PTR: Knoebels, June 5th

[Schmoofy]

Today, June 5th 2008, was my first visit to Knoebels for the 2008 season. I can safely say that once again, Knoebels has worn me down. After riding each row on The Phoenix and soaking down people, I was wiped out. Speaking of being 'wiped out', Knoebels has a new flat ride for this year, named Wipeout. It looked like loads of fun, but I wasn't able to ride it, which I'll tell more of in the pictures. The Haunted House also has a new effect, and still being afraid of the attraction, I asked a friend what it is. More on that in the pictures as well. Overall, it was a great day, I can never complain about anything at Knoebels...except today. They removed Moxie from the cooler in their front store. Maybe I was the only one who purchased Moxie from there, but I was very mad when I discovered a cooler in without Moxie.

 

This post will contain my basic park pictures, including my 'story' of the day, as will my second and possibly third post. Another post will contain all of the pictures I took of Flying Turns. I also have a video that takes you on a tour of the construction site of Flying Turns, which I will upload at a later date.

How did this slip in here? Flying Turns pictures included in a later post, including pictures of 5 different cars. More Knoebels pictures next post..

The color scheme is nice. There, I said it again.

"Can you please just let me on to take video?" "Who are you? Go away, the ride's closed!" >:[

Well, it looks like Knoebels didn't buy Wipeout new.

After I was done riding The Phoenix I went over to Wipeout. I was hoping to ride at least once today, too bad the ride was down all day except when I first took pictures. Maybe I have a cursed camera now?

I rode a total of 12 times, once in each row. Row 3 and row 11 are by far the best, in my opinion. 3 has lots of forces and airtime, 11 is smooth with the same airtime.

Back to the Phoenix to grab the rest of my rides for the day. Yellow train was running, the orange was begging to be ran.

I rode four times, and then took a break. While walking around I found this. What the hell?

I think I will, in each row.

What mysteries lie inside the dark tunnel...

Happy people exiting The Phoenix.

Camera stuck through fence = decent picture.

Bottom of the lift hill structure where the antique cars hit the end of their track.

Phoenix: Coming out of the trees!

It's a bit nerve-wrecking waiting to ride.

The pendulum swings very close to the queue.

Fandango is still running in its 'head chopping' glory.

Yet again, no train...

I looked up from that previous picture and saw the Phoenix, I couldn't resist...or wait for a train to come by, I'm not that nerdy...

The color scheme is nice, I'll admit.

Wipeout, through the trees!

They wouldn't let me on alone (curse you, no single riders!), and there was nobody in sight to even try to coax into riding with me, so I figured I'd find someone to ride with later.

The background looks faded, yet decent. Really doesn't fit in with the lights above it though.

With the Phoenix right behind it, this attraction can't suck!

I believe the name for this ride in RCT3 is 'Starfish', though I could be wrong.

It's Wipeout! Knoebels' new attraction for this year. A bit of a coincidence that they open this ride around the time that a show named Wipeout is starting to air, heh?

I headed over to Flying Turns to get some pictures next, but I'm saving them for a later post. I then headed over to Fandango...but what's that behind the trees?

1001 Nacht received a new paint job for this year, it looks very nice.

The Skloosh was operating upon my arrival to the park, found it a good opportunity to snap a picture.

[Schmoofy]

More pictures from my day at Knoebels. Enjoy.

Do not miss the Cosmotron if you do go to Knoebels. Flying Turns pictures in a bit...

Flyers enthusiasts take note.

Whoever said 'The Twister is for the birds!' may just be right...

Through the trees!

So nobody complains that The Twister didn't get any love.

Looks like it needs an update.

The Haunted House. My friend told me the new effect is near the lift hill, and that it is a witch that shoots a ring of smoke at you. Sounds neat.

This building doesn't look too safe, there's about 4 feet over the side here.

I really like how the water flows from under this building.

The XD theater and Blasteroid weren't open, I really wanted to shoot some targets too.

Their DDR machine is set to Japanese scoring, miss three notes in a row and fail out. I didn't bother playing this time.

I still prefer a coke slushie.

Top Speed Thrill Coaster still packs a punch for being a kiddie coaster.

Since pictures don't move, you can't see all of the kinetics in this picture.

Did I mention that many shops were closed?

"How would I even get on it to sit down without climbing on it?"

I love my camera

Lift hill enthusiasts take note.

I really like this perspective.

After eating, I went behind the Skloosh's drop to snap a picture or two.

Being out of quarters, I headed back to the pavilion to eat my lunch. It was pretty good, despite the meager look to it.

Bahahahahahaha!

Perfect!

By the time I got done messing around it was lunch time. I headed over to the International Food Court to get a buffalo chicken sandwich. $4.75 you say? That gives me..

Dammit, all out of quarters.

It's all about the reaction, just look at that face.

This really never gets old.

Some kid jumped in on the '1' blaster, can't complain about that.

No reaction, he must not be human.

Hope you didn't plan on staying dry!

Enjoy your water!

Haha!

Wonder what damage I can do with these babies...

Insert a quarter and...BOOM!

..I see a '2' out there near the Log Flume track...

What is it you ask? Well, I see a '2' on it...

After riding The Phoenix a dozen times, I thought it was time to blow some money away. What better place to do it than this machine?

[Schmoofy]

Flying Turns is coming along nicely, I really can't wait to ride. I'll let the pictures do the talking.

