Knoebels Amusement Resort

Knoebels Amusement Resort is a wonderful, family owned Amusement Resort in Elysburg PA. There's fun to be had for the whole family. They have lots of classic rides, some of which are the last of their kind. They keep their rides in amazing working order. They have a great selection of roller coasters, and all are a blast to ride. Aside from rides, the park itself is wonderful. It's very clean, and the atmosphere is great. The food here is amazing too, and affordable. You can't miss the potato cakes. They are out of this world. Attractions at the park include mini golf and a beautiful swimming pool. This is a theme park you can't miss.

We love Knoebels! There is plenty of seating for tired parents. We love that there’s no admission fee, you just pay to ride. Despite being crowded, the park is clean fully staffed. I do wish they offered wristbands even on weekends. I understand if the price would need to be higher on a weekend. We got there at opening on a Saturday and had to wait to be able to get into the parking lot to park but other than that no Wait. they have an app which tells you wait time for the rides. There so many great food options not just standard amusement park food.. I have nothing negative to say. Definitely worth a trip!

Had a fantastic first visit! So many rides for our one year old to ride and enjoy. The carousels are amazing! And the Coasters are top notch! You can clearly see the pride that the employees have for their work. Early each morning they are wiping all the benches, fixing the gravel, etc. no other amusement park takes this level of care and it shows!! We cannot wait to come back next may!

Every year it gets better!!!! We drive through at least twice during the season. Has become a tradition and a joyful addition to our holiday season celebration.

i come here every year with my family! it’s really family-friendly as well as dog-friendly. the rides are classic and lots of fun and the vibe of the whole place is so nostalgic. not to mention that entry AND parking is completely free! the one thing i’ve noticed recently is they’re kind of money hungry… i mean who isn’t? but the prices have been going up lots. but honestly i could care less, everything else adds up to this being a lovely amusement park!

In the middle of nowhere central PA, Knoebels is an absolute gem of an independent, family owned and operated park. The free admission and parking, pay-per-ride system at Knoebels is totally genius, allowing non riders to still enjoy a day at the park with family or friends. The focus is on family or kiddie rides but there's plenty for adults too. The gorgeous, huge pool is a feature you don't see often at theme parks, and boy is it wonderful to take a dip on a hot day between rides and snacks. The whole park is BYO food and bev, yet there's also plenty of unique and affordably priced concessions. My favorite treats were Tiger Tails, potato pancakes and apple cider slushies. If you enjoy vintage rides like wooden coasters or historic carousels, this is the park for you! Phoenix is an absolute menace, you will be tossed around like a rag doll and exit the station laughing hysterically, only to run around to ride it again. The Flying Turns trackless bobsled style coaster is one of a kind and a wild, totally unique experience. I really love that they have a campground directly attached to the park so you can stay on site and easily come and go. No fast lane passes offered or needed, as operations here are smooth even on a busy weekday. Absolutely worth the trip to spend a day or two relaxing and soaking up summer fun at Knoebels. If you are a fan of Kennywood out in Pittsburgh, you'll definitely love Knoebels.

I'll preface with the fact that we went on a Monday. Plenty of parking to be had, the park was super clean and the pricing was very, very reasonable..(ride all day comes out to around $8 an hour if you stay open to close). We did not buy the all-day pass, because don't ride a lot and we went there for the pool mainly. The pool($9 to get in) and the locker area were both super clean and not as crowded as I expected, which was nice... I would recommend renting chairs for the day. Even though we didn't go on them, the slides looked fun! The fact that you can leave the pool to go out to the park and come back is really nice too. There are plenty of rides to be ridden for all ages, but the roller coasters were PHENOMENAL!! This park is free to get into and very family friendly and actually any age friendly, there is really something for everyone there! There is also lots of pavilion space for picnics if you don't want to spend $$ on food there. I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of food options they did have. A plaque said they were voted best amusement food in 2024. Highly recommend visiting! Oh, don't forget to download their app!

One of the best amusement parks I've ever experienced. Great food! And the wooden roller coaster is incredible. We spent almost 8 hours there and it wasn't enough. Can't wait to return.

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.

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.

Terrible customer service. We had to cancel our yearly family vacation due to "clerical errors". We put a deposit on a cottage and then we were told it was no longer ours. There were no other cottages that could accommodate the size of our family. Her solution was to bring air mattresses or find an Airbnb. We requested a return of our deposit and will no longer continue our family tradition at Knoebels.

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.

