Pennsylvania Amusement Parks...

Pennsylvania is home to a bunch of old fashioned, family owned amusement parks. I'll be spending a lot of time in Pennsylvania this summer!

KNOEBELS
Location: Elysburg, PA
Distance: 4.5 hours
Opening date: Now open
New for 2009: Flying Turns - the most anticipated ride of 2007 & 2008 has now become the most anticipated ride of 2009. It's a prototype and the park wants to make sure it's perfect before opening it. The park is hoping to open the ride sometime this summer, but can't guarantee that (see their explanation here). A new kiddie ride will also open this year - Goin' Buggy. Gone from the park is the kiddie High Speed Thrill Coaster, but it'll be replaced by a similar coaster this year.
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 9th
New for 2009: Mega Disk'O. You know this is a good ride when two parks so close together get one! I can't wait to try both of them to see who runs theirs better (and by better I mean more insane - I want ludicrous speed)!
Similar to: A smaller Fantasy Island


CONNEAUT LAKE PARK
Location: Conneaut Lake, PA
Distance: 2.5 hours
Opening date: May 22nd. These are the rides scheduled to be open: Paratrooper, Flying Scooter, Tilt-A-Whirl, Tumblebug, Skydiver, the Carousel, and the Kiddieland rides. Other rides will open later in the season and the Blue Streak roller coaster will open again in 2010.
New for 2009: Skydiver.
Similar to: A smaller version of what Crystal Beach used to be.
Note: A few scenes in the upcoming movie The Road were filmed at this park.


KENNYWOOD
Location: West Mifflin, PA
Distance: 4 hours
Opening date: May 2nd
Returning for 2009: Bayern Kurve. After leaving the park in 2004, guests have been asking for it to be returned. Kennywood listened and brought it back this year! It's kind of like a tilted roller coaster that just goes around a very tight circle at a very fast speed.
Similar to: Canada’s Wonderland
Note: Even though the recent Adventureland movie is loosely based on Long Island's Adventureland, it was filmed mostly at Kennywood.


DELGROSSO’S PARK
Location: Tipton, PA
Distance: 4 hours
Opening date: May 9th
New for 2009: Pharaoh's Fury (a Pirate ride), Yo-Yo, and kiddie ride Dizzy Dragons.
Similar to: A small Fantasy Island.

LAKEMONT PARK
Location: Altoona, PA
Distance: 4.5 hours
Opening date: May 16th
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.


IDLEWILD PARK
Location: Ligonier, PA
Distance: 4.5 hours
Opening date: May 21st
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: Now open
New for 2009: The Boardwalk - The SEAquel will include The Shore (a wave pool) & Intercoastal Waterway Boardwalk (a 1300 foot long lazy river). Both are scheduled to open May 23rd. The picture is from March 27th. Click on the image to see an update.
Similar to: Canada’s Wonderland


DORNEY PARK
Location: Allentown, PA
Distance: 5.5 hours
Opening date: May 2nd
New for 2009: A new name for their 2008 coaster - VooDoo will be renamed Possessed. The Laser roller coaster has been removed.
Similar to: Darien Lake


SESAME PLACE
Location: Langhorne, PA
Distance: 6.5 hours
Opening date: May 2nd
New for 2009: The Count's Splash Castle - a multi-level waterplay castle (see the website for pictures).
Similar to: Unique. It’s an entire amusement park for kids based on Sesame Street!