From our house, we can be to Knoebels in about 3 hours which makes it just on the line of being a day trip. This time, my husband was on his way home from a fishing trip in Canada so I met him in Bloomsburg with the kids and we stayed in a hotel for the weekend. Our boys are 5 and 2 - perfect for loving the kiddie rides and the family amusement park experience. This trip really solidified 4 reasons that all young families will fall in love with Knoebels!
The Price - As I said, this might be the best bargain for families with young children around. Unlike most amusement parks, entry into Knoebels is free - yes, you read that right - FREE! Try finding that these days! Entertainment, like musicians and magic shows are all open to the public and included in your free entry. When it's time to ride the rides, you simply pay as you go for the rides you want. The kiddie rides are all very reasonable with most ranging in price from $1.00 to $1.50. You can buy tickets in books of $5.00, $10.00, or $20.00 and can even buy discounted tickets at places like local Weis Markets ahead of your visit. The paper tickets also never expire so the extra tickets we had from 2 years ago were still able to be used on this visit saving us even more money! During the week, the park offers a ride all day pass, but on weekends that is not an option. Now if you have older kids and teenagers that are looking for thrill rides, be warned that the big roller coasters cost $3.00 each per rider which can quickly add up.
The Location - Nestled among the mountains and trees of Elysburg, PA, you don't even realize you're approaching an amusement park as you pull up to Knoebels. The feel is more of a large carnival than an amusement park with lots of shade, a mix of gravel and paved walkways, and an overall "woodsy" feel. For those families that enjoy camping (unlike me. . .), there is a campground adjacent to the amusement park which is a popular draw.
The Food - Knoebels is known to have some of the best amusement park food around. We have never been disappointed in the quality of traditional park fare like pizza, hamburgers, and fries. They also offer a wide variety of options that are not as traditional in amusement parks including spaghetti dinners, meatloaf dinners complete with potatoes and veggies, and a delicious International Food Court. The prices are in line with what you would expect at an amusement park - not cheap, but not ridiculous either.
The Rides - The rides are perfect for kids of all ages. Our 2 year old enjoyed playing on the sliding board and the ball pit the best while our 5 year old ran from ride to ride eager to enjoy everything from cars, boats, trains, and much more. If you have older thrill seekers, there are several roller coasters including the Phoenix - one of best ranked wooden roller coasters in the country. The park also features a pool and water play area at a very reasonable price. So if you are planning to visit in the summertime, be sure to bring your bathing suits in case you want to cool off in the pool during your visit!
Overall, I highly recommend this experience for families - especially those with young kids. While I still love my visits to (also nearby) Hersheypark, this is a much cheaper alternative that has a very different "old time-y" feel. It's definitely worth the drive to check out on summer road trips!
Great family video glad you enjoyed your day. I am a local resident, and sometimes go just to watch people enjoy themselves, and fries with vinegar of course
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