Pennsylvania Amusement Parks...

Pennsylvania is home to a bunch of old fashioned, family owned amusement parks.

KNOEBELS
Location: Elysburg, PA
Distance: 4.5 hours
Opening date: Now open
New for 2008: Wipeout, a disorienting spin ride pictured to the right. Also, the Flying Turns wooden bobsled roller coaster now holds the distinction of being the most anticipated new ride of 2006, 2007 & 2008! The track on this prototype ride is mostly finished - the trains are what's being worked on now. The park is hopeful this one-of-a-kind ride will open this season.
Similar to: Unique and highly recommended for all ages! Free parking, free admission, very reasonable prices, some of the best wooden roller coasters in the country, and a gigantic variety of rides for kiddies & adults!


WALDAMEER PARK
Location: Erie, PA
Distance: 2 hours
Opening date: May 10th
New for 2008: Ravine Flyer II, another highly anticipated wooden roller coaster. It'll feature three giant drops, six tunnels, and ten cross-overs. Check out that 90-degree banked turn - this is going to be an amazing ride! Go on the virtual ride here. And ride the real thing starting May 17th! And then on May 24th, check out this exclusive ride session you could sign up for through WNYCC.
Similar to: A smaller Fantasy Island


KENNYWOOD
Location: West Mifflin, PA
Distance: 4 hours
Opening date: May 3rd
New for 2008: Ghostwood Estate, an eight-room haunted ride. There will be over 200 laser targets to aim at throughout the ride. And it'll be completely trackless and guided by a computer system.
Similar to: Canada’s Wonderland


DELGROSSO’S PARK
Location: Tipton, PA
Distance: 4 hours
Opening date: May 4th
Similar to: A small Fantasy Island


LAKEMONT PARK
Location: Altoona, PA
Distance: 4.5 hours
Opening date: May 17th
Similar to: Fantasy Island. Remember Roseland in Canandaigua? This is where the Roseland Skyliner wooden roller coaster now is. This is also the home of the world's oldest roller coaster, Leap-The-Dips (pictured).


IDLEWILD PARK
Location: Ligonier, PA
Distance: 4.5 hours
Opening date: May 22nd
New for 2008: Bigfoot's Mudslide - a three story tall, ninety foot long, three lane slide (which won't really be muddy).
Similar to: Fantasy Island. A unique feature of this park - it features Mister Rogers' Neighborhood of Make Believe, a life-size trolley ride through Mr. Rogers' world.


HERSHEYPARK
Location: Hershey, PA
Distance: 5.5 hours
Opening date: May 2nd
New for 2008: Fahrenheit, the park's 11th roller coaster, which features a 97-degree drop (the steepest in the US). Take a simulated ride here.
Similar to: Canada’s Wonderland


DORNEY PARK
Location: Allentown, PA
Distance: 5.5 hours
Opening date: May 3rd
New for 2008: Voodoo, an inverted shuttle coaster. It's kind of U-shaped with twisted track on one end. It was formerly Steel Venom at Geauga Lake.
Similar to: Darien Lake


SESAME PLACE
Location: Langhorne, PA
Distance: 6.5 hours
Opening date: May 3rd
New for 2008: Sunny Day Carousel.
Similar to: Unique. It’s an entire amusement park for kids based on Sesame Street!


CONNEAUT LAKE PARK
Location: Conneaut Lake, PA
Distance: 2.5 hours
Opening date: Things keep getting worse & worse for this park. In addition to the massive debt the park owes, an arsonist destroyed the park's historic Dreamland Ballroom recently and the abandoned Ultimate Trip ride building collapsed in on itself a few weeks ago. It'll be a miracle if Conneaut Lake Park manages to open this year. But the website is still being updated and there is some money coming in (a movie is filming at the park). So keep your fingers crossed - there's still hope.
Similar to: A smaller version of what Crystal Beach used to be.