Photo TR: Knoebels Phall Phunfest 2007

[DerekRx]

Every October, hundreds of coaster enthusiasts and craftoholics make their way to Elysburg, Pennsylvania for Knoebels' Phoenix Phall Phunfest (With a Twister) and Covered Bridge Festival. With lots of local crafts and food vendors mixing with the last hoorah of the season at Knoebels where they theme some things for the Halloween season, what's not to love! Every year there is one big question that runs through the minds of the Phunfesters, "what's the weather gonna be?!" From freezing temps, to mild autumn days, to hot, to hurricane rains, Phall Phunfest has seen it all. This year was unseasonably warm, which really didn't make it feel like it was quite time for the season to end, but alas, it did. But it sure beats the rain of 2 years prior thanks to one of the hurricanes. Onto the pictures until next year (when maybe the Flying Turns will be running with people)!

and a trainful of aggressive-handling riders take their last rides for the season on Twister. Until April!

and poor Twister just sits there by the pool and says "hey stupid people, I'm a good coaster too! If you're too much of a wuss to be able to ride me more than once, than I don't want you anyway!"

On Sunday, the line for Phoenix looks a lot different than the line did on Saturday night. And the coaster still rocked and delivered more airtime than every coaster in California put together

Two trains passing by each other on a circuit is much safer than two trains running head first into each other on the same track, but not nearly as cool looking

Murphy likes corn

Off with the crew on one of Knoebels 2 train rides

Someone thought the swings would be fun (I think it was me) and they were...for one ride

another old ride that is lots of fun and doesn't have painful restraints like most Huss and Chance things these days, the Satellite (a roll-o-plane)

Laterals capable of sending Nicole sideways once she breaks free

While it may look like a kiddie ride, this slide has super intense laterals

While we forgot to ride them the night before, the Flyers are a staple at Knoebels

Going back on Sunday for "hangover day" we find less crowds usually. And we found these eagles too, they said you should call your mother more often, seriously!

Always the ladies man, Heath ends the night with some Phoenix action with Ellen. Poor Adam

Less than a year old, Todd Long's little peep Brody makes his first appearance at PPP, which will become an annual tradition for him

Can't forget about Twister, which while being overshadowed by it's older brother Phoenix, still delivers a mean ride

as the sun sets, Phall Phunfest really starts up. But with the temperature still in the lower 70s, it sure doesn't feel like Phall

The Phoenix line grows, but still doesn't have a bad wait more than 15 minutes

Chuck seems to be enjoying his first trip to Knoebels and grabs some Cesari's Pizza, some of the best park pizza there is

PPP officially starts with the Haunted House, where you seem to run into everyone you've ever met!

Thanks to Nicole...I mean Heath...for preventing any cuddle time

later on, it was time to use up our included with PPP skyride tickets, where we got this nice, never before seen, view

Fresh from Germany, Andy and Annie started off their Eastcoast tour at Knoebels, so I showed them where to sit

Heath and Nicole seemed to make up and rode off in 1.3, one of the best places to experience the fury of Phoenix

Back in the park, we made our way to our beloved Phoenix, truly one of the greatest woodies that still deliver great rides filled with airtime and laterals and withstand the test of time thanks to the awesome maintenance of Knoebels staff

Oh! He was planning on paying Nicole back for throwing pine needles at him earlier. Looks like she got what she had coming to her

Heath was wifeless for this trip, but why is he hanging out by the girls bathroom. Doesn't he know this is a coaster event?!?

Her skills did manage to get her all the riding she'd need for the day though!

Nicole tried to seduce the FT crew into letting us ride with her pole dancing skills, but it didn't work. All she got was cold hands from the pole frozen over in ice

But they would only allow you to ride if you could breathe fire while re-enacting "The King and I" so there were no takers

so close, in fact, that they were cycling trains!

Heading into the park, we see the Flying Turns, still not operational, but getting darn well close!

A Pumpkin Rice Pudding Cone is definitely a good way to get ready for the season

After that, it's time for our second dessert, Rice Pudding in a cone! (hey, Heath is still in ACE, he NEEDS it in order to survive, and I'm still weening off)

Even the lactose intolerant will eat this stuff with Heath, it's THAT GOOD

Probably the best ice cream out there. In fact, it's so good, they can't sell it in stores! My personal favorite is the cinnamon caramel apple

We got there a little later than usual, stopping at Selins Grove Brewing for lunch first. But that just meant we could start out our Knoebels visit at the Covered Bridge Festival and get some Penn State Creamery Ice Cream for dessert

[Wood Dragon 1988]

I really want to go to the PPP, but just can't see myself waiting to ride Phoenix for that long.

[Jayjay719]

I love Knoebels! I went there for the first time this this summer and I had an absolute blast. Phoenix is one of my favorite wooden coasters, if not my top favorite. Great PTR Derek, even if a little late. Derek, we should get some people to meet up next season at Hershey, or somewhere!

[RaptorBoyASU]

^That line is still probably only 20 minutes with the way they pump people through.

 

I love PPP, and can't wait to go again next year. GReat TR Derek. It makes me miss it.

 

Is there any video out there of Flying Turns cycling? Well videos where you can actually see the cars, and not just hear them?

[niiicolaaah]

I really want to go to the PPP, but just can't see myself waiting to ride Phoenix for that long.

 

Have you been there? If so, you'll remember the queue for Phoenix doesn't have any switchbacks or anything... you go in the entrance, turn left and go up the entrance ramp, and you're in the station. A line all the way to the gift shop on the other end of the midway would take about 15 minutes to get through when they're running 2 trains.

[spaceace12]

I am going to this park in 08, even if I have to take vacation time of 09 just to go to it.

[cfc]

You know what makes that Penn State cinnamon-caramel-apple ice cream even better? A big ol' apple dumpling (preceded by chicken fries, of course).

 

Knoebel's is great--I'll definitely go to PPP again next year.

[crazyrider06]

Nice Pictures Derek. I went to knoebls for the first time this year and as jayjay said we all really enjoyed it. We will definitely be returning next year and possibly for PPP.