pennsylvania. read more

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What can I say on the 350th review that hasn't already been said? Probably nothing new but I will give you my take on why Knoebel's is a great trip to make. First, you get free parking where as most other parks charge $20-40 just to park. There is plenty of parking space and the free lot is a short walk from the amusement park with shuttle service available if you need it. Next, free, no hassle admission. There are no gates, you just walk in wherever and whenever you want. You can bring coolers, strollers, and dogs with no issue. This is especially good if people in your family or group don't do rides, they can still come in and hang out for free. For those who want to do the rides, they have all day wristbands available on weekdays only, and reasonably priced ticket books as well. If you are a military vet you can get a $20 book for free, and $40 if you are current active duty. Additionally, on Armed Services Day military gets a free all day wristband. The lines and wait times for rides are much better here than the other big parks. They might not have the latest super rides, but they are definitely fun and the short wait times makes it enjoyable. The concessions are some of the most reasonably priced I have seen at any park, stadium, or event. They have plenty of decent food prices that aren't ridiculously priced like so many other places. They have a separate water park which costs from $6-15 a person depending on what you want. I definitely recommend trying this. All of the kids in the park were enjoying doing jumps and flips off the diving boards. The water rides have virtually no lines and you can go right up as many times as you want. Overall Knoebels is fun, hassle-free, and affordable. The scenic mountainous backdrops just make it that much cooler. read more

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We love this place! Such a great place to chill out and have fun! This is the largest admission free park in the United States. It's located in Elysburg, Pennsylvania. It's surrounded by woods. Parking is free and you can even bring in your own food! There is a picnic area with grills. You can sit down and enjoy your own food as long as the area hasn't been reserved. The food is good and lot more affordable than other amusement parks. We ate chicken burritos at the Oasis Cafe, $4 each. We also tried a pulled pork sandwich at the BBQ Shack $7, very tasty. We got black cherry ice cream at the Old Mill, 2 large scoops for $6. For dinner we dined at the Alamo restaurant. It was air conditioned. Staff was friendly and attentive. We got fish and chips $15, grilled chicken Caesar salad $8 & a turkey club sandwich for $8. Rides are very affordable $2.50 for kiddie rides and $4.50 for roller coasters. You can purchase $20 of tickets for $17 at Weis supermarkets. You can also purchase a pass to ride all the rides that you want (sorry I don't know how much). If you are active duty military or a veteran you can get a $20 book of ride tickets for FREE! Just checking in with Customer Service across from the Big Wheel (ferris wheel) Knoebels is home to 2 wooden roller coasters: Twister and the Phoenix. There is also Impulse, a stand up roller coaster! There is also a trackless roller coaster: Flying Turns! They also have 2 coal fired steam trains: Pioneer train (7 minutes ride) and Old Smokey (3.5 minutes ride). There are two rides that you will get wet: Giant Flume (a little wet) and Skloosh (you will get soaked!) There are 2 carousels, motor boats, antique cars, bumper cars and many kiddie rides. There is even a giant pool with water slides. Knoebels is a great place for family fun! read more

Knoebels Amusement Resort - Grand Carousel - Amusement Parks Near Me - Elysburg, Pennsylvania

My family and I have been going for over 10 years. Definitely for more younger kids, but there are a decent amount of thrill rides. The food is usually good, though I recommend bringing your own seasonings cause the food is sometimes bland. My only real complaint is the service. The workers used to be so nice, however the last couple of years I found that they were often rude. read more

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What a delightful day ! More rides than we could get to. More food than we could eat . The crowd is very polite, only outdone by the friendly park employees. Food was ridiculously affordable... more of a 7-11 convenience price than your usual amusement park or stadium price gouge. Entrance is...FREE, and plenty of people brought well behaved pets. Parking was also...free! Great place to take a family or go as a couple. read more

Always a fun time. Great simple amusement park. Used to be a very young child oriented park years ago but it has progressed to supply rides for all ages yet retained a lot of its simplicity and that is why it remains a one of the most family friendly parks in the USA! Covered family Picnic areas are available for reservations as well as larger community/company areas for larger venues! There are restaurants and food stands throughout the park. It's a place you have to experience. read more

