With only two major roller coasters (and one kiddie one), Knoebels Amusement Resort is definitely a coaster lightweight compared to Hersheypark and Dorney Park. However, what Knoebels lacks in quantity they make up for in quality--Knoebels' two wooden coasters, the Phoenix and the Twister, are spectacular rides. Fans of Knoebels' coasters should be excited to know that the park is in the process of adding two new coasters to the park--but not without some drama. One coaster seems to be on schedule, while a completion date for the other coaster is very much up in the air--if it ever opens at all.
Black Diamond
The Black Diamond has been under construction for a few months now, and looks to be a cross between a dark ride (like their famous Haunted House), a mine car ride (with a Western theme) and a Wild Mouse-style coaster. Interestingly, this is another relocation project similar to the Phoenix (albeit on a much smaller scale). The Black Diamond was formerly the Golden Nugget at Morey's Piers amusement park in Wildwood, New Jersey. In 2008, Morey's Piers announced they were taking the coaster down, and soon afterward, Knoebels bought the ride's tracks and trains. Knoebels is now in the process of reconstructing the ride. I visited the park last month and saw the building where the ride will be located well under construction. Recent pictures on Knoebels' official Facebook page show that the track is now being laid out inside the building. The Black Diamond construction seems to progressing well on schedule and looks to be a very exciting ride!
Flying Turns
The Flying Turns is a bobsled coaster that is modeled on old coasters that used to be prevalent in the 1920s. Any bobsled coaster (which is a coaster that has a pipe-shaped track) in operation today is made of steel; however, Knoebels decided to be daring and build their coaster out of wood, like the bobsled coasters of yore. The old wooden bobsled coasters existed in a time when safety restrictions at amusement parks were much more lax than they are today, and since these old wooden bobsled coasters are not around anymore, it's been pretty hard for Knoebels to complete their ride since they have no "working models" to compare it to. Construction began on Flying Turns in 2006. In 2007, the track was completed and test runs began. However, the ride did not pass these safety tests. Not many specifics are known about the test runs, but it is commonly speculated that the trains were moving too fast on the track. Knoebels has said the problem was with the wheels on the trains, and they were working on designing new wheels for the ride. The last official statement I have seen from Knoebels is from their web site in 2009. (If anyone knows if the park has said anything regarding Flying Turns more recently, please let me know.) The statement claims that Knoebels is trying hard to open Flying Turns. But now, a year later--and four years since construction on the coaster began-- Flying Turns sits quiet and still, with no updates on when it will open--if it ever does.
The Verdict
The Black Diamond sounds like it's going to be a great ride that should open on time for the 2011 season. As for Flying Turns, I believe that Knoebels bit off more than they could chew when they built this ride. Wooden bobsled coasters are defunct for a reason--they weren't 100% safe. It's great that Knoebels is working so hard to bring back a classic style of coaster, but maybe this type of coaster just isn't meant to exist in today's world of amusement park safety. No word from Knoebels for a year regarding the opening of the ride makes me think the park is making little progress as they try to make Flying Turns safe. I know that Knoebels will never open up a ride that isn't completely safe, but at this point, I am not sure if this ride is ever going to open. Even if it does, people knowledgeable about the ride's history might be a little wary about riding it. I know that I will feel a little nervous about getting on a ride that seems to be taking so long to make safe.
So, while the Black Diamond coaster looks to be a sure hit, the fate of Flying