Knoebels Amusement Resort
4.8(32K)google
4.3(417)yelp
KidsYouth-FriendlyOutdoorThrillingFreeBudget-FriendlyGreat ValueMust-SeeLocal FavoriteCarnivalHistoryRoller Coaster
Overview
Knoebels Amusement Resort, located in Elysburg, is America's largest free-admission amusement park, offering a nostalgic and budget-friendly experience for families. Unlike modern theme parks, Knoebels allows visitors to enter the park and picnic for free, paying only for the individual rides they choose to enjoy. The park is world-famous among enthusiasts for its award-winning wooden roller coasters, such as Phoenix and Twister, alongside classic vintage flat rides and an old-fashioned brass ring carousel. It delivers an unforgettable, genuinely nostalgic slice of Americana.
Practical Info
Mon12:00 – 8:00 PM
Tue12:00 – 8:00 PM
Wed12:00 – 9:00 PM
Thu12:00 – 9:00 PM
Fri12:00 – 9:00 PM
Sat12:00 – 10:00 PM
Sun12:00 – 8:00 PM
Suggested Duration6-10 hours
Best TimePeak season is summer from late May to Labor Day. As America's largest free-admission, pay-as-you-go historic amusement park, highly recommended on midweek mornings (Tuesday to Thursday); arrive by 9:45 AM to enter exactly at 10:00 AM opening. This gives you a massive advantage to ride their award-winning wooden coaster 'Phoenix' before lines swell.
Getting ThereNestled deeply in a wooded mountain valley in Elysburg at 350 Knoebels Boulevard. Driving is mandatory: from I-80, take Exit 224 for PA-54 S south through Danville for 15 miles. Follow the overhead parkway markings onto PA-487; the resort features thousands of completely free, sprawling open-air grass and gravel parking fields bordering the streams.
Travel Tips
- As America's largest free-admission amusement park, structural entry and general parking are entirely zero-cost, utilizing a pay-per-ride ticket book model; critically, 'Ride All Day' wristbands are completely blacked out on peak summer weekends, forcing reliance on individual ride tickets.
- The award-winning wooden coaster 'Phoenix' and the rare bobsled coaster 'Flying Turns' see severe lines; 'Flying Turns' operates on precision track-weight tracking that triggers automated shutdowns during light rainfall or high humidity, making it the mandatory first target within the opening operational hour.
- The park's low-lying forest valley geography induces frequent afternoon convective severe weather and dense nocturnal insect hatches; carrying high-concentration DEET repellents and secure waterproof gear pouches is standard protocol, and on-site campers must strictly adhere to electrical wattage limits.
Reviews
Positive
- The free-admission, pay-as-you-go model offers unbeatable value, and the 'Phoenix' wooden coaster delivers unparalleled vintage visual and physical thrills.
- Nestled under a lush canopy of mature trees, it preserves a rare, old-school amusement park tranquility and warmth perfect for family picnics.
- The park food is exceptionally affordable and has won industry best-food awards for years, making internal dining truly value-for-money.
- Restrooms and trash cans are abundant, staffed largely by friendly locals, showcasing excellent customer service and daily upkeep.
Heads up
- Transport convenience is poor as it sits deep in a remote rural valley with absolutely no public transit, making driving mandatory.
- Being a traditional forest park, most paths are gravel or uneven terrain; accessibility infrastructure is lagging, making pushing wheelchairs strenuous.
- During summer holidays and weekends, parking lot queues are frustratingly long, and crowd density overloads with multi-hour waits for top coasters.
- During heavy downpours, the low-lying terrain makes certain areas prone to flash flooding, and management handles severe weather evacuations a bit clumsily.