Every time I go to Knoebels it is a terrific experience. Just attended on Sunday May 11, 2025. The park wasn't over crowded I got on rides with only a short wait. I played miniature golf; it moved along nicely. Ate at the food pavilion by The Phoenix had chicken sandwich French fries. Served hot was good. I walked through the museum on the history of coal mining in the area and the history of Knoebels. I at 61 rode the carousel loved it. I had ice cream waffle sandwich. Yum yum. I went here as a child and still come back. It's my Happy Place. The best amusement park ever!!! No admission fee no parking fee. read more

Hidden gem alert! I never knew this park existed until I visited the Susquehanna Valley area for a weekend getaway with my family. At first blush, it looks old and dated, but take a closer look and you find NOSTALGIA in motion. I love that its original charm of days long gone has been preserved and well maintained overs the years. There's a level of innocence that underpins the lifeblood of this entire operation. We visited for the amusement park but noticed that the grounds include rental cottages throughout the park area, as well as adjoining campgrounds... plus there's a water park with a large pool area, a haunted house, golf... So much to offer! All the concessions food I tasted was great and fairly priced. I especially enjoyed eating the homemade ice cream from the Old Mill and the beans and cornbread at The 3 Amigos. Everything tasted fresh made- nothing generic. I also enjoyed the energy of the live brass band. They sounded amazing! Lastly my favorite was getting to ride the Impulse coaster and a few other amusements with my sons. As a family we had a total blast at this place and would gladly come again. There's something for everyone of all ages. And the best part is that entry is FREE! read more

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The only free admission park that I have been to, and I loved the concept! Parking is free as well. Once you get into the park you can either buy a set amount of ride tickets or get a wristband for unlimited rides for the day. It is more like a fair or carnival than your standard amusement park. The reason I say this is because of the types of rides they have, less roller coasters, no simulation rides, and more rides that spin in circles. We bought our one-and-a-half-year-old son with us. There were so many rides for him to go on! Some he could ride on all by himself and some we rode with him. The best part too was many of the rides he could go on he did not have to wait in line! Food items I recommend trying while visiting: Potato cakes, funnel cake (you can get oreo ones or strawberry), orangeade (made with fresh squeezed oranges!) and perogies. The food here for the most part is pretty standard fair/amusement park food. Lots of fried items and standard American food. They have a food court that is supposed to be Intenational food,but it is really just American food and then one places that has burritos. Staff here could be friendlier lot of them seem like they don't really like their job. Which is funny because driving here there was a sign to "come work for Knoebels, best job around." One thing to know you can bring your own food and even grill it there! They have grills and plenty of picnic tables right between the parking lot and the amusement park. Camping here is very popular as well. You can walk straight into the park from the campgrounds! I would not say that this is a bucket list park to go to since the rides are all pretty generic. That being said I would not fly to go to this amusement park like Disney but if you can make the trip, might as well check it out! Definitely worth a drive or stopping by if you happen to be in the area. read more

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I went on my first rollercoaster here, Im still traumatized from it, I also went to this vending machine and it didn't work but when I went to kick it the drink came out, It was my first time trying pepsi there too read more

Great place to go! Family friendly park. Free admission, free parking, great prices, only pay for rides as you go, unless you want a wristband. Lots of great rides in kiddie land. Great wooden roller coasters! Bring your own food or eat in the park. Prices very reasonable as well. read more

I am a disabled person who uses a new type of mobility aid called an Alinker (thealinker.com). It is a three wheeled walk aid that absolutely fits within the definition of an allowed mobility device according to the Americans with Disabilities Act. Knoebels has repeated claimed that this highly engineered mobility aid is a "bicycle" rather than a mobility aid and has banned them from the park. This is an act of discrimination against those of us with disabilities! Please do not support this park that can't see the difference between a bicycle and a three wheeled WALK AID with no pedals! read more

Knoebels Amusement Resort - This mobility aid, that has been all over the WORLD, was banned at Knoebels. - Amusement Parks Near Me - Elysburg, Pennsylvania

The place to relax and not break the piggy bank. So much shade to set under love hearing the laughter of everyone on the rides. Food is good and very reasonable. read more

Best amusement park I've been to. Great rides and great food. Staff is super friendly. The 2 wooden coasters are awesome.

