Knoebels Amusement Park in Pennsylvania:

Fulfilling a Christmas Promise

Knoebels Amusement Park in Pennsylvania is celebrating 100 years in 2026. It boasts that it is “America’s largest free-admission amusement Park” on its website. This is perfect for me, as I don’t particularly enjoy rides. I don’t like the jarring and jolting or the spinning.

But!

We promised our grandsons a trip to Knoebels to enjoy the rides. And grandparents never break a promise to their grandchildren. I think it is part of the by-laws of grandparenting somewhere.

Because the boys attended summer camp and our daughter worked during the week, we chose a glorious Saturday. In fact, the park was full of families. Yes! There were lines for a lot of the rides. It did not spoil the fun. The boys simply played with the other children in the lines.

Our daughter called the shots on what the boys, 5 and 7, could ride, along with the height requirements for certain rides at the park. Some of the rides for older kids, our grandsons could ride IF they were accompanied with an adult. This is the importance of having their young mother with us. She rode on the twirly rides with them.

However, we did need to allow time for our daughter to ride the big roller coasters. So, I was in charge of entertaining the boys. We rode the Carousel. I can do that one. And the Ferris Wheel. I enjoy the slower pace of these rides. Their circles are not too tightly made.

Our amusement park gift to the family included dinner. It was far easier to buy pizza—the boys’ favorite—and a HUGE pretzel to share. The only things they eat. And soda. A real treat for them!

Then, we needed time to digest before returning to the kids’ section that the boys enjoyed. We visited the Carousel Museum. It has a rooster, a giraffe, and a camel from carousels dating back to the 1900’s. Text and photos tell the fascinating history of the carousel.

The park includes music and outdoor shows. The boys were too excited about all the rides. They talked me into the Log Flume. I didn’t mind because it didn’t spin. But we did get drenched!

The boys enjoyed target practice in the “shooting gallery.” We had ice cream and kettle [pop] corn.

We considered everyone’s requests, as we walked this extensive amusement park. This is what families should do to make sure everyone has fun. We have always taken into consideration our children’s wishes when camping with five kids. Everyone in the family has a say in what they want to do.

Exhaustion laid heavily upon all of us as darkness came and the park closed. Our young grandsons did great!

So, how about you? Do you like amusement park rides? Let us know in the comments section of Camping with Five Kids. Then go enjoy a hike or walk in the fall. You’ll be glad you did.