Phoenix — Attraction in Ralpho Township

This amazing classic wooden coaster is both my favorite ride in the park and one of the most impressive preservation success stories for a ride ever. Phoenix was originally built in San Antonio, Texas in 1947 as the Rocket, where it gained legendary status. It operated there for over 30 years until the park closed in 1980, and it sat for almost 5 years. In 1984, Knoebels was looking for a new ride, and they made the journey out to San Antonio in the hopes that the Rocket was in good enough condition to buy and bring home. What they found was a ride that, while in disrepair, had rock-solid bones and could be brought back to operable condition. They spent the entirety of the winter of 1984 and spring of 1985 painstakingly transporting every part of the wooden track and structure safely over 1,500 miles back to the park, and rebuilt it completely in time to open it in June 1985.

Phoenix is to this day one of the best preserved classic wooden coasters out there, and one of my favorite wooden coasters ever. It provides a nice smooth ride with lots and lots of “airtime” (out of your seat moments). I always come off of this ride smiling and laughing, and I find it always surprises me. Perfectly preserved piece of amusement history, and amazing fun for the...

While Phoenix at Knoebels cannot deliver the extreme thrills of El Toro or Outlaw Run, its famously minimal restraints allow it to deliver more airtime than not just El Toro or Outlaw Run, but any steel hyper coaster. Additionally, Knoebels runs this well, so you won't wait for Phoenix as nearly as long as you would wait for those rides. In short, this is an excellent wooden coaster, especially for its age, and I strongly...

The Phoenix wooden roller coaster is hands down the best roller coaster out there. It puts the newer metal coasters at big parks to shame. The Phoenix is a classic wooden coaster that delivers non-stop thrills, lifting you out of your seat multiple times throughout the ride. It’s fast, smooth for a wooden coaster, and has that perfect mix of excitement and nostalgia. I absolutely love it and ride it every...