What a fun family and dog friendly park!! This place is like a midway at the fair on steroids but clean and super fun and friendly. While the dog aspect may turn some people off, all the dogs we saw were well behaved and friendly. The food is fair priced and most choices had large portions. The idea is you by tkts and each ride has a certain tkt requirement. They have a variety of areas for children or different ages and most rides allowed adults to accompany the child. Over a fun day in a clean friendly fun park. We can't wait to return again. read more

This place was crowded but didn't feel like it. Hardly any wait for rides or food. We loved the nostalgia of it all. Fun for the whole family!! read more

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Wow. I have been coming here for years, since I can remember! This park is awesome. It has an old time feel and you can park and enter for free. You pay for the rides you want to ride with tickets. As a person who doesn't like roller coaster it is nice to be able to walk and spend time with family without have to pay a lot of money. Ps. They are pet friendly! The food is not healthy but has an old cozy feeling. From soft serve ice cream, hot dogs, cotton candy and candy apples. This place has it all. We used to have a family reunion every July 4th, since I was a baby. Unfortunately, we no longer have those wonderful family reunions. Since then my husband and I had a bunch of tickets to use and we decided to do a date day and enjoy fall. So happy we did! The fall has to be the best time to go. It isn't to hot and the shows are cute. read more

I'm giving Knoebel's a 5 star review because it's one park in Pennsylvania that you do not have to pay admission just to walk in the door!!!! It's always been this way and I've been going here over the last 40 years! It's so nice to have an amusement park that adults/grandparents can go along to enjoy the park and enjoy seeing their grandchildren at a park without having to pay astronomical prices to just walk around! Knoebels is in such a beautiful area, situated under the trees. The park has so much to offer for young and old. The only thing I would say for "Hallo-Fun" weekends in October, is be ready to stand in lines. It was very crowded. The children's rides were not too terribly bad, but the food lines were pretty long. Some went by quickly, some not so much. All in all, my granddaughter had a great time and so did we. We were able to get her a ride pass for the entire day which was $35 and purchase separate tickets if there were rides we wanted to go on with her. It was so nice to visit this park again, as I once took my children when they were little. We definitely will return again!!!! read more

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Best amusement park ever! I love the fact that they are flexible and offer free admission and parking with the option of paying by ride or getting an all-day ride pass! Why can't we have more amusement parks with this policy? This is the way to run a park! They are also one of the few amusement parks that offer food and refreshments at reasonable prices, and they have a total of 63 rides as well as a wide variety of classic and whimsical games to play as well! You can also bring your own food into the park, but you must consume it in the areas designated for consumption of outside food and drinks. The Pioneer Train is one of the best train rides I have ever been on, with breathtaking foliage and wildlife to appreciate. It's basically a guided nature hike without the walking, but I think maybe it could improve. The train ride should have more track, the crossing should have a realistic crossing signal with a gate, there should be more signals akin to that of real railroads, and when the train approaches a bridge or crossing, it should blow its whistle two longs a short and a long. Now, on to other rides. The ferris wheel they have is actually the tallest one in Pennsylvania, and it's worth riding. There are two carousels in the park, both of which are irreplaceable antiques. One is a Stein & Goldstein carousel of which there are only two still in existence, and the other carousel, the Grand Carousel, is one of the last remaining carousels with a working brass ring dispenser. If you grab the brass ring, you win free ride tickets. Now, roller coasters. Flying turns is probably one of the most insane roller coaster ever, as it is presumably the only remaining trackless wooden bobsled coaster in existence. What's more insane is the Phoenix. The insane aspect of Phoenix is that it is a wooden roller coaster that was rescued from a park in Texas that had closed, and you are only held in by a buzz bar that barely touches you. Twister was also a rescue effort, and it's twice as intense. There is also one of the best dark rides in America here, the Haunted Mansion. In fact, it's an upcharge. It's not included with the wristband. That's how good it is. Don't take your kids on it if they are easily frightened. All in all, an experience I recommend for everyone. read more

