Knoebels Amusement Park Owner Vows to Keep Park Free Admission

The owner of Knoebels, a beloved Pennsylvania amusement park that will celebrate its 100th birthday this summer, admitted that he had to “pinky swear” that he would never charge admission.

Knoebels Amusement Resort in Elysburg, Pennsylvania, is one of the largest free-admission amusement parks in the country. Guests pay-as-you-go for retro rides, roller coasters, kid-friendly attractions, games, camping and even an 18-hole golf course. While lesser known, Knoebels consistently ranks among the best amusement parks in the U.S., recently taking home the title of top amusement park on TripAdvisor's “Best of the Best” list.

Owner Brian Knoebel, 52, said that keeping entry to the park free is “who we are.”

“We recognize that grandma and grandpa get more satisfaction out of watching their grandkids ride the rides than they do themselves. And grandma and grandpa are on a limited income. So they don’t pay to park. We don’t force you to buy food in the park — if you want to bring a picnic lunch, then bring a picnic lunch,” Knoebel told Spotlight PA.

When asked if that would ever change, Knobel replied, “I had to pinky swear to never change it.”

The park, which will have been in operation for 100 years on July 4, was started by Knoebel’s ancestors when they came to the U.S. from Germany.

Knobel said his grandfather began “building some picnic tables and park benches, and on July 4, 1926, we opened a swimming pool, a restaurant — appropriately named ‘The Restaurant’ — and we rented a steam-powered carousel.”

The park started with one ride and one food stand, but has since expanded to 60 rides, about 38 food stands, 24 games and water slides, all while maintaining its throwback, vintage vibe, Knoebel said.

“We absolutely know our brand. We know our fans. And that throwback amusement park from yesteryear is exactly who we continue to be,” Knoebel said. “We don’t have roller coasters that reach the clouds. We have rides for thrill seekers…but, of course, we have more traditional rides.”

“Sadly, when other parks close, or they want to make room for something bright and shiny, we’ll make an offer to them and move it here, because again, that’s who we are,” Knoebel added.

The park, which is located in the middle of Pennsylvania, received a 4.7 rating from nearly 3,000 TripAdvisor users, making it the top amusement park in the country.

Dollywood, Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Universal Islands of Adventure were also on TripAdvisor’s top five list.

Knoebels, which opened in 1926, is America’s largest free-admission park. Visitors pay for rides and other attractions, as well as food and other goodies, but entry to the park has always been free.

The park has dozens of rides, ranging from family-friendly options to more thrilling ones. The Impulse coaster features upside-down twists and a 90-degree fall, while the Phoenix is a classic wooden model. Visitors who aren’t seeking a thrill can scope out one of the park’s more gentle attractions, which include a Grand Carousel and an antique car attraction that lets people drive a Model-T replica through the woods.

Knoebels is celebrating 100 years all summer long, but from July 3 to 5, the park says it will have a special anniversary weekend packed with a parade, commemorative ceremonies and “a few surprises along the way.”