originally posted on 8/18/2025
Photo: Dalton Crider. View full-sized image.
And indeed it is! As of April 26, the traditional last Saturday in April, Knoebels Amusement Resort in Elysburg, Pennsylvania, is open to the public for its 99th season. The much-anticipated opening day is sponsored by a different enthusiast group each year, and in 2025 it was ACE Eastern Pennsylvania’s turn. Mostly overcast with a little rain thrown in, a mixed forecast did not discourage the 263 attendees who registered for the event.
Pavilion L is well-known among enthusiasts for Knoebels’ opening days.
Photo: Linda Weisenstein. View full-sized image.
Fascination was one of the ways attendees began the day, with Hayden Brown the winner.
Photo: Cameron Hedfors. View full-sized image.
Photo: Jessica Knouse. View full-sized image.
The two-day event, to be exact. For the first time, Sunday was included in event registration, with morning ERT and the option to purchase a ride-all-day wristband at a reduced rate. Attendees checked in at Pavilion L beginning at 10:45 to pick up their lanyards with the event schedule conveniently on the back of their name badges, along with event buttons and wrist bands. Fascination fans could play free from 11 to noon, which was a great way to stay out of the rain. Hayden Brown was crowned the winner! The park opened at noon, so there was plenty of time before the group photo at 1 p.m. to check out progress on the Bayern Kurve; the new locations for Rock-O-Plane, Power Surge and Downdraft; and the beginning restoration of the Sky Slide.
Following the meal, the crowd was addressed by brothers Rick and Brian Knoebel, with Dick on the phone to offer additional words.
Photo: Linda Weisenstein. View full-sized image.
Photo: Linda Weisenstein. View full-sized image.
There was also plenty of time to ride everyone’s favorite rides before the tasty lunch at 3:30 back in Pavilion L, which included barbecued chicken, meatball subs, pierogies and lots of sides and soft drinks. Regional Rep Mike Matscherz greeted everyone with “Knoebels is open!” He thanked his regional rep team and reviewed upcoming ACE Eastern Pennsylvania events.
It was time for the meet and greet with the Knoebels family and staff. At 2025’s winter nonriding coaster events, attendees asked many questions about the pending-but-not-yet-finished projects on the Knoebels staff’s to-do list, so it was not surprising that there would be more questions now that the park was open. Matscherz began by asking Brian Knoebel “exactly” when the Bayern Kurve would open. Brian’s reply: “How about that lunch?” To sum it up, Brian’s answer to all the questions about when a new or planned ride would open was, “It’ll open when it’s ready.” Fair enough!
Phoenix’s 40th anniversary at Knoebels was a fact that didn’t go unnoticed throughout the event.
Photo: Cameron Hedfors. View full-sized image.
Photo: Egda Young. View full-sized image.
Brian reminded everyone that 2025 was Phoenix’s 40th anniversary and mentioned anniversaries for other park rides as well. He also announced that 2026 would be Knoebels’ 100th anniversary and that a major celebration was planned. Unfortunately, his father and park co-owner Dick Knoebel had to be absent for this opening day — the first one he had missed since his Marine Corps duties in the 1960s. Brian recorded attendees singing happy birthday to Dick, and later Dick spoke to everyone by phone. As for why the rain had stopped despite the gloomy weather forecast for the day, Dick explained the magic of the “Dick Dome,” a guarantee of good weather!
In addition to speaking at lunch, ACE Eastern Pennsylvania Regional Representative Mike Matscherz held a meeting for new ACE members.
Photo: Linda Weisenstein. View full-sized image.
At 5 p.m. Matscherz held a new-member meetup for anyone who joined ACE in the last year or was attending their first ACE event.
Attendees had plenty of choices of activities for the rest of the day, with most all of the rides, food stands and mini golf being open. They were overheard asking the usual opening-day questions: Any new creatures noted in the Haunted Mansion (maybe!)? How are the wood coasters Phoenix, Twister and Flying Turns running (all fantastic!)? As for the food options, did anyone try the German sushi? One attendee noted that Knoebels’ International Food Court alone has more food offerings than the total at some amusement parks.
Evening ERT was, as always, a favorite among attendees.
Photo: Egda Young. View full-sized image.
Photo: Linda Weisenstein. View full-sized image.
Photo: Jessica Knouse. View full-sized image.
An hour of ERT on Phoenix began at 7 p.m. when the park closed. Although it wasn’t dark yet, it was dark enough to appreciate the magic of evening rides on this amazing wood coaster that never has a bad day. Trains were full for all the rides, and no one wanted the evening to end.
One day wasn’t enough, so the festivities extended to Sunday morning when attendees could bump themselves silly on the Bumper Cars and grab the brass ring on the Grand Carousel, like Janine Rebbie Matscherz.
Photos: Mike Matscherz. View full-sized image.
And then there was Sunday — definitely a better day, weatherwise! Morning ERT was a contrast in ride choices. For an hour, beginning at 11 a.m., attendees could both catch the brass ring on the elegant and stately Grand Carousel and smash and crash their way around the take-no-prisoners Bumper Cars course. After that, they were on their own to ride, using wrist bands or tickets, and catch up on the food options they might have missed on Saturday.
Other Knoebels coasters like Twister received their fair share of attention across the event’s two days.
Photo: Egda Young. View full-sized image.
Attendees were grateful to the ACE Eastern Pennsylvania regional rep group, volunteers and Knoebels family and staff for an exciting celebration of the opening of this amazing traditional park. ACE Eastern Pennsylvania had plans to be back for more fun in July!
— Lee Ann Draud, ACE News Managing Editor
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