This is my favorite ride at Knoebels. It gives great air time, is nicely set in the woods, but its a little bit rough depending on where you sit. The double up and double down is one of a kind and I like the tunnel out of the station. Its a must ride for an enthusiast. The Phoenix is a wood double out and back roller coaster. It was built by PTC and rebuilt by Dinn Corporation. It was designed by Herb Schmeck in 1947 at Playland Park in San Antonio, Tx as The Rocket and relocated in 1985 and called The Phoenix. It is 76' tall, it is 3,000' long. It is fast, fun, rerideable, it has a large capacity, and a long duration.

Da best woody Ive ever been on period. Great airtime at every hill, a tunnel, & great design makes this one of da best woodies in da world. Couldve still been #1 if I didnt go to Kennywood last summer & rode Phantoms Revenge. Besides that, dont miss the Phoenix at an already great traditional park. You wont be sorry. Recommend riding in seat 1:3 for da best airtime ever experienced.

Oh jeez... this is by far the scariest ride Ive been on. Every single hill you get thrown up violently, smash into the restraint thats about a half a foot above your lap, and then bounce back down into a crash. Talk about heaven... haha.

Best wooden coaster that I have ridden. Simply a great ride. It is a slight bit rough, but I like rough and its not the kind of rough that you are used to. It is the kind of rough that only no seatbelts and insane airtime can bring. If you like wooden coasters, you will love this. If you know someone that does not love wooden coasters, they will learn to like them if you get them to go on this. You leave the station wondering what all the hype is about. You make your journey into the pitch black tunnel and make it to the lift hill, rising from the ashes to the light. The chain lift clanks you up the unimpressive 78 foot hill. You sit up and take a look back at the layout of the ride, factor in the fact that it is such a small drop and you wonder what is so great about the thing; what is all the greatness that is spoken of this heap of wood about. Then you are off, flying out of your seat, bouncing around like there is someone shocking your butt and you cant help but lift out of the seat. The ride does not look overly great, nor is it visually appealing, but it is definately an amazing design and run to perfection. The only complaint that I have about the ride is the fact that the cars have dividers in them. Im not sure if they are needed or what, but sometimes over the last few hills my thigh decides to take a leap up over the divider and land on it, sometimes making my leg go into the other seat. Nothing wrong with that though from my end, but Im sure that some people are not up for that kind of pain. All in good fun though and adds to it all. This ride proves that there is no need for racing a train 128 mph up an over 450 foot high hill. Height and speed dont necessarily have to be present to make a great ride, and a great ride this is.

I recently had the opportunity to try this coaster in the rain and also in the dark. It was extreme! i never thought a wooden coaster could ride so much better when it is raining, and dark! If you have never rode wooden coasters when it is dark, go to the Phoenix Phall Phunfest at Knoebels it happens rain or shine and the Phoenix is awsome!

I absolutely love this coaster! I love the dark tunnel it sails into from the station and how you cant see your own hand in front of your face even in the day time. The front seat has the smoothest ride, while the back seat has the roughest, but its the third seat you want for the most airtime, even though youll get that in any seat! I must say that the best time to ride the Phoenix is just before the park closes, simply because the night sky hides the track!

One of the most surprising woodies on the planet! To the average park-goer, Phoenix looks like nothing mauch at all. Not being very tall, fast, or long makes it all the more impressive that this ride is still as good as it is. The reason why it is so good is definately the airtime. For the most part your getting floater airtime but watch out on the double down! The ejector air and the single lapbar will have you thinking you most surely will fly out of your seat! The laterals are nice two and there are moments where you are being pushed to the side of the car as well as off of the seat when you sit towards the back. What else is there to say? This fabulous woodie packs about as much into a fairly short layout as any other coaster Ive ever been on. Must ride in the front seat, back seat, and third row.

I dont know what else to say about the Phoenix except its a great ride in a great park. There are certain ride features that remind me of the bigger and longer (Great Escape) Comet, which shouldnt be a surprise since both were designed by Herb Schmeck 1 year apart. The double-up/double-down is really one of a kind, but what sets this ride apart is the flat out, furious, negative G-fest race home to the station. This ride also holds a special meaning for me, as the ride height is a mere 42 (!) inches, I was able to take my 5 year old son on his first woodie. What a ride to be weened on, and like his old man, he LOVED it! Consistantly in my top three, this ride is smiles from start to finish.

What an amazing ride! Airtime all over the place and the way it rides is incredible. Its simple in design but o so great. The tunnel is a great way to begin the ride. One of the best aspects of this ride is the way it finishes. Never have I experienced such a great ending on a woodie. It carries its speed and airtime all the way to the brakes. This is a special ride and a MUST RIDE if you are anywhere remotely near Knoebels.

This ride lives up to they hype. If you love airtime, you will without a doubt love this ride. It would almost be worth the trip to Elysburg if this was the only thing there. To think, this classic was abandonded at one point.