Knoebels in the News

Black Diamond information

The construction of the Black Diamond is well under way.
The Eagles have been relocated just to the right of site.
The Golden Nugget Mine Ride opened in July 1960 at Morey's Piers on the newly constructed ocean side section of Hunt's Pier. The Golden Nugget was built three stories high with the top floor giving riders a mine car ride through the "desert." The coaster was specially constructed for Hunt's Pier by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company and was engineered by John C. Allen. Bill Tracy designed the ride’s western theme pieces through his Amusement Display company. On December 11, 2008, Morey's Piers announced that the Golden Nugget would be demolished and that they would have a ceremony for the Golden Nugget on Saturday, January 31. On Jan 26, 2009 it was publicly announced that Knoebels' Amusement Resort had purchased the Golden Nugget track and trains from Morey's Piers. The Coaster will be modified and rebuilt on the location where the park's current Bald Eagle habitat resides. The ride will begin construction after a new habitat has been built for the eagles, which will most likely be after the Flying Turns is finished and opened.

Barbara Knoebel passes

Published: November 30, 2009 Standard Speaker
Nov. 27, 2009
Barbara Ellen Cook Knoebel passed into the Lord's eternal peace Friday at the age of 66. She died peacefully at her home at 206 Knoebels Blvd., Elysburg, with her family by her side. Born May 3, 1943, in Lykens, Barbara was the daughter of the late Charles and Elizabeth Dietrick Cook. She was a 1961 graduate of Lykens High School and furthered her education at Polyclinic Hospital, becoming a licensed practical nurse. Barbara married Richard Knoebel on Feb. 10, 1968, a marriage that lasted until her death, a span of more than 41 years. They are the parents of two sons, Richard A. Knoebel and his wife, Dawn, Catawissa; and Brian L. Knoebel and his wife, Dawna, Elysburg. As a young woman she had been a member of a Lutheran church in Lykes, where she taught Sunday school for many years and sung in the choir. Barbara presently was a member of Elysburg Presbyterian Church. She was an active member of the Order of the Eastern Star having served as Worthy Matron of Iris Chapter 306, Shamokin. She held the statewide office of Grand Adah during 1984-85 and traveled throughout Pennsylvania in this capacity. She was also active in the Pennsylvania Amusement Parks Association and the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions. She served on several IAAPA committees, most notably, the original Hall of Fame Committee. She had served 12 years on the Bloomsburg University Foundation Board of Trustees, of which she was very proud to have been a part. At Knoebels Amusement Resort, Barbara was an important member of the family business. She worked side by side with Dick serving as manager of the park office and group sales manager. In the latter capacity, she assisted groups in planning outings and arranged catered meals for thousands of guests each season. In September, Dick and Barbara traveled to California, where Amusement Today, an industry publication, honored them with the Golden Ticket award as industry Persons of the Year for 2009. In addition to her husband and sons, she is survived by four granddaughters, Haley, Hannah, Abigail and Ashley. She is also survived by a brother, Walter Cook and his wife, Mary Kay, Gowen City; sister-in-law, Ruth Cook, Elysburg; brother-in-law, Ronald Knoebel and his wife, Debbie, and his family, Elysburg; and sister-in-law, Leanna Knoebel Muscato and her husband, Joseph, and her family, Riverside. In addition to her parents, Barbara was preceded in death by brothers, Charles (Boom) Cook and Donald Cook.
A funeral service will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. from Elysburg Presbyterian Church, 44 W. Valley Ave., Elysburg, with the Rev. Matthew Young, her pastor, officiating. Burial will be in All Saints Cemetery, Elysburg. Visitation will be held Friday from 5 to 8 p.m., and Saturday at 9 a.m. until the time of the service at the church. Contributions in her memory may be made to Give Kids the World, Attn: Development, 210 S. Bass Road., Kissimmee, FL 34746. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Allen R. Horne Funeral Home, 193 McIntyre Road, Catawissa.

