Nearly 100 years later, beloved amusement park still refuses to charge admission

[libertybele]

Nearly 100 years later, beloved amusement park still refuses to charge admission

In an era of pricey theme parks and gated admission, one Pennsylvania amusement park is still letting guests in for free.

Knoebels Amusement Resort in Elysburg, Pennsylvania, has been admission-free since it opened nearly a century ago.

Knoebels opened its doors on July 4, 1926 — and will celebrate its 100th anniversary this year, as the nation celebrates America's semiquincentennial.

Many of the earliest amusement parks in the late 19th and early 20th centuries operated without admission fees, especially so-called "trolley parks," which made money from charging guests for rides, food and drink.

Park owner Brian Knoebel, 52, recently told PA Local he had to "had to pinky-swear" to never change the free-admission model.........

https://www.foxnews.com/travel/nearly-100-years-later-beloved-amusement-park-still-refuses-charge-admission

[berdie]

Kudos to them! I'm impressed.

I used to love the State Fair and went several times while they were open. I haven't been in 12-15 years, but the last time I went it was $15 to park and $15 admission. Heck...that's $30 bucks before you even walk on the grounds, buy food and ride the rides. I don't know what it is now.

I can't imagine how a family can take their kids. And that's really sad.

[mountaineer]

Sounds like a great place to visit. I may have to find some excuse to travel to the Harrisburg area.
https://knoebels.com/?v=0b3b97fa6688

[massadvj]

Knoebel's is great family fun. Although the park charges for food and rides, the prices are very reasonable. The place even has a lot of free picnic tables, so people can bring their own food.

[libertybele]

Sounds like a great place to visit. I may have to find some excuse to travel to the Harrisburg area.
https://knoebels.com/?v=0b3b97fa6688

The base admission cost into Disney is about $109 for two days or $219 day.  As a note; the original cost of admission to Disney was $1.00.

[libertybele]

Knoebel's is great family fun. Although the park charges for food and rides, the prices are very reasonable. The place even has a lot of free picnic tables, so people can bring their own food.

Thanks for further insight.  I at first thought that the amusement park was free.       Free picnic tables?  I didn't realize places charged to use picnic tables (it's been awhile since we've been to an amusement park).

[libertybele]

Kudos to them! I'm impressed.

I used to love the State Fair and went several times while they were open. I haven't been in 12-15 years, but the last time I went it was $15 to park and $15 admission. Heck...that's $30 bucks before you even walk on the grounds, buy food and ride the rides. I don't know what it is now.

I can't imagine how a family can take their kids. And that's really sad.

It is sad.  If our kids were younger there's no way we could afford Disney these days.  We were fortunate enough before we moved to FL we visited Disney, Epcot, Adventure Island, Universal, Busch Gardens, when it was affordable for us.  It's funny after we moved to FL, we tired of the theme park scene and saved up money to spend a few weeks out west to the Canyonlands.  IMO a much better time -- the kids were in their teens and loved the mountains and peacefulness.  When my son married, he went back to the mountains for his honeymoon.

[massadvj]

Thanks for further insight.  I at first thought that the amusement park was free.       Free picnic tables?  I didn't realize places charged to use picnic tables (it's been awhile since we've been to an amusement park).

Most parks have tables, but they don't let you bring food in. Knoebel's also has barbecues.

[mountaineer]

Meanwhile, at another Pennsylvania amusement park:

Dozens of kids and teenagers have been charged in connection with a brawl at Hersheypark on opening day, months after the incident.

Fifty-five kids and young adults between the ages of 12 and 19 are facing various charges like simple assault, conspiracy, theft, failure to disperse, disorderly conduct, aggravated assault and riot, the Derry Township Police Department announced on Monday. Out of those charged, two are 18 and one is 19.

Derry Township police said officers were called in to help security personnel at Hersheypark around 7 p.m. on April 3. Security reported fights between groups of several teenagers inside the park, and police said a quick response helped break everything up. Three people were initially arrested, and several others were ejected, police said. ...

KDKA via MSN News

[Fishrrman]

Knoebel's is far from any large cities, down on the edge the Pennsylvania "coal country" (as my friend from Beaver Springs used to describe the area).

Closest city of any size is Bloomsburg, and even that's not too big. Actually a very nice town.

No interstates go there, or anywhere near. Just winding two-lane roads.
Probably not much in the way of "public transportation", either. If any at all.

THAT'S why it remains a nice place to visit...

[Smokin Joe]

It is sad.  If our kids were younger there's no way we could afford Disney these days.  We were fortunate enough before we moved to FL we visited Disney, Epcot, Adventure Island, Universal, Busch Gardens, when it was affordable for us.  It's funny after we moved to FL, we tired of the theme park scene and saved up money to spend a few weeks out west to the Canyonlands.  IMO a much better time -- the kids were in their teens and loved the mountains and peacefulness.  When my son married, he went back to the mountains for his honeymoon.

Canyonlands? Near Moab, Utah? Beautiful country.

[the OlLine Rebel]

KNOEBELS IS FANTASTIC!

Wish we knew of it in Maryland as a kid.  Didn’t find out until I was like 30.  We went as an entire family to Hershey a lot…and our family was from Baltimore to Cumberland in the west.  Nobody knew about this county-fair like place with free parking and walk-in pay-as-you-go venue!

[the OlLine Rebel]

Knoebel's is far from any large cities, down on the edge the Pennsylvania "coal country" (as my friend from Beaver Springs used to describe the area).

Closest city of any size is Bloomsburg, and even that's not too big. Actually a very nice town.

No interstates go there, or anywhere near. Just winding two-lane roads.
Probably not much in the way of "public transportation", either. If any at all.

THAT'S why it remains a nice place to visit...

I-80 is not far from Danville, where the Geisinger hospital complex is, and Danville is around the corner from Knoebel’s.

I agree it’s out of the way enough, but it’s not hugely far.  But the back-country aspect may be why we didn’t know of it for decades…even though it’s only about 1-1/2 hours from Hershey, where my extended family went plenty.

Then after we heard of it and went a few times (mom’s hairdresser told her of it), I meet my husband who knew all about it being from central (literal) PA.  And told us how to pronounce it right.