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Summer Escapes

July 16
Knoebels: Fun, food, fantasy and affordability

Emily Culley Abington Journal Correspondent

ELYSBURG- Families across the nation are being forced to rethink summer vacation plans this year in the wake of rising fuel prices. Those who may consider completely canceling the annual family trip in order to save gas may only need to think closer to home. Nestled among the trees of Elysburg is Knoebels Amusement Resort, located along Route 487.

Knoebels Amusement Resort located along Route 487, Elysburg, offers a variety of affordable family activities.

Abington Journal Photo/ Shelby Fisk

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As well as being about an hour drive from Wilkes-Barre, the park offers free admission, free parking and free entertainment. Tickets can be purchased throughout the park for rides, or a pass allowing visitors access to all the rides may be purchased for $37.

Famous for its family atmosphere, Knoebels offers enough shops, food stands, arcades, rides, shows and even museums to keep every member the family entertained.

Knoebels offers wooded campsites equipped for both tents and RVs, giving families the dual opportunity vacations of camping and going to an amusement park. There is also a large swimming pool as well as miniature golf course to take a break from riding the rides.

Knoebels Amusement Resort can trace it beginnings back to 1828 when Reverend Henry Hartman Knoebel bought the land. His son, also named Henry, began seeing the land’s potential as locals began visiting the Knoebel farm for hayrides, swimming and picnics. Henry Knoebel offered to care for the visitors’ horses for the fee of a quarter to feed, water and wash. Later, he began offering peanuts, ice cream and soft drinks for sale on the farm and even hired a lifeguard to keep swimmers safe.

Private summer cottages were also built on the farm, the land being leased out by the Knoebels. In 1925, construction of a swimming pool to supplement the swimming hole began. The pool was finished the following year and marked the formal beginning of Knoebels Amusement Resort. A steam powered carousel, games and a restaurant were also added that year.

The park has continued to grow over the years, surviving five floods, including the massive 1973 and 2006 disasters. Each time, the park cleaned and repaired the rides and other attractions in time to reopen. After washing away the mud from the 1973 flood, park offices decided to come back with a new attraction, The Haunted Mansion. The park’s ability to thrive during trying times is a testament to its endearing charm. While maintaining the old favorites, such as The Phoenix roller coaster, which has made several top 10 roller coaster lists, the classic wooden carousel and bumper cars, the park continues to add new attractions such as The Flying Turns, a new wooden roller coaster similar to a bobsled run.