Love coming here In the summer time for a few days. I love the rental cabins they have right next to the park. Mix of new and vintage rides. Ride all day pass is really useful but often use the paper tickes to ride the rides. RIDES ARE PAY AS YOU GO. Food is very affordable and delicious. But that is not what I came here for. I came to experience the Joy Through The Grove light show. It was stunning to say the least. Very affordable and well organized. The vibes here were (and are) amazing. The staff/employees are really friendly and helpful. They go above and beyond to make sure you have a good time .

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.

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!!!!

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

Have been going here more than once a year since I was a baby, amazing and fun place. Log flume is my favorite ride! Though prices are a bit steep, what it's like $60 for an all day pass and there not open as long as they used to be. I think to make it better they should lower the prices a bit, otherwise amazing park.

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?

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.

BRING AN EXTRA PAIR OF PANTS!-------- Great place, but......... We had just come back from the French fries place, I did some more rides and then it set in. I couldn't find a restroom near me and I HAD to go. We were doing the haunted house next and it was my first time at Knobbles, I told my family that I was fine and I would find one after we got off. BUT...I did not know what to expect. Everything went fine on the first few minutes . BUT THEN IT HAPPENED!!!!On the last turn everything let loose that house scared me soooo much that even by butt had a reaction. And the things that came out were scarier than the ride itself. I panicked as I left the ride walking funny. As you can imagine the car ride was not a blast either. I would highly recommend this place, But only if you bring an extra pair of pants!!!!

**Discriminatory Practices Against Disabled Visitors** I recently heard about Knoebels Amusement Park from a group that includes individuals with mobility challenges, and we were deeply disappointed by the park's discriminatory practices. One of our group members, who uses a mobility device, was denied entrance because the park did not approve of their specific device. This was not just a personal frustration--it was a violation of their rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Knoebels appears to pick and choose which mobility devices they allow, rather than adhering to ADA guidelines, which require public places to accommodate a wide range of mobility aids. This selective enforcement led to a disabled person in our international mobility group being unfairly denied access to the park and its attractions, effectively excluding them from enjoying the day. It's disheartening and unacceptable that Knoebels, a family-oriented park, would engage in such discriminatory practices. The ADA exists to ensure equal access for all, and Knoebels' failure to comply reflects a lack of commitment to inclusivity and accessibility. I strongly urge Knoebels to review and revise their policies to ensure they respect the rights of all guests, regardless of their mobility needs. Until they take action, I cannot recommend this park to anyone who requires.. (Note: Dogs are allowed in the park: "We welcome well-behaved pets at our park, and trust the owners will be responsible for, control and clean up after them as well as be responsible when deciding how their pet would react to an amusement park environment."--Knoebles Park website) - A disappointed Alinker user.

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

We went there as a family, my two daughters and my two granddaughters and my lovely wife. Now my granddaughters are 9 months and 1 year old. There were plenty of rides that they could ride with their moms Now I haven't been to the park in decades and I'm truly surprised that you can still bring your own food. Plenty of tables were available or just go back to your vehicle and tailgate like we did. No hassle getting in and out of the park. It's a real money saver for tight budgets. The way they sell tickets so that you only pay for the rides you ride and if you have some leftover at the end of the day you save them for the next time you come. All in all it was a great time looking forward to going again. Keep up the good work Knoebles! Ron A.

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.

Different kind of theme park than any I've been to. It's ticket or wristband situation. They have some really fun rides and plenty for the children. We had a great time. If you can find them, try the tater-o-rings. :)

Knoebels is a special park. Its coaster collection includes the loose, airtime-filled, and well-aged and classic Phoenix, the fun and unique Flying Turns, the inversion-filled Impulse, and the classic Twister. Its flat ride collection includes lots of classics, including many that are hard to find elsewhere. And you only have to pay if you want to ride, eat, or buy something. That's right, admission is free and parking is free, not just for passholders, but for everyone. And the food is good here and unlike other parks, not marked up for being inside an amusement park. Plus, if you don't enjoy the coasters, rides, or food, there are tons of other little things hidden throughout the park. And last, but not least, Knoebels really feels like a park, unlike too many parks that feel like a concrete jungle. This really enhances the experience, both riding and just walking around the park. In short, if you are in the area, I strongly recommend you go to Knoebels, and if you enjoy amusement parks, spend a full day here, you will not regret it.

It is the best family friendly park there is free parking it has 3 roller coasters that are really fun

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.

