Fun, Food, and Fantasy!

My favorite amusement park in Pennsylvania is a small place called Knoebel’s Grove.  The park recently celebrated its 85^th anniversary as a family owned and operated resort.  Set in a beautiful mountain valley in the trees of Pennsylvania, this truly is Pennsylvania’s hometown park! The best part about Knoebel’s is that it has stayed true to its roots while growing into the current day. 

Knoebel’s started as a swimming hole and picnic destination for Sunday travelers in the early 20^th century.  Soon Henry Knoebel a local farmer started to lease the land, and set up some small cottages, picnic areas, and sold soft drinks and ice cream.  In 1926, Henry opened a restaurant and brought in a carousel and Knoebel’s was born.  The center of the Park was the massive Crystal Pool, which was created out of the old swimming hole.  From its humble beginnings, Knoebels has grown to include 57 rides, and numerous award winning eateries.

Free, Free, Free is the best policy held by this park.  One of my life philosophies is to give generously, and the rewards will then be tenfold.  I see this philosophy playing out at Knoebel’s Grove.  While most amusement parks charge and arm and a leg for everything, Knoebel’s offers free parking, free admission, and free entertainment.  To ride there assortment of rides you can buy tickets, or an all day hand stamp.  This amazing policy lets the whole family enjoy the park.  You are not paying for young kids who may only ride a few things, or the grandparents who will not get on a single ride, but want to see their family enjoy the day.  With this policy, you really feel in connection to the park owners, as you know this park is for everyone.

The best thing about Knoebels is the unique attractions it provides.  While most other locations went commercial, Knoebels specializes in buying older attractions and transporting them to the park for restoration.  This started

The first drop of the Phoenix as captured by Photo by Robb Alvey www.themeparkreview.com

with the Phoenix roller coaster, which is my favorite roller coaster in the world.  It is a refurbishment of the Rocket roller coaster which was originally located in a Playland park in Texas.  The second wooden roller coaster is not a relocation but built off of a design of the historic Mr. Twister attraction.  While most parks are going to bigger, taller, and more loops, Knoebels does not feature a metal coaster with an inversion, but classic recreations in modern editions.  Currently the parks is building the Flying Turns coaster which is designed after the classic wooden bobsled style coaster, and the Black Diamond an indoor thrill ride/coaster originally the Golden Nugget at Morey’s Piers and being retooled to feature a coal mine theme, featuring the historical significance of coal mines in Pennsylvania.

It’s not just the roller coasters that thrill, Knoebels features a haunted house dark ride which has won numerous awards.  Seriously one of the scariest rides I have been on, it features a moment where they simulate a 18 wheeler truck coming at you, and even though I know it’s coming, it gets be every time!  But my ultimate favorite ride is the Grand Carousel.  This is a refurbished 1912-1913 carousel, and the best part is it features a ring dispenser, which allows riders to grab rings as the carousel turns.  If you are lucky enough to grab the famous brass ring, you receive a free turn on the carousel.  It’s these unique memories that transform Knoebels from an amusement park into the place where memories are created and engrained for a lifetime.  I can remember the strife I felt each year as I was just not tall enough to grab the rings, and then the elation of the moment when it finally happened.  Summer is not complete without a trip there, even though I currently live in North Carolina.

What can be learned from Knoebel’s, give generously and you will be greatly rewarded for your effort.  The classics are not dead, and sometimes are even more fun than the new and flashy.  Hersheypark, a more famous amusement park down the road from Knoebel’s features the newest types of roller coasters and flashy, big rides, but if I had one option of a park to visit it would be Knoebel’s hands down.  Family comes first, as this park has been handed down generation to generation, and I cannot see it done any other way.  It also is the place for families, a place where the whole family can have fun together for a reasonable price.  Featuring fun, food, and fantasy Knoebel’s is a destination, one of America’s special gems that cannot be missed!

*Due to recent event, we need to honor George Samuel Roberts III, a 6-year-old boy from Wilkes-Barre who was involved in an incident at Knoebel’s on July 6^th.  He drowned in the Crystal Pool, and while the lifeguard staff did an excellent job performing the rescue and initiating CPR, he did pass at the hospital later that day.  Please keep George and his family in your thoughts and prayers.

The Main Street Electrical Parade!

This is a vintage promotional shot of the parade! It’s an amazing photo with several parade floats, the illuminated castle, and of course fireworkd!

This one is a little tardy, but I did want to get it in there, so let’s celebrate a few days late!  As you know by now, I am a huge Disney fan.  I love to highlight Disney stuff because I think they do creativity really well, and today’s example is a shining star.  The Main Street Electrical Parade debuted 34 years ago on June 11^th 1977 in Magic Kingdom Park Orlando.  It’s hard to imagine today, but when it debuted the parade was a huge #BoldChoice by Disney.

Iconic moments is what Disney is all about, it’s those moments where your vacation in their park becomes something more than just a vacation, but a memory that will last forever.  The Electrical Parade is a central figure in that.  When the parade debuted it was an amazing collection of technology the world had never seen.  There were lights, sound, and dancing connected on the canvas of a starry night sky.  While the fireworks are a staple of nighttime entertainment, something was missing, and Disney created the parade to fill that void.  Everyone relates to a parade, with your favorite characters, and memories everyone could grab onto including the little ones.

Anyone who has been to Magic Kingdom and seen the parade has definitely left the show with that infamous song ringing through their head.  On my last trip I had a magical moment that I will remember forever with my niece in connection with the parade music.  My family was walking towards the parade, but we were a few steps away when the music started.  My niece knew what was coming, turned around and screamed, “it’s starting,” and ran off to get a view.  As excitement overtook her and she ran off, my whole family was left running off behind her to catch up.

It’s these things that Disney does so well, and the #BoldChoices that make it stand out from other parks and vacation destinations.  Disney creates moments, it makes magic happen right before you very eyes.  The connection of music, technology, and magic are what really take this event home.  In all aspects of life we need to work to create moments.  During an improv show, we want to create those special moments with the perfect catch phrase, joke, or call back that send the house over the edge in laughter.  Those are the things the audience will remember later, and those are the magical moments we need to look to create!