[FlJoePa]

One of the greatest places on earth, imo. Free admission, parking. Family friendly, fantastic inexpensive food. Great coasters. Best bumper cars in the world. Best haunted house ride anywhere. And on the Grand Carousel, you can still grab for the brass ring (to win a free ride). Everything is meticulously maintained.

If anyone is ever in the area - especially with kids - go to Knoebels. Family owned since 1926 and still holds to the values that made it what it has always been. Awesomeness.

[tired&retired]

I pulled a heck of a lot of those rings from that same ride. Grew up only a few minutes from there and took my children there often.

Unbelievable how fast they recover from the severe floods!

Hard to find a free admission park that big and that great.

[free-in-nyc]

Knoebels has been recommended to us by friends for all of the reasons you mention - they describe it as a classic family amusement park. Thanks for this - need to make a trip there!

[knarf]

It seems in the early part of the 1900's, a lot of German type people came here and opened family amusement parks,

Not the screaming monster roller coasters ... but the milder caterpillers and ferris wheel types.

In the Boston area was Norumbega Park .. I think they were Norwegian.

Those were gentler and happy times in America.

[ShasheMac]

When I lived in PA, I loved Knoebel’s, although I only got there a few times. The only park I liked better was little Lakemont in Altoona, simply because I had such fond memories of going there as a kid with my family when we visited my grandparents in nearby Roaring Spring.

[TLEIBY308]

Yep nice place. I grew up a mile from there. I hunt the hills surrounding the park to this day.

[chickenlips]

Thanks for the post, I would love to visit the park and see the carousel.

The Dentzel Carousel at Glen Echo Park in Glen Echo, MD is awesome too. The air driven music machine is fascinating.

Glen Echo Park is next to the Clara Barton House and near the C&O Canal. The carousel is the only remaining ride at the park, unfortunately.

http://www.glenechopark.org/dentzel-carousel

[chickenlips]

Thanks for the post, I would love to visit the park and see the carousel.

The Dentzel Carousel at Glen Echo Park in Glen Echo, MD is awesome too. The air driven music machine is fascinating.

Glen Echo Park is next to the Clara Barton House and near the C&O Canal. The carousel is the only remaining ride at the park, unfortunately.

http://www.glenechopark.org/dentzel-carousel

[Some Fat Guy in L.A.]

The one at Kennywood is older, I think.