Don't waste your time coming on a BOGO wrist band day it is a complete joke. Came along with a friend for a trip to check this place out and today (06/25/24) was so miserable we wished we just did something else. First off, they let in wayyyy to many people. It is free to get into the park but there needs to be someone in the front taking count of how many people are in the park at once. You had to squeeze by people to walk, that is a safety hazard that can cause crowd crushing. Especially since the park is built like a maze and we are new to it. The wristbands were a complete waste of time and money as we were only able to get on 4 rides because of how ridiculously long the lines were. So we decided we could try spending time eating instead only to get stuck waiting 1 HOUR in the only sit down restaurant they have, waiting for our orders. The waitress kept bringing us sides we didn't order and then told us that the kitchen messed up our food and haven't even started it. We just left because it wasn't worth wasting what little time we had left as the park closed early at 8pm. We circled the park multiple times looking for anything to ride that didn't look like it'd be a 30+ wait and there was none. So we left early. Now for reference yesterday was our first day here and we waited until 4pm for the evening wristband discount ($35). Within the 4 hours before closing we were able to go on every single ride we wanted and had 0 waits for food, bathrooms, and parking. Today we spent $57 for two wristbands ($28.5 each). So yesterday for only $6.50 more, we had a way better deal than the bogus bogo "deal". The only source of comfort was hearing all the other visitors complain too because at least we weren't alone haha. This park needs some major crowd control, work on it please.

I wasn't at knoebels last year, but in 1 year they seem to have completely forgotten their roots and community. It used to be a great place to take the kids because it was affordable. At this point it is cheaper to go to Dorney park where they have more modern rides. it's so sad because this was a great place. But with 4 grandchildren, and the kiddie rides costing on average $3 per child, it's completely not affordable. I cannot support a company who caters more to out of area people than it does it's own community. And don't even get me started on the cost of the pool. Guess we'll try DelGrossos

If you're bored during the summer come here. It's a fun amusement park for the kids and the parents! Yes some of the old coasters are rough but that's what makes it so fun! And the best part about it is that it's really cheap. And u don't even have to pay to get in, just need to pay for tickets to ride rides.

Old time ticket park. Free parking. Free admission. Lower priced food than the big parks, and you can bring your own if you want. The park has some very decent rides and wins awards for roller coasters, family parks etc.

Knoebels is the best, I have come here every year since I was born. It still feels like it did 20 years ago. I love Knoebels!

We've been going to knobels for years and had a terrible experience Saturday night . it was extremely crowded for the Hallow fun . It took twenty minutes to get into the parking lot . We brought our grandsons ages 3 & 5 . It was at least a 45 minute wait to get food and we gave up and attempted to go on rides- ridiculously long lines - they could get on 1 ride only - just too many people . I asked an employee why it was insanely crowded - knobels allowed a company with 7 thousand employees there. As I said we have been going to knobels for decades and never experienced such crowds. The main reason for the poor review was trying to leave : wr gave up and went to our car at 7:30 ( it closes at 10:00) . it took almost an hour and a half to get out of the parking lot!!! With 2 little children it was absolutely unacceptable . They should have cut off the visitors long before we arrived . Just GREED!

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.

Someone who uses the same non-standard mobility device as I do was discriminated against and denied entry recently. The use of mobility devices of any kind by the disabled is protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). As the ADA states, "State/local governments and businesses must allow a person with a disability who uses a wheelchair or other manually powered mobility aid into all areas where members of the public are allowed to go." The manually-powered mobility device that was refused entry was an Alinker, a three-wheeled mobility aid that is manually powered, without pedals. The supervisor at Knoebels said it was a bicycle and therefore not allowed. It is not a bicycle. It is propelled by the user at a walking pace and is equivalent to a wheelchair. This discrimination is not only reprehensible, it is illegal.

I can't even put into words the place Knobels has in my heart- I've been a regular ever since birth; my family grew up on Knobels, then I grew up on Knobels, and now I'm taking my daughter to grow up on Knobels. The park has so much to offer, from high quality rides, delicious food, free shows, fun games- it's a charming atmosphere- and what makes it special....no admission fee! It has always been fantastic for families since there is the ability to pay tickets per ride or handstamp if we're going to ride non-stop- this was fantastic for family to come walk and watch while us kiddos went on rides, and also gave us the chance to randomly go for a few hours or load up and go for all-day- the flexibility of enjoyment is fantastic! Food is well-priced, lots of seating options to take a moment to sit and enjoy, lots of shade options, it's a quality day experience.

