Other must-do attractions in this one-of-a-kind park include Sky Rocket( steel launched coaster), Phantom’ s Revenge( steel roller coaster), Exterminator( indoor spinning wild mouse), Black Widow( pendulum swing ride), Olde Kennywood Railroad, Grand Carousel( 1927), Auto Race vintage car ride( 1930) and a 1919, 16-car Whip, the oldest ride in the park. Two dark rides can be found at Kennywood: the Old Mill Boat ride and Ghostwood Estate.
Knoebels Amusement Resort
Visit: www. knoebels. com Phone: 800- 487-4386
Knoebel’ s Amusement Resort in north Central Pennsylvania, outside of Shamokin, offers“ Food, Fun and Fantasy,” as they proclaim. Nestled in a wooded valley, the non-fenced, 91-year-old-park has an“ old fashioned” feel. There is no charge to go inside. Ride the rides or sit on a bench and watch – it’ s your choice.“ America’ s Largest Free-Admission Amusement Park” also has free parking, entertainment and picnic facilities. It’ s pet friendly too. Opened in 1926 as a creek-fed swimming area, the fifth generation, family-run amusement park has more than 63 rides, including six roller coasters( three being of the wooden variety). In 2016, Knoebels Amusement resort was named fourth Best Park on the planet during the Golden Ticket Awards, sponsored by Amusement Today.
Must-do rides include the Phoenix, the second best wooden roller coaster in the world( 2016 Golden Ticket Awards) and Flying Turns, a wooden free-wheeling, bobsled-style coaster. Impulse is a steel coaster with a high-hat initial rise to 98 feet. In addition, Knoebels has annually been named as having the best Carousel( The Grand Carousel) and best food of any amusement part in the world( Golden Ticket Awards).
Lakemont Park
Visit: www. lakemontparkfun. com Phone: 814-949-7275
The oldest operating roller coaster in the world, Leapthe-Dips( 1904), is located in a park that is one of the few in the country run by a municipality( Blair County). This gentle, but historic side-friction ride, hurdles passengers along at the break-neck speed of 10mph – very fast for the turn of the last century! The coaster is a National Historic Landmark as designated by the National Park Service.
Sesame Place
Visit: www. sesameplace. com Phone: 215-752-7070
Bucks County is home to Sesame Place, a 14 acre children’ s park based on the Sesame Street TV show. The park is home to 16 dry rides and nine major water rides. In 2007, Sesame Place became the first park in Pennsylvania to become completely smoke-free.
Ride highlights include Grover’ s Vapor Trail family roller coaster; Sunny Day Carousel; Blast Off( frog hopper); Captain Cookie’ s High C’ s Adventure pirate ship and Monster Mix-up teacup ride. Each day offers the Neighborhood Street Party Parade with all costumed characters. It should be noted that some portable dry rides are set up for the spring and / or Halloween / Christmas shoulder seasons only. Also all water rides are open only in the summer season( Memorial Day-Labor Day).
Waldameer Park & Water World
Visit: www. waldameer. com Phone: 814-838-3591
On the way to Presque Isle State Park on Peninsula Drive is where you will find Waldameer Park. In German the name“ Waldameer” means“ Woods by the Sea”. The admission-free park in Erie County offers 33 rides along with numerous covered picnic pavilions. The water park features 11 major slides; an Endless River; Heated Relaxing Pool and Tad Pool children’ s complex with 4 smaller slides, along with the recently opened wave pool that can accommodate 1,000 people.
Notable rides include Ravine Flyer II a wooden roller coaster, the Comet, a junior sized wooden roller coaster; Steel Dragon spinning wild mouse; X-Scream drop tower; Thunder River water flume and eight kiddie rides. Waldameer operates two classic dark attractions: the Whacky Shack( built in 1970), a two-story ride; and Pirates Cove( built in 1972), a walk-through funhouse. Both were designed and built by the re-nowned dark ride master Bill Tracy and his company, Amusement Display Associates of Cape May, N. J.
Altoona Curve baseball fans will see the lift hill of their other, larger and more aggressive Skyliner roller coaster, comprising the left side of the outfield wall. The park is home to nearly 30 other rides. More notable ones include the bumper cars; Lakemont Park Railroad; German Swings and paddle boats.
6. | EXPLORE PA 2017