Knoebels Amusement Resort
A family-owned Pennsylvania amusement park, picnic grove, campground, and leisure destination known for free admission, historic rides, wooded surroundings, and traditional park food.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Knoebels Amusement Resort is a family-owned and operated amusement park and outdoor leisure destination in Elysburg, Pennsylvania. The property combines a free-admission amusement park with a picnic grove, campground, restaurants, a golf course, swimming facilities, games, and live entertainment. Unlike many large destination theme parks, Knoebels generally does not charge a gate admission fee. Visitors pay for attractions through a choice of unlimited-ride wristbands, limited-access hand stamps, or individual ride-ticket books. This format allows guests to use the site as either a full amusement-park destination or a lower-cost picnic and recreational outing. The property’s roots predate the amusement park itself. In the nineteenth century, land in the wooded valley was associated with Henry Knoebel and became known as Peggy’s Farm. By the early twentieth century, the creek-fed swimming area and the surrounding grove had developed into a popular picnic destination. Visitors arrived for swimming, food, refreshments, and horse-drawn hayrides, while cottage plots were leased along the creeks. Some of the privately owned seasonal cottages remain part of the property’s character. The modern park began taking shape in 1926, when the Knoebel family added a restaurant, games, and a Philadelphia Toboggan Company carousel. A concrete, filtered swimming pool called Crystal Pool opened on July 4 of that year, replacing the less reliable natural swimming hole. The pool became a central anchor for later additions, including rides, concessions, and other visitor facilities. In 1962, Knoebels expanded its overnight business by opening a campground behind the park; the campground subsequently grew into a substantial facility with hundreds of sites. Knoebels’ identity is strongly associated with classic amusement-park experiences rather than a single licensed entertainment franchise. Its attraction portfolio has included wooden and steel roller coasters, carousels, dark rides, family rides, water attractions, games, and historically significant equipment. The Grand Carousel, a historic carousel with a functioning ring machine, became particularly prominent through repeated Golden Ticket Awards recognition. The park’s Haunted Mansion dark ride, opened in 1973, is also widely recognized by enthusiast and preservation organizations as an important American dark ride. The resort has repeatedly adapted to difficult conditions. Its location at the confluence of the South Branch Roaring Creek and Mugser Run makes it vulnerable to flooding. The 1972 flood associated with Hurricane Agnes destroyed cottages and damaged nearly every ride then operating, yet the park rebuilt and continued developing. Later floods, including those associated with Tropical Storm Lee in 2011 and heavy rains in 2018, reinforced the importance of resilience and ongoing site restoration. Food is another major part of the brand. Knoebels operates numerous restaurants and concession venues, and its park cuisine has earned repeated amusement-industry recognition. Its pizza, international food offerings, and distinctive menu items have appeared in food-media coverage. The Three Ponds Golf Course, located near the park and campground, extends the resort’s recreational offer beyond rides and swimming. Knoebels remains a regional, family-oriented destination with a broad appeal among amusement-park enthusiasts. Its positioning rests on free admission, flexible pricing, independent family ownership, historic attractions, a relaxed wooded setting, and a combination of nostalgia and innovation. The park has continued to introduce new rides, including major coaster projects, while retaining older attractions and traditional operating practices. Its name is conventionally written as “Knoebels,” without an apostrophe, in official advertising and correspondence.