I absolutely love this place! I have been enjoying this wonderland of a park for the last 20 + years and have nothing bad to say only great things such as how I can bring my family of 3 and go on rides all day, and or swim,eat a nice lunch at one or more of their wonderful vendors and bring home some souvenirs for under or around $200.00!!! That's just unreal in this economy but somehow they make it work. It's free admission, free parking, and the average ride is $3.50 lunch for 3 is around 20 to 25 bucks to get full. The employee's are pleasant and helpful, and there are tree's everywhere providing shade on hot days, they have benches everywhere to relax. it is located in the mountains and has beautiful landscape with streams all through the park. They have added some thrill rides in the last few years so it's a perfect place for all ages.

They discriminate against the disabled. They won't let you use your own mobility device. They use a ridiculous "bicycle like wheels" rule to force you to rent one of their mobility aids so they can make money off your disability.

Knoebel's needs to learn ADA laws when it comes to mobility devices. Turning folks away who have mobility issues even though they use a device that allows them to walk freely is wrong. I'm sure the PA. DOJ will have plenty to say when it comes to educating you and your staff

Knoebels has been a family(and pet friendly) amusement park in Elysburg Pennsylvania since 1926. Knoebels has a wide variety of rides for everyone (young and old) to have fun. You can purchase ticket books when you arrive, or get tickets at Weis for 20% off. Knobels also offers discounts on tickets. For example: Bogo, Bargain night, Sundown pass. I would definitely check Knoebels website to see when there are deals happening. If you are a person that loves to go on rides. Knoebels offers an all day pass option, but if you don't like rides you can still go to the amusement park(for free). If you are traveling from far away you can stay at their camp ground. Knoebels also has swimming, but that is an extra charge. One of my favorite things about Knoebels is that you can bring your own food. For example: Knoebels has a wide variety of picnic tables and some grills for you to use for free. Knoebels hours have changed a bit due to the virus, so I would recommend visiting Knoebels website; to see the updated hours. I would definitely recommend going to Knoebels, because I will surely be coming back in the future.  Here is a link to Knoebels website: https://www.knoebels.com/

What is there to say about Knoebels that hasn't been said a hundred times? The value of this place is unmatched, with free parking and admission. Pay per rides are still a good bargain, especially for quick visits. I visit this place every year, and usually end up bringing some tickets from years' past along, which are still good from season-to-season. Food is well-priced, too, although it's no-frills. Other parks may have fancier options, but this place keeps it simple. There are some rough edges: driving to the park is a bit of a pain - there's no direct highway access, and if it's your first time, you will feel lost. And while the coasters are amazing, it's still a small lineup by comparison with other parks in the area. On my visit, a number of rides were closed, as all businesses feel the weight of staffing issues. But to look on the bright side, there's something for everyone at Knoebels. It's a real throwback to a simpler era, and devoted fan have kept the place alive when so many other similar parks have faded away.

Knoebels is by far the best amusement park. My family has been going to Knoebels for over forty years. Love that there is no admission fee. Prices are good. Food is great. Lots of free entertainment and enjoy all the benches and the shade trees make the park comfortable. Love, love Knoebels.

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, they have a total of 64 rides as well as a wide variety of classic and whimsical games to play as well! Please note- you can only get the all-day wristband on weekdays, so plan accordingly. Also, if you are staying at the campground, you can take their shuttle bus (The Fun Bus) to get into the park.

This would be a 5 star except for today. I was riding my favorite ride the skloosh, and as many knoebels veterans know you can stand on the bridge and get soaked. I took 3 steps down to hand my phone and other valuables to my friend when a very rude employee told me I was no longer allowed to stand on the bridge. I was stunned and thought it was a joke. Needless to say I will be going back and getting her name. What an unpleasant person, and she also was screaming at small children. She has no place working at an amusement park. It pains me to rate it a 4/5, as it should be 5 stars but this woman NEEDS TO BE FIRED!!! UNBELIEVABLE.