Knoebels owner, wife, honored for bettering amusement resort while hurdling personal obstacles

By Rob Wheary (Staff Writer rob_w@newsitem.com)
Published: September 15, 2009 from http://www.newsitems.com

ELYSBURG - It's common for Knoebels Amusement Resort to win its share of accolades as part of Amusement Today's annual "Golden Ticket Awards." Such was the case for the latest round of tributes from the industry publication, for which Knoebels won second in the "Best Park" category, among others, in national voting. Still, the awards presentation held over Labor Day weekend at Legoland Amusement Park in Carlsbad, Calif., was more personal for the Knoebel family this year. In an announcement that took the local couple by surprise, Dick and Barbara Knoebel were named Amusement Today's Persons of the Year, and they were greeted with thunderous applause and a standing ovation from their amusement park peers when called to the stage to accept the honor. They were also duped - with good reason, of course - by their sons in getting to California in the first place. "Barbara and I were dumbstruck, humbled and awed," Dick Knoebel said Monday in recounting the moment. The honor paid tribute to not only the Knoebels' well-regarded efforts to keep their Elysburg amusement resort among the best in the nation, but also their determination to overcome recent personal struggles that have challenged their lives.

The set-up Dick Knoebel, president and co-general manager of Knoebels along with his brother, Ron "Buddy" Knoebel, said he and Barbara had no plans to attend the Golden Tickets this year. It's common for Knoebels to be represented by different members of the family or staff. Shortly before Labor Day weekend, however, their sons' Rick and Brian, told them to drop their plans to vacation at a friend's beach house in Ocean City, N.J., and head west instead. "They told us we were going to the awards in California," Knoebel said. Though not yet suspicious, they would get another surprise once in California. Dick Knoebel described how he was trying to get in touch with Rick to discuss a piece of equipment for the park. "I discussed this equipment with Rick before and wanted to talk to him about it while I was looking at it," he said. "But I called his cell phone and he didn't answer; then I called his house. His wife was stammering and trying to come up with an answer." Finally, she told him that Rick - and Brian - were in California with them. Two days later at the awards dinner, still unaware of the "Persons of the Year" distinction, Knoebel happily accepted awards for best carousel and best food. Discussing the latter, he said he used his common refrain in addressing the crowd: "The food has to be good, I eat here."

'Talking about us' Knoebel recalled how, at the end of the ceremony, Amusement Today publisher Gary Spade was on stage to announce the "Person of the Year Award." As he spoke, all the weird happenings came into focus. "About halfway through, we realized he was talking about us," Knoebel said. In addition to the standing ovation, the Knoebels received well wishes from a number of attendees after the ceremony. In the magazine, Slade wrote about the couple, saying: "Some things were just made to go together, and sometimes those matching bookends can be found in the people behind the scenes, running an amusement park. "Such is the case for Dick and Barbara Knoebel. Two people made for one another. Two people who not only work 100-hour weeks to keep the Knoebels Amusement Resort in Elysburg, Pa. running in tip-top shape, but recently battled the odds to keep each other running in tip-top shape. "In the spring of 2008, Barbara was diagnosed with cancer and many tests later was found to have cancerous spots in four other parts of her body. Chemotherapy led to many complications that left her ill, mentally exhausted and completely drained. With Dick by her side every step of the way, Barbara underwent radiation therapy and later a completely different kind of chemo. Through all this she managed to read the staffing sheets for catering, the schedules for ticket sellers and correspondence with suppliers. Although she is not cancer free, her most recent CAT scan did not show cancer in two of the previous areas. Great news! "During the winter months, Dick fell down an ice-covered stairway and broke his ankle. Refusing a cast, he opted for a bandage and crutches so he could continue his duties at the park and his duties at home with Barbara. Dick and Barbara Knoebel are a match made for one another and Amusement Today's selection as our 2009 Persons of the Year."

Credit to staff In addition to the Persons of the Year and second in "Best Park," Knoebels won fourth in "Friendliest Park," third in "Best Dark Ride" and third for "Best Halloween Event." The Phoenix finished fourth in balloting for the top 50 wooden rollercoasters. For all of the attention paid to the park and the Knoebel family, Dick Knoebel was quick to pass credit onto others. "We are always honored to receive the awards, and know that none of them would be possible without the assistance of our staff," he said.

• Official Park Map
• Official Campground Map

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