Park Experience
In the mountains of Pennsylvania about an hour north of Hershey is Knoebels Amusement Park. More than 75 years old, the park offers a feel of the traditional amusement parks. Admission to the park is free as is parking, the rides are pay per ride. For example, the larger rides ranged from $1.20 to $2.00 per ride. There's also the option to pay one price for unlimited rides. I chose to pay per ride and bought a $10 book of tickets and that was all I needed to ride the coasters. 
Grade: C+

Theming and Atmosphere
The park has a kind of "old school" carnival feel with rides plopped down everywhere. There are lots of trees remaining allowing for plenty of shade or shelter from rain. While the park did have more trees than modern theme parks, to its detriment it did not have the cleanest or most up to date bathroom facilities. There were also what looked like old residential homes throughout the park. I'm assuming Knoebels acquired more and more land as time went on, still they were somewhat of an eyesore. Still, on the lift hills you could see the beautiful Pennsylvania mountains were a nice backdrop. But if you don't care about scenery and are used to modern theme parks, you won't be too impressed with the parks old school atmosphere.
Grade: C-

Coaster Reviews
Whirlwind
Type: Steel Looping Coaster
Year Built: 1984
Moved to Knoebels: 1993
Length: 1200'
Height: 64'
Drop: 48'
Inversions: 2
The Whirlwind is an Arrow Steel Looping coaster that was probably quite impressive when it opened in 1984. Being Knoebels only steel ride it's the only coaster offering guests the opportunity to go upside down. The coaster features two corkscrews and some banked curves. The Whirlwind may be great as a warm up ride or for beginners, but by today's standards this ride was too short.
Grade: D

Twister
Type: Wooden Twister Roller Coaster
Year Built: 1999
Length: 3900'
Height: 101'
Drop: 89'
Speed: 51 mph
Duration: 2:10
The aptly named Twister is the epitome of a "Twister Roller Coaster". Like Roar at Six Flags America, Twister features highly banked curves. The layout is one of the most interesting I've experienced. The station is tucked snugly inside the tightly wrapped wooden coaster. Twister's exceptional layout includes two lift hills, two tunnels, and a cool double helix around the station. Quite an impressive little wooden gem at Knoebels and one of the best wooden roller coasters I've ever ridden.
Grade: A

Phoenix
Type: Wooden Roller Coaster
Year Built: 1985
Length: 3200'
Height: 78'
Drop: 72'
Speed: 45 mph
Duration: 2:00
The Phoenix has quite a reputation among Coaster Enthusiast. I've seen pictures, read the coaster's run of the mill stats, and even watched on ride video and I have to admit, prior to riding the Phoenix I wasn't too impressed. It looked pretty vanilla, but I couldn't have been more wrong. The only to true way to appreciate this coaster is to climb aboard a train and find out for yourself. The trains seem pretty normal, with an emblem of a Phoenix on the front car till you get ready to get buckled in. There's no belt buckle and the lap bar is a good 4 to 6 inches from your legs. Why? You ask. To accentuate the coaster's "nothing but airtime" layout. And by airtime I mean completely out of your seat at least 6 or 7 times. I guarantee you the screams you hear on the trains of this seemingly tame coaster are genuine, as riders fear that on the next dip they may be catapulted from the train. I can see why the Phoenix is so famous, it does a great job of finding the balance between scary and dangerous.
Grade: A

High Speed Thrill Coaster
Type: Steel Family Roller Coaster
Year Built: 1955
Length: 200'
Height: 18'
Drop: 12'
Like the Whirlwind the ridiculously named High Speed Thrill Coaster is very dated. Even so to the point that this coaster is mainly a kiddie ride or a family coaster. Maybe, the coasters name was accurate in 1955 but it looked like I could almost run as fast as the train was completing its small circuit. Anyway, I skipped this one, so I can't grade it which is probably a good thing. Knoebels might as well keep this ride around for families but they might want to rename it.
Grade: N/A

Haunted Mansion
Type: Dark Ride
Year Built: 1973
The Haunted Mansion is not a roller coaster, it's a great Dark Ride. Consistently rated among the best in the country and one trip through this haunted residence and the reason why is obvious. It's scary. About a third of the way through this fairly long ride I found myself clutching tightly to my equally terrified girlfriend. Being larger, it takes all of the best aspects from Morey's Piers dark rides and combines them. I don't want to give too much away, but as you would expect its dark and things jump out at you. At least one thing even touches you. The house has quite a bit of variety from ghosts to aliens, to weird haunting lights, and the usual Dark Ride fare. If I could grade the Haunted Mansion it'd get an A+, excellent ride.
Grade: N/A


Other Rides and Attractions: Knoebels has many other rides and attractions than it's two world class coasters. The best being the above mentioned, Haunted Mansion, Knoebels also has a log flume, Ferris wheel, boats, bumper boats, and more.
Grade: C

Knoebels Amusement Park
Final Grade C+