I'm gonna be honest with you all. I didn't get to experience much of this amusement park. I have heard of Knoebels but never visited until recently. You know when you are from a certain area you become comfortable with the local or regional amusement park. But it does not hurt to expand and try new things. Majority of what I experienced here was the traffic, parking lot, pavilions and smells of food. I was here to help with an event and only got a partial experience. So let me talk about the traffic portion of this. For this being an amusement park kind of in the middle of nowhere, with two lane roads for access, traffic was not a really big deal. It was smooth flowing and what helped me here was the fact that you can tune your radio to hear information on the park. Kind of prepares you for how you can approach your visit. Once into the parking lot it is kind of like a free for all. There are people directing you to a spot, but it makes no sense what so ever how they do this. A few cars this way and a few cars that way. Parking was free which was nice, one less expense to expect. The pavilions are a very interesting experience to have as well. The are laid out between the parking lot and park itself. They range in size and are quite accommodating. However, dependent on where you park and the location of the pavilion you will be using makes for a bit of a struggle. If you are not familiar with the park and have no idea where you are going and choosing a bad parking spot makes for a bit of a trek. I was lucky, I parked near the pavilion I was to be at, however my colleague ended up a bit far away and got lost finding the pavilion. You can kind of sidestep this a bit by looking online beforehand to see the pavilion setup and park accordingly. The food. I didn't just get to experience the smells of the food, but I did partake in eating some as well. The aromas are your typical amusement park fare. Kettle corn, cotton candy, hot dogs, all bring you into the mindset of amusement park ready. The pavilion I was stationed at had a cafeteria like setup for food. I got to sample some of your basic foods, i.e., hamburger, hot dog, potato salad, etc. I know it was mostly prepackaged/premade items, but it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. They had a myriad of toppings to choose from which made for a pleasant experience. As far as the rides, I was so busy doing my thing that I did not get a chance to ride while I was here. That is just something I will get to look forward to when I return. I can tell you that the lines did not appear to be too long and the rollercoasters that I was next to did a brisk run.

Fun family atmosphere Rides and activities beyond. Always packed so get in early........

-Update for Halloween Weekends- Came here 10/8/22 for Knoebels Hallow-Fun Weekends. Sadly it was anything but fun. I bought a ride all-day bracelet for my daughter and her friend and a $20 book of tickets for me to use. Since the park opened at 2p. We decided to eat lunch before hitting the rides. That was our first disappointment. Twenty five bucks for three little trays of fries, a bottled water and two soft drinks. My daughter went to take a sip of her drink only to find that was literally all she got--it was a large swig of lemonade and the rest was ice. Her friend suffered a similar fate with his soda. On to the rides! The park was really busy--the busiest I've ever seen it. Imagine Disney on a busy day with no fast passes--that's what it was like. Anyway, the lines for rides were insanely long. Some were an hour or more. We managed to get on a whopping four rides from 2p. to 5p. Not so great when you payed $48 for a wristband. While I understand the park has no control over how many people show up on any given day, many of the rides were closed which gave less options to those who were there which added to the length of wait time for the rides that were open. So at five we headed over to the Antique Cars which are set up as a haunted car ride in the evenings. My daughter was super excited because she'd been on them years ago before Covid and loved it. Their was a sign that said the ride would reopen at dusk. It also said it was $5 a person, tickets only. I was fuming because I'd payed so much for the kids bands and would now have to go buy an additional $20 book of tickets so they could ride this ride. Long story short, we waited over two-hours to ride this $15 ride and it sucked. When my daughter rode it years ago, their were people in costumes that jumped out and scared you and hung on the cars, ect. Now it's just a bunch of lame animatronic decorations that aren't scary at all. Total waste of $15 bucks. After this we went to try and get dinner but all the food lines were as bad as the lines for rides. We walked past the Pioneer Train ride which was another ride the kids were dying to do but the line looked like it was over 2 hrs. long so we gave up and left. I spent $136 dollars between the bands and separate tickets and they went on five rides! I do have some leftover tickets that we didn't get to use that we can use in the future but honestly I'd rather have the money I spent on them back. Normally I love Knoebels but I'll never, ever go back during the Halloween event again.

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.

This is an under-appreciated gem of an amusement park, located in a wooded grove in the central Pennsylvania coal country. It is an old school, incredibly family-friendly place, fun, and inexpensive. There are old rides, new rides, tame rides, exciting rides, and rides I guarantee you won't see anywhere else in the US. THE FOOD IS GOOD AND CHEAP. I didn't mean to put that in all caps, but I'll keep it, because it deserves to be capitalized! It's family owned, and the Knoebel family takes great care to keep everyone happy, well fed, and we'll entertained. It's a gem!

I just love Knoebels. I wish I would've gone here when I was much younger. My parents never brought us and we always went to Dorney which was closer to us. Knoebels has so much history I believe it's been in operation since 1926. Sometimes a new ride will come to the park, but more or less the park seldom changes. This is why this park has remained so charming. It's a wonderful family tradition! Knoebels is reasonable and the park food has garnered many awards as has the Phoenix! Cesari's pizza is fantastic, the international food court, cookie nook, and potato pancakes. That's only to name a few. Knoebels offers campgrounds, and adorable cottages for rent too. The cottages seldom open up. The family who has rented the current year has priority for the following year. My daughter's fiancée's family rents The White Dove and the Cedar Log for the same weekend every year. They've had the White Dove for 28 years. If you want a cottage, book it now for next year.