Modern and Historic, Knoebels Flying Turns

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originally posted on 8/2/2021

Photo: Torrence Jenkins. View full-sized image.

In the world of roller coasters there are few rides that stand alone as “one of a kind.” There are even fewer that stand out as being both new and historic.

Knoebels Amusement Resort’s Flying Turns encapsulates all of these characteristics as a newly constructed wooden bobsled coaster. What does that mean? Designed like a bobsled run, it travels freely through a trough without a fixed track to travel on.

Photo: Bill Linkenheimer. View full-sized image.

Being familiar with the Norman Bartlett Flying Turns rides of the 1930s, Dick Knoebel was inspired by the challenge of what would be an epic project. Knoebel shared, “I visited Euclid Beach Park in my early 20s and had a chance to ride their Flying Turns. The experience was something I wasn't expecting − it was one of the few rides that gave me a thrill. Many years later, team member John Fetterman approached me after reading an article on the original Flying Turns. He suggested we try and bring it back, and his suggestion took me right back to that ride at Euclid Beach. We decided to move forward with building a Flying Turns, as it was first designed – WOODEN.”

Re-creating the old ride would not be as simple as just finding old plans and copying them, as Knoebel discovered. “Safety standards had changed in many ways since the time of the original Flying Turns. It became clear that the ride wouldn't be as easy as I originally thought it would. We faced challenges that led to a lengthier time line, like several redesigned trains. We were grateful for Mike Boodley's [design engineer] help along the way.”

Photo: Torrence Jenkins. View full-sized image.

Construction of the Flying Turns took much longer than everyone thought it would. Building of the original trough to develop the train took almost two years, and once this was completed, train development took almost five more. During this time, some major changes to the trough had to be made to correct a problem of train path, and a scale system had to be designed to ensure the train remained entrained correctly.

Was it worth the seven-year effort? Here are Knoebel's thoughts on that.

“I was sure glad the first time I got to ride our Flying Turns and was even happier watching the first of our guests board the ride. It was worth the wait. I hope it provides a unique experience for our guests that makes them want to look into the history of it.”

As one of the building carpenters on the Flying Turns trough, I encountered a moment in my career that was truly rewarding and at times even seemed unbelievable. Not only did I get to help build a one-of-a-kind wooden ride, but I also helped Knoebels Amusement Resort do one of the things they pride themselves on doing: preserving amusement park history.

Photo: Steve O'Donnell Collection. View full-sized image.

Since no one had built a ride like this since 1939 when Bobsled at Flushing Meadows was completed, the carpenters had many techniques to learn and truly had to experiment to find a path to success. About a dozen of us worked together for two years to learn how to bend wood, a process that no one could claim being the expert on. During construction of the trough, other coaster carpenters visited us and expressed that they wanted no part in such a complex project. This told me what I already knew: We were the best, and the evidence stands and is enjoyed at Knoebels today and will be for years to come.

Train development, by Larsen International, was five years of trial-and-error adjustments after they were on site. Only one “adjustment” to the train could be made at a time, and even those had to be done gradually in order not to go past what would end up being the correcting adjustment. This was a slow, precise process. Major steps in solving train development problems were made by Boodley, and the application of his ideas brought the conclusion and successful opening of the long, passion-filled project.

Following the ideas of a 1930’s designer, Knoebels has succeeded in building a ride that's both modern and historic.

— Coastin’ Steve O’Donnell

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