History
The Knoebels property developed from a rural Pennsylvania valley into one of the United States’ best-known independent amusement parks. Henry Knoebel purchased the land in 1828, when it was associated with Peggy’s Farm. The area remained primarily agricultural for many decades, but its creek-fed swimming hole eventually attracted local visitors. By the early twentieth century, the site had become a picnic grove where guests could swim, take hayrides, and purchase refreshments such as soft drinks, ice cream, and snacks. The family also leased plots along the creeks for seasonal cottages, establishing a pattern of mixed recreational and residential use that remains part of the property’s history. The decisive transition occurred in 1926. The Knoebels added a restaurant, games, and a steam-powered Philadelphia Toboggan Company carousel, and opened Crystal Pool on July 4. The concrete pool used filtration rather than creek water, providing a more dependable swimming attraction. The park subsequently grew around Crystal Pool, adding rides, concessions, games, and entertainment while preserving the picnic-grove atmosphere. The business continued to be owned and operated by the Knoebel family rather than becoming part of a large publicly traded amusement conglomerate. Over time, Knoebels developed a distinctive operating model. The park generally remained free to enter, while guests paid for rides through individual tickets or bundled access products. This arrangement supported both traditional family picnics and full-day amusement-park visits. The resort also expanded its overnight facilities. A campground opened in 1962 with six sites and later grew substantially; by the early 2000s, descriptions of the campground reported approximately 160 acres and 500 campsites. The park’s development has been repeatedly shaped by flooding. In June 1972, Hurricane Agnes caused the most destructive flood in the property’s history. Water rose several feet above the creeks’ banks, destroyed six cottages, damaged the roller-rink building, and affected 24 of the 25 rides then operating. The park rebuilt, and the damaged roller-rink structure was later refloored and used as a skating rink before becoming the Roaring Creek Saloon complex, which now accommodates food service, arcade activities, theater entertainment, and performances. Additional floods occurred in 1975, 1996, 2004, 2006, 2011, and 2018. The 2011 flood, associated with Tropical Storm Lee, was described as the second-worst in the park’s history. Knoebels expanded its attraction portfolio with both historic and newly commissioned rides. The Haunted Mansion opened in 1973 and became a signature dark ride. The park’s wooden coasters, particularly Phoenix and Twister, built a strong following among enthusiasts. Its Grand Carousel became a major preservation and awards success; from 2007 through 2019 it repeatedly won the Golden Ticket Award for best carousel, after which the competition was retired because of its uninterrupted winning record. In 2013, Knoebels opened StratosFear and Flying Turns. Impulse followed in 2015, replacing two former attractions and adding a modern steel coaster to the lineup. The resort’s food program also became an important part of its reputation. Knoebels restaurants and concessions received repeated amusement-industry awards, including a long run of recognition in the Golden Ticket Awards’ food category. Its pizza and international-food offerings gained attention from television and digital food media, helping distinguish the park from competitors whose food programs are less central to their identity. Knoebels has also experienced accidents, legal claims, and other incidents typical of a large recreational property. Reported events include a 2003 fall from the Scenic Skyway, a 2015 testing accident involving Impulse, injuries associated with the former Speed Slide, pool fatalities in 2011 and 2016, and weather-related injuries at a campground in 2016. These incidents form part of the documented history of the resort but do not establish that the park as a whole was subject to a scandal. The property has continued operating as a family-oriented amusement resort, combining historic preservation, new attractions, campground hospitality, food service, and outdoor recreation.
- 2025
Knoebels receives a Legend food award
[1]When Amusement Today retired its Best Food contest, Knoebels received a Legend Golden Ticket Award for the category.
- 2023
Historic trolley cottage is acquired by Pennsylvania Trolley Museum
[1]The Pennsylvania Trolley Museum acquired a trolley that had been converted into a cottage at Knoebels.
- 2019
Carousel award competition is retired
[1]The Golden Ticket carousel competition was retired after the Grand Carousel’s extended undefeated run.
- 2015
Impulse opens
[1]Impulse replaced Bumper Boats and Boat Tag as a new major steel roller coaster.
- 2013
StratosFear and Flying Turns are introduced
[1]The park added its tallest ride at the time, StratosFear, and opened the long-delayed Flying Turns wooden bobsled coaster.
- 2007
Grand Carousel begins uninterrupted Golden Ticket run
[1]The Grand Carousel began a consecutive series of Golden Ticket Awards wins for best carousel.
- 1973
Haunted Mansion opens
[1]Knoebels introduced its signature dark ride, later recognized by amusement-park enthusiast organizations.
- 1972
Hurricane Agnes flood devastates the park
[1]The flood damaged nearly all rides then operating and destroyed several cottages, prompting a major rebuilding effort.
- 1962
Campground opens
[1]Knoebels opened a campground behind the amusement park, later expanding it into a major overnight facility.
- 1926
Amusement-park operations begin
[1]The family added a restaurant, games, and a Philadelphia Toboggan Company carousel; Crystal Pool opened on July 4.
Products and positioning
A family-oriented, independently operated amusement resort emphasizing free admission, flexible pay-per-ride access, historic attractions, traditional food, a wooded picnic-grove setting, and value-oriented recreation rather than a heavily licensed theme-park experience.
Historic carousel
Grand Carousel
A historic carousel and one of Knoebels’ best-known attractions. Its preservation value, traditional carousel presentation, and repeated Golden Ticket Awards recognition have made it a central symbol of the park’s commitment to classic amusement rides.
Dark ride · 1973
Haunted Mansion
A dark ride introduced in 1973 and regarded by enthusiast groups as one of the notable American examples of the form. Its elaborate themed scenes and long-running presence make it one of the resort’s signature attractions.