It's a resting beauty. Can't wait to ride Flying Turns when it does open. Thanks for reading!

The exit to the attraction, very close to Looper.

The first lift hill into the first helix.

The final brake run and a view of that webcam that some of you have checked out.

Operator's booth.

The entry of the queue.

It pumps you up for an experience that you can't have yet.

I like the piece of track above the entry.

Flying Turns hasn't gone to the birds, or has it?

The station and final brake run have been covered in metal that resembles a hangar.

Lift hill wheel, porn for some people.

This really is a massive structure.

The third and final lift hill.

Some more turns can't hurt Flying Turns.

Strut your stuff, ladies!

And the last is made of 'normal' wood in a vertical direction, this one looks the most normal of all the cars.

Many pieces of slender wood make up this one.

Plywood was what the next is made of.

The next was made of blocks of wood.

There were 5 cars on the brake run, each different. The first was made of planks of wood that were horizontally placed.

I love how there is a tree growing right in the middle of the ride.

The brake run is rather long for this ride, but it is needed to return the trains back to the station.

You can definitely see ware and tare on the track, testing the trains I am hoping?

Yup, it's a brake run alright.

This part straightens out the train before it hits the brake run.

Last helix before the brake run, looking at me through the trees.

Not one bit moved, I should probably compare pictures from last year with this two.

It looks like nothing has moved since last season.

The helix up to the brake run, also massive.

Close-up of the transfer track.

Creative solution.

There's a partial transfer track right before the main lift hill.

The bottom part is where the car will exit and start up the main lift.

More of the first helix.

Through the trees, yatta yatta yatta. I really doubt the possibility to get a picture of something at Knoebels without including a tree.

The first helix. This thing really is massive.

The station really does look nice.

An overview of Flying Turns.

I have no idea what this piece is at the top of the first lift for, it resembles a transfer track.

[Reality15]

Nice pictures! I haven't been to Knoebel's since '05, and I keep saying the year they actually open the Turns I'm headed back. Looks like that won't be this year.

[Jim S.]

The two short pieces that look like transfer tracks are switches to let the trains roll on and off of the storage track. The storage track is going to be around the outside of the helix. Since one end is going to be higher than the other end, I don't know how that's going to work out. There must not have been enough room to put a full-length transfer track next to the station, not to mention that there are going to be three trains, whenever they get around to it.

[tnguy]

Very nice! I always love Knoebels trip reports. One day I will find a reason to get out there.

 

Oh and I didn't know anybody liked moxie. Sorry to hear about you disappointment.

[dr.gumbo]

I never get tired of Knoebel photos, its such an interesting park. Thanks for the TR.

 

(I can't beleive Flying Turns isn't finished yet)

[handy-andy]

The flying turns looks like a great ride, hopefuly they will open the thing soon!

[thrillseaker92]

Ill bet anything that this wipe out came from the old Myrtle Beach Pavilion. P.S. Great TR.

[gldude]

I apologize for my pessimism but I never think this ride will actually open. Its in its third year of construction and it just doesn't seem to be getting anywhere. I think it is doomed to be another Orphan Rocker, the roller coaster built at Scenic World in Australia that was built in 1988 but it never worked out, except I think Knoebels will tear it down eventually.

[mike541x]

Very nice pictures. I have to agree, blasting people with water cannons on water rides are fun.

[307]

The water cannon photos were great! I loved the 25 cent change + accompanying water cannon soakage photo, very nice!

 

And Flying Turns kind of looks terrifying - especially with those cars. Are those seriously going to be the cars?!

[Schmoofy]

Oh and I didn't know anybody liked moxie. Sorry to hear about you disappointment.

More reason to resist the urge to buy myself a few more cases of it.

 

I think it is doomed to be another Orphan Rocker, the roller coaster built at Scenic World in Australia that was built in 1988 but it never worked out, except I think Knoebels will tear it down eventually.

I really hope not, although the ride has been a 'money pit' for the Knoebels family, I hear. If they never get the trains to work, I'm sure they can enclose the structure and ice it down, use cheap plastic sleds to give guests their ride.

 

Very nice pictures. I have to agree, blasting people with water cannons on water rides are fun.

It was one of the highlights of the day, really allowed me to blow off some steam.

 

And Flying Turns kind of looks terrifying - especially with those cars. Are those seriously going to be the cars?!

I haven't a clue, last I heard was that the trains and cars needed to be redesigned and that is where construction stands.

[Primogen18]

Money pit? They built it themselves, and they knew what they were getting into dealing with older and strange technology. The trains were known to be a bit of a challenge, which is what is taking so long. I don't think they would ever build something such as this only to "taer it down", especially after putting so much work and pride into it. It's a work of art and craftsmanship that I can't see being left to collect dust never to be opened.

 

Great pics and TR btw.

[Jim S.]

Someone who claims to work at the park left a note on my YouTube video from the last PPP saying that he had heard that it would be open in July, maybe for the 4th. But he didn't believe it because there was no work being done on it.

 

I do wonder though if the reason that they're no longer testing it is because they've decided on a final train design and are just waiting for it to be fabricated. It seems too much to hope for, but nothing else really makes sense.

[Kennyweird]

I really hope Flying Turns opens soon. Why can't they use the original designs to build the trains? Are they too unsafe?

 

^ BTW, happy birthday!