I love Knoebels, the variety of rides are amazing for kids of any age. The atmosphere is great I love that it's in a wooded area. Food is amazing especially for being amusement park food or you are allowed to bring in your own food as well to save some money. Prices are quite reasonable compared to other theme parks I have been to. This is a free park to enter and to park at as well, you can buy all day ride passes or use tickets to ride how you want. The park is also handicapped friendly and dog friendly. read more

Knoebels Amusement Resort - Sign at Knoebels decorated for fall - Amusement Parks Near Me - Elysburg, Pennsylvania

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Such a nice and scenic amusement park with free admission and parking. Rides cost extra so if you just wanna walk around and grab a tasty treat this is an amazing place for that. The lines for the rides weren't nearly as busy as other theme parks and the food prices were pretty good too. A decent lineup of rides, definitely check out the Phoenix, it's a really great wooden coaster. Overall a great amusement park experience. read more

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Very discriminatory to disabled patrons using ADA approved medical devices that are not traditional wheelchairs. All the work of rehabbing to get out of my wheelchair and using my legs in a slow walking manner on an alinker, only to have the device be denied for use at the park. This device has helped me at the horse stables, at the beach, at Walt Disney World, Sea World, Busch Gardens and on cruises. But is denied at knoebles. It is protected by the ADA, and a violation to prohibit a user from using such a device. An alinker is a 3 wheeled walking frame with wheelchair front tires with push pin clips, and a hand controlled brake for the rear wheel with zero chains, zero motor. It is solely foot powered to keep legs from becoming atrophied. Shame on them for violations of the American Disabilities Act. read more

Knoebels Amusement Resort - My ADA approved mobility device - alinker - Amusement Parks Near Me - Elysburg, Pennsylvania

Love this park. We have been coming here for over 30 years. You don't have to pay a thing if you want to walk around. They sell ride bands which are very reasonable. Our granddaughter loved her day there. She rode all the kiddie rides and some of the other milder ones. The food there is so good. Perogies, pizza, ice cream, kettle corn. Yum! The people working the rides do a great job of making the little feel welcome. read more

07.14.24 As always had a great time. The park is near perfect. FREE PARKING, NO GENERAL ADMISSION FEE and best of all, YOU CAN BRING YOUR OWN FOOD AND BEVERAGE. Those last three things should more than compensate for the negative reviews about ticket per ride costs. Hershey park charges a flat rate of $60 to park, you're not allowed to bring outside food or drink. I think of Hershey park, Doneypark etc as corporate whereas Knobels is a summer long, local town carnival. Now that we got that housekeeping out of the way. We spent about $125 on tickets for 3 kids, 4 adults and everyone had a great time. It's shady, misting stations, friendly staff, and their mascot which I have no idea what it's suppose to be. Beaver?, chipmunk?, groundhog?.. driven around in a golf cart getting out to meet guests. And the tickets you don't use are good forever. Whether it's next season or three seasons from now. Now my only, AND ONLY TWO negative parts that would have cinched a perfect . 1. And it's not the parks fault at all. It's the dogs people brought. It was 90°+ and these poor dogs are sweating their asses off. The asphalt is scorching hot, the gravel is rough. 2. The gravel paths, and walkways. Could be hard to push wheelchairs and strollers on. So if you bring either or a wagon to carry your kids or cooler, I recommend one with fat air tires. read more

