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Parks find success, despite gas prices
Naomi Creason Reporter email
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Local theme park breakdown



Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom



Located in Allentown, the combined amusement park and water park features 26 rides, 18 water rides and 19 children’s rides on 200 acres. The park got national recognition in 1989 when it debuted a wooden roller coaster with a 151-foot drop, making it the biggest wooden roller coaster in the world.



Dorney Park continues to make dynamic coasters, including Steel Force, which is the longest, tallest and fastest roller coaster in the Northeast, reaching 75 mph, and the Talon, which is the longest, tallest inverted coaster in the Northeast. Another coaster, Hydra, is the first and only floorless sit-down roller coaster in Pennsyvlania.



Dutch Wonderland



Located in Lancaster, Dutch Wonderland is one of the premier amusement parks for children with 34 rides and attractions on 43 acres.



Hersheypark Entertainment & Resorts purchased Dutch Wonderland in 2001, but the park still gears much of its live entertainment for children, including the popular water show, “The Adventures of the Frog Prince,” where divers perform in the Herr’s Aqua Stadium.



Hersheypark



Located in Hershey and built by Milton S. Hershey in 1907 starting as a “picnic and pleasure grounds” for his chocolate company employees, the park is now 110 acres and offers more than 65 rides and attractions, including 11 roller coasters. The Joy Ride was the park’s first roller coaster in 1923.



Knoebels Amusement Resort and Campground



Located in Elysburg, the amusement park has been owned by the Knoebels family since 1926 and continues to focus on providing entertainment for the whole family.

The park is known for its Grand Carousel, one of the few antique ones left with hand-carved horses and old-time brass rings.

By Naomi Creason, Sentinel Reporter, July 18, 2008

Last updated: Wednesday, July 23, 2008 10:45 AM EDT

Some areas and attractions may be feeling the pinch when it comes to how many people are willing to make the drive for a summer vacation.

However, two Pennsylvania amusement parks seem to be doing just fine, if not better for the past few years.

For both Dutch Wonderland and Knoebels Amusement Resort and Campground, gas prices don’t seem to have much of an effect on attendance, largely because of where much of their attendees come from.

“We’re not seeing much of an impact here — we have a good regional draw,” Bethany Alwan, spokesperson for Dutch Wonderland in Lancaster, said.

“We still have people coming in from Philadelphia, New Jersey, Washington, D.C., and Baltimore. We’re kind of considered a one-tank getaway for them, so it hasn’t really been affecting us at all.”

Knoebels in Elysburg hasn’t had much trouble either in drawing Central Pennsylvania residents for the short-drive out.

“We don’t have exact numbers because we don’t have a gate, but the park is doing well and the campground is always full,” Joe Muscato, spokesperson for Knoebels, said.

While Muscato can’t say how many people are passing through the gates because the park has no admission or parking fee, he suspects that this may be another record-breaking year for the park.

“Our primary appeal is with residents within two or three hours,” Muscato said.

“We’re not a destination park like Orlando or Disney World or even Hersheypark. I’d say people are coming in solid numbers. Last year, we had record-breaking numbers and we had just perfect weather. The weather hasn’t been as perfect this year, but it’s been good, and we’re seeing just as many people as last year.”

Muscato found that some of the appeal Knoebels has had on area residents, even those from Cumberland County who are only two hours away, has a lot to do with the variety of things they can find at the park and what it allows them to do.

“We’ve always been a solid family park, and that has a bit to do with our free admission and free parking and free picnic areas,” Muscato said.

“The whole family can go together, including grandma and grandpa, and if they want to bring a picnic with them, we allow it and we encourage it.”