Canobie Coaster
Posts: 2694
Registered: 7/26/2005
Rank: Platinum Critic
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 10/13/2005 6:56:23 AM
After hearing many great things about Knoebels I had to visit this wonderful park. I was completely impressed.
Knoebels is located in Elysburg, PA, a very small city. While trying to find the park, I got lost. The road navigation system my family used was faulty, and they said that we were at Knoebels when we were at a dirt trail heading into the forest.
When I finally found the park (asked a local at the school nearby), I drove to the parking lot. Knoebels' parking lot is colossal. From the size of the parking lot and the amount of cars there, I thought it would be a very busy day. However, the lines were never that bad. To get to the entrance, I took their tram. It was lime green. Their was tons of leg room in the tram, it was fairly long, and it traveled fairly fast.
Upon entering the park, my mom was glad that she didn't have to pay for any rides, or admission (She hates heights, spinning, getting wet, and she even hates carousels because she says she gets too dizzy). I asked a member of Knoebels' friendly park staff where to get an all day ride pass, and I was told to go to the Hand Stamp building near the Roto Jets. I got an all day pass with wooden roller coasters, and so did my sister. My father didn't want to ride any rides, despite how he enjoys many roller coasters like the Comet (The Great Escape), Yankee Cannonball (Canobie Lake Park), and more.
For my first ride I had planned to ride Twister, but I saw Knoebels' world-famous Flyer. I had to ride Flyer! Since they were loading, I boarded with my sister. Usually flying skooters have long lines, but this one was a walk-on. The tubs were roomy, and had one seatbelt to share. When the operator came to check our seatbelts, he checked extra well. I knew that this ride would be insanity! As the ride began, the ride rised and gained speed. Then I took control of the rudder and was highly shocked. I knew that the flyers were considered the best in the world, and gave a great ride, but this was insane! My tub when very high, very low, and came ultra-close to hitting some trees. I had never been able to snap on flying skooters before, but I could on these ones. It was incredible! My sister could even do it (we had an awesome ride). They ran the Flyer really long and fast. After my insane ride on the Flyer, I had to ride Twister.
I knew that Twister would be a treat after being modeled by the great Mister Twister, and all the great reviews I have heard about it. Knoebels even has a bolt from the old Mister Twister! Above the entrance to Twister is their logo. It is very nice, with a car on a demonically twisted track, next to two giant hands. The wait for Twister was only 5 minutes, even though they were only running one train. My sister and I had originally wanted the front seat, but due to a long line I chose the second seat. Another plus is that Knoebels loaded the ride quickly, and there were absolutely no seatbelts! We were in the green train. Our ride began by wrapping around a corner, and heading up the first of 2 lifts. We wrapped around another corner, and headed up the second lift hill. After clearing the lift you spiral around 100ft off the ground, and then plunge down an excellent 90ft drop. Then you surge up a mammoth second hill, and I was in for a surprise. I hadn't known that their would be air-time on the top of that hill. It was an unexpected surprise! I was launched out of my seat, and banged into the lap bar! The next drop is awesome too, traveling through Twister's colossal structure. Best of all, the rest of the layout was a surprise. The double helix was insane and just as good as everyone had said. Also, the tunnel near the end of the ride's 3900ft course was unexpected, and awesome. There was a pop of air-time inside the tunnel! Finally, you get your picture taken and hurl around a heavily banked corner, hit the brake run, ending the ride. After exiting Twister, I noticed all the souvenirs
Message updated 10/16/2005 1:32:04 PM by Canobie Coaster
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adriahna
Posts: 4692
Registered: 6/4/2003
Rank: Site Moderator
Skooter Junkie
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10/13/2005 9:36:20 PM
Tiiiight... sounds like you had a great time. Looking forward to hearing more - you obviously loved the park!
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Canobie Coaster
Posts: 2694
Registered: 7/26/2005
Rank: Platinum Critic
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10/14/2005 6:16:39 AM
I have to update it little by little because I frequently am busy.
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*FreeBird*
Posts: 8264
Registered: 8/29/2003
Rank: Platinum Critic
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10/14/2005 3:45:38 PM
Wow, great review so far!  Can't wait for you to finish it. 
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BobFunland
Posts: 7962
Registered: 8/9/2001
Rank: Site Moderator
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10/15/2005 1:23:00 AM
How the hell can you remember all of that from July? We couldn't even remember which side of Gwazi we just got off today 
Flyers were a walk on? Must have been dead at Knoebels.
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Canobie Coaster
Posts: 2694
Registered: 7/26/2005
Rank: Platinum Critic
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10/15/2005 6:04:07 PM
I went on a Thursday. When I went on an amusement park tour in Pennsylvania, all of the parks were deserted, including Hershey, Knoebels, and Dorney. I think it was because of how hot the temperature was.
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Canobie Coaster
Posts: 2694
Registered: 7/26/2005
Rank: Platinum Critic
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10/16/2005 1:37:10 PM
I am all done with my trip report at Knoebels finally.
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adriahna
Posts: 4692
Registered: 6/4/2003
Rank: Site Moderator
Skooter Junkie
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10/18/2005 8:04:15 PM
Very nice - thorough, detailed, well-written - just like I was there. Thanks for the off-season treat.
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Canobie Coaster
Posts: 2694
Registered: 7/26/2005
Rank: Platinum Critic
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10/19/2005 4:46:50 PM
I'm planning on writing many more trip reports soon. Currently I am writing one for Dutch Wonderland.
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Knoebels
Posts: 854
Registered: 7/2/2003
Rank: Gold Critic
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1/24/2006 5:06:35 PM
Excellent! Great TR. No wait for Flyers, and only 15 minutes for the Skooters!? It must have been DEAD there. Some people have all the luck. Almost all the times I go there, it's really crowded. Some people have all the luck...
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The Lado
Posts: 178
Registered: 5/24/2004
Rank: Bronze Critic
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1/25/2006 7:32:18 PM
Dont go on Sunday before 6, Wed. after 5, Fri. after 5, and Saturday. The other times you only have to wait one ride.
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RCGenius
Posts: 1180
Registered: 12/23/2004
Rank: Platinum Critic
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1/25/2006 8:40:53 PM
Solid review King Yoshi. Knoebels' definitely a one of a kind amusement park to visit & it gave me great memories. I haven't been there since 2002, so I'm definitely going to do whatever it takes to get back there b/c I truly miss Pheonix & Twister.
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