Wooden roller coaster
Phoenix
A major wooden coaster associated with Knoebels’ reputation among enthusiast communities. It is frequently cited for its classic ride experience and strong rankings in wooden-coaster evaluations.
Wooden roller coaster
Twister
One of the park’s principal wooden roller coasters. Twister complements Phoenix by providing a more modern large-scale wooden-coaster experience within Knoebels’ traditional amusement-park setting.
Wooden bobsled coaster · 2013
Flying Turns
A wooden bobsled-style coaster inspired by early twentieth-century ride designs. The project experienced several years of delays before opening during the 2013 season.
Steel roller coaster · 2015
Impulse
A major steel roller coaster introduced for the 2015 season. It replaced Bumper Boats and Boat Tag and expanded the park’s modern thrill-ride offering.
Tower ride · 2013
StratosFear
A 148-foot ride added for the 2013 season. It became Knoebels’ tallest ride at the time and broadened the park’s high-thrill attraction portfolio.
Swimming attraction · 1926
Crystal Pool
A filtered concrete swimming pool opened on July 4, 1926. Crystal Pool replaced the original creek-fed swimming hole and has remained an important organizing feature of the resort.
Camping and lodging · 1962
Knoebels Campground
An overnight recreation facility opened in 1962 behind the amusement park. It developed from an initial small group of sites into a large campground serving visitors who combine park admission products with extended stays.
Golf and recreation
Three Ponds Golf Course
An 18-hole, par-71 golf course located near the amusement park and campground. It provides two nine-hole layouts and includes a restaurant on the grounds.
Brand decisions
2015
Replace two attractions with ImpulseGeneration changeBackground
The park retired Bumper Boats and Boat Tag to make room for a larger modern coaster.
Action taken
Knoebels opened Impulse for the 2015 season.
Aftermath
The park strengthened its steel-coaster lineup while retaining its broader mix of historic, family, and thrill attractions.
2013
Add StratosFear and Flying TurnsProduct launchBackground
Knoebels sought to add both a major thrill attraction and a historically inspired coaster experience.
Action taken
The park opened the 148-foot StratosFear and the wooden bobsled-style Flying Turns.
Aftermath
The additions expanded the resort’s thrill portfolio while reinforcing its interest in distinctive and historically styled rides.
1973
Launch the Haunted Mansion dark rideProduct launchBackground
Following extensive rebuilding after the 1972 flood, the park continued adding distinctive attractions.
Action taken
Knoebels opened the Haunted Mansion.
Aftermath
The ride became a signature attraction and an important part of the park’s enthusiast and preservation profile.
1962
Expand into overnight recreationStrategyBackground
Knoebels was already operating as a day-visit amusement and picnic destination.
Action taken
The park opened a campground behind the amusement area.
Aftermath
Camping became an important part of the resort model and extended visitor stays.
1926
Establish a combined picnic grove and amusement operationStrategyBackground
The existing picnic and swimming destination attracted visitors but had limited formal attractions.
Action taken
The Knoebel family added a restaurant, games, a carousel, and Crystal Pool, creating the foundation of the modern park.
Aftermath
The property developed into a year-round family leisure brand centered on free admission and paid attractions.
Recent events
- 2025
Knoebels receives repeated Golden Ticket food recognition[1]
Other
After years of strong results in the Best Food category, Knoebels received a Legend Golden Ticket Award when the category was retired.
- 2023
Campground stabbing after guest altercation[1]
Lawsuit · Other
A campground altercation resulted in a woman suffering a neck injury and another guest facing aggravated-assault charges.
- 2016
Fatality at Crystal Pool[1]
Other
A child found unresponsive at Crystal Pool was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead.
- 2015
Impulse opens as a new major coaster[1]
Product launch
Impulse opened for the 2015 season, replacing Bumper Boats and Boat Tag.
- 2013
Knoebels adds StratosFear as its tallest ride[1]
Product launch
The park introduced StratosFear, a 148-foot ride that became its tallest attraction at the time.
- 2013
Flying Turns opens after extended development[1]
Product launch · Product generation
Knoebels opened Flying Turns, a wooden bobsled-style coaster whose development and construction had taken several years.
- 2011
Fatality at Crystal Pool[1]
Other
A child found unresponsive in Crystal Pool died after being transported for medical treatment; the account noted a pre-existing heart condition.
Sources2 sources
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