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This amusement park has so many positives to it. Pay as you go rides instead of paying to walk in. Buy the ticket books over the wristband. Wristbands are only good for that day as the tickets never expire and if it's a busy day you will not get your moneys worth. Free parking, who else does that? The food is amazing, some of the best amusement park food around and the prices aren't going to break the bank. Plus you can bring your own food or drinks if you want. Plenty of camping right at the park if that's your thing. A very large pool inside. Dog friendly which you might see just as many dogs walking around as people. Only about 3 rollercoasters and the rest of the rides are more like fair rides but more trustworthy because they don't get taken down and put back up every two weeks. My only complaint really is very and I mean very little shade in the whole park. Being up in the mountains you would think otherwise, so stay hydrated. Beautiful park! read more

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First and foremost this was the most family friendly and organized place we've ever been to. We all felt safe and comfortable and we felt a sense of belongings. The prices were all reasonable. The wait time was not bad at all. Parking was easy and organized. Bathrooms stayed clean. Definitely recommend this place read more

I'm on the fence about this place. It's a family amusement park supposed to be one if not the oldest one in PA? It's pretty old the age shows but if you are up to some no nonsense fun with kids, it's ok. . Rough around the edges. They have traditional rides, Ferris wheel, couple coasters for adults and youth, even a water park. Unfortunately many rides were closed. No COVID restrictions besides signs that say six feet apart that nobody followed.it's a super spreader... If you get overheated like I do, don't come in the summertime. The lines were long and waits painful. Once the sun sets it's tolerable. Wear covered shoes. Nice that there are no entrance fees just buy tickets for the rides you like. Restrooms at least have toilet seat covers. Initially thinking four stars but since they give two FREE full booklets to Active Duty and Veterans, I'm updating this to five stars. Might come in the winter or fall if open. read more

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We visited Knoebels on Bogo Day in June. It was buy one ride bracelet get one free. I have been to many amusement parks and this is my number one favourite place to visit. The lines for rides are not as long of a wait as other parks. There is shade in some spots and places to sit and to people watch and relax. My son went on the one roller coaster called the Twister 4 times in a row. You couldn't do that at the other parks unless you like standing in long lines for hours. Knoebels brings back happy memories of childhood and who doesn't want to be a kid again for a day? read more

My wife was stopped by a power hungry security guard and told she can't use her handicap scooter when she's been using it there for over 40 years read more

Scary :( if you are small but tall it is terrifying. Flying turns and Phoenix have small safety bars and I almost slipped out I probably have PTSD read more

I loved it here so much! I want to go back and go camping and go to the waterpark. The prices were reasonable and The Phoenix was the best wooden roller coaster. So smooth and fun! I love interesting one of a kind rides and we got it here. I also love dark rides bi wasn't thrilled that you have to pay extra for the haunted mansion and that it ended on a racist note but the park itself was so unique and great. read more

Knoebels Amusement Resort - I forget this guys name but he rode the haunted mansion with one of the kids in line. - Amusement Parks Near Me - Elysburg, Pennsylvania

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I Love this place been coming since I was I was a kid it's amazing and the Phoenix is be far the best dollar costarr there

We love going to Knoebels! The best part of visiting is the free parking and entrance into the park. You will need to purchase tickets to ride the rides, but it's easy and you can take home any leftover tickets for next visit. Service: top notch and very family friendly. Most of the ride operators have great personalities and engage the kids. Food: it's ok. Very typical amusement food quality, but they have a ton of options. I'd recommend staying away from the pizza. Rides: they're older, but i think that's what has us coming back over and over. Lines are relatively quick and you want spend a lot of time waiting. Cleanliness: this is really the only thing that needs work - the bathrooms are pretty bad and could a lot of TLC to get them to an acceptable level for many people. The bathroom rooms are packed, so I completely get why they get so dirty, but they need to have someone keeping up on cleaning them. Overall you can't really go wrong and worth the trip to spend the day or camp on-site. read more

