In This Beloved “Vintage Disneyland,” Almost Everything is Free & Dogs Are Allowed

Tag Along on the Joyride at This Free Park

Welcome to Knoebels.

One of the most beloved amusement parks in America is in a charming small town called Elysburg deep in Pennsylvania.

Family-owned Knoebels Amusement Resort offers free entrance (one of the few of its kind) and it’s more than just thrill rides and junk food out here.

Here’s why locals love it and tourists drive for hours to visit.

America’s Largest Free-Admission Amusement Park

You can walk into Knoebels for free.

It’s the only big park that lets you do this. Ride the tram, watch shows, and check out places like the Coal Mining Museum without paying.

Instead of a full-day pass, just get tickets for the rides you want. They come in $5, $20, or $50 books. And they never expire, so keep em for your next visit.

Live shows, including musical performances and Halloween-themed events, are included with your free admission.

Owned by the Same Family for Generations

Henry Knoebel started with a picnic spot in 1926.

Now his grandson Dick and Dick’s sons Brian and Rick run the place. Dick grew the park from 16 rides to over 60 after serving in the Marines in the 1960s. Brian helps other parks around the world by leading IAAPA groups.

And they don’t just own it.

They live here, fix the rides, and run the food stands themselves. You might even see family members putting stuffed animals in game booths or serving food.

60+ Vintage and Modern Rides

Knoebels may be in a small town, but it’s got some of America’s best amusement rides.

Try all three acclaimed wooden coasters—Phoenix (ranked #1 globally), Twister, and Flying Turns (a rare wooden bobsled).

You’ve got vintage gems like the 1913 Grand Carousel, a National Historic Landmark, that uses a Wurlitzer organ and hand-carved horses.

They also keep adding new rides, such as steel coasters like Impulse (2015) and StratosFear drop tower (2013).

Famous for Knoebelizing Vintage Rides

The Knoebels family also has a tradition of rescuing classic rides.

Fans call it “knoebelizing.”

The park acquires retired rides from defunct parks, like the 1947 Phoenix wooden coaster (originally “The Rocket” from San Antonio), and the 1913 Grand Carousel salvaged from a New Jersey park.

They rebuild these rides to exceed original specifications whilst retaining historical integrity. For instance, they spent 10 years engineering Flying Turns (2013), a wooden bobsled coaster based on 1920s designs.

They also maintain the 1947 Lusse Bros. Bumper Cars, the oldest operating dodgem ride in the U.S., with their original electrical systems intact.

Preserved Historic Treasures

There’s also a lot of history at the Knoebels Amusement Park.

You can check these for free or visit the Coal Mining Museum to learn about Pennsylvania’s mining past. Fun fact: The 1937 Lawrence L. Knoebel Memorial Bridge was relocated from Benton, PA.

Oh, and rides like Stony Gables from 1934 and the Penny Arcade from 1932 still look like they did during the Great Depression. Pretty rad.

The Community Rallied to Fix the Park After a Hurricane

Hurricane Agnes hit the amusement park hard in 1972.

The flood wrecked 24 of the park’s 25 rides – only the Grand Carousel survived. But neighbors came to help, and together they fixed 11 rides in just 9 days.

They built walls to stop future floods and raised rides higher off the ground. The next year, they opened the Haunted Mansion Dark Ride, which still runs today.

Dogs Are Welcome at Knoebels Amusement Park

Most amusement parks only let service dogs inside. But at Knoebels, dogs are just as welcome as their families.

Just keep them on a leash and away from rides and food spots. You’ll find clean-up stations with bags all over the park.

Stay at Lake Glory Campground, which has cabins and over 800 spots with showers. You can also join “Paws at the Park” events where dogs can meet and play.

You Can Camp, Golf, Fish, and Swim Too

The amusement park is just one of the many things to do at Knoebels.

Relax at one of the 550+ camping spots or in a log cabin, where they’ve welcomed campers since 1963.

During Halloween, you’ll often come across campers decorating their sites and joining special “Hallo-Fun” events.

Free trams run to the park until midnight. Go fishing in stocked ponds, play mini-golf, or try the 18-hole Three Ponds Golf Course.

You can also swim at the Crystal Pool, a historic 900,000-gallon pool fed by its original mountain stream.

Multi-Awarded Amusement Park

Knoebels has ranked #2 Best Park globally (2010), beating Disney/Universal for food, cleanliness, and value.

The Phoenix roller coaster has also been voted “Best Wooden Coaster” 16 times by Amusement Today. People love their pierogies, funnel cakes, and “tacos in a bag.”

The park gives back too, with completely free days for schools and nonprofits. It’s like coming home to a wonderland.

Reopening on April 2025

Knoebels Amusement Park is currently closed for winter maintenance.

It’s reopening on April 12, 2025, with all-new rides and features. Try the new spinning Bayern Kurve that spins you around or take kids on the Power Surge.

You can also save money with “Sundown” wristbands for evening rides. The Crystal Pool opens back up on Memorial Day weekend with better slides than ever.