I've always had a soft spot for amusement parks, although I'm far from being a connoisseur. I have fragmentary (but treasured) memories of Palisades Park, which my father took me to a few times when I was a kid. I went to Bertram's Island once. I went to Great Adventure (hated it). I've been to Rye Playland several times (liked it), as well as Disneyland in CA and Disneyworld in Fl. I was discussing this "soft spot" of mine with a like-minded friend/co-worker, and he mentioned Knoebels, a place I had never heard of. He grew up in the central PA area and spoke of the park in glowing terms. I was intrigued. He said, "You wanna go? I'll drive." Sure...why not? As we drove on Rt. 78 West past Easton, and out into the green mountainous countryside beyond, he talked about the unstable woman who "married" one of the Knoebels rides (I've read De Sade and Krafft-Ebing and that's one paraphilia that's an entirely new one on me; Knoebels has since dismantled the ride and I guess she's in mourning, or...hopefully...getting psychiatric treatment). He also said, "Out here is Trump country. You might want to buy a Maga hat before we get there for protective coloration." I hoped he was joking. The area around Elysburg is alien territory to me; quite lovely with wooded mountains rolling down to the edge of the majestically flowing Susquehanna River, but I really had no idea where we were, and civilization seemed a long way off. "By the way, where can I buy one of those Maga hats you were talking about, Mike?" We arrived at the park before noon and parked in the gravel lot. My Yelp friend Maria D. mentions the parking as a "negative," with no markings or identifying signs to indicate where you've parked, and had I been driving, I would have agreed wholeheartedly with her. My friend, though, seemed to have no qualms about it (I guess growing up in the area helps). The park is immense, and free to enter. We purchased an "all day" wristband, which allowed us to ride whichever rides we wanted (with a few exceptions; for those, you have to buy a ticket). I was more than a little nervous. I was never timid or squeamish about rides, but the last time I rode on one was at least 10 years ago (Rye Playland), and at that time, an old friend's then 5-year-old son was leaning against me on one of the tilting rides, and afterwards my ribs hurt for a week. Now? I'm 10 years older. My ribs will probably be ok, but will I get sick? Will my keys fall out of my pocket? Will I embarrass myself totally? Well...I didn't get sick. Quite the contrary. I wasn't exactly transformed into a child again, but the rides were thrilling, and...ultimately...exhilarating. I was having...dare I say it?...fun. Genuine, innocent fun! The only ride I wasn't willing to try was a newer roller coaster that travels upside down for an appreciable length of time. Thankfully, I didn't lose my cookies on any of the many rides I did go on, but I wasn't going to push my luck. I still had a little trepidation at the make-up of at least some of the crowd. Some tattooed bald men with long beards-- were they Proud Boys or auditioning for a Sam Adams commercial? Then I realized that the majority of the people in the park were parents with kids. Some Amish families even (I didn't realize the Amish went to amusement parks; then again, my knowledge of the Amish is based almost entirely on the movie "Witness"). A family of Orthodox Jews. I relaxed. At one point, we saw an elderly guy with dyed raven-black hair and sunglasses, and my friend said, "Is that Jim Jones? Did he survive Jonestown, and we were all fooled, just like we were fooled into believing Trump lost the election?" "It's more likely that Elvis survived." Several times throughout the afternoon, I caught the faux Jim Jones standing around, staring off into space. I made sure he was nowhere nearby when I ordered a beverage, just in case. There's a lot to do here. There's a swimming pool. There's a bandstand, and we heard a surprisingly good Johnny Cash-June Carter imitation band performing. There's a "kid's section." There are cabins that families can rent. There's a "Haunted House" (one of my memories from Palisades Park). There's a train ride around the park that I really enjoyed, as well as a ski lift ride that showcases the beauty of the area magnificently. There's food. "Pickle on a Stick" didn't appeal to me, but they have pierogis (my friend ordered these), and I settled for a hot dog with cheese, an ice-cream waffle sandwich, and a funnel cake. They even had white Birch Beer! Never heard of white Birch Beer before, but it was very refreshing. Everyone we encountered here was friendly, and helpful. Even without me wearing a Maga hat. I've never been to an amusement park like this before, but I loved it. I can't think of the last time I had fun (maybe the last time I popped a Percocet way back when), but I had...fun. A lot of it. Knoebels? I can't wait to go back. read more

Almost that time of year!It fun watching them ride this ride, I'm staying grounded, I'm the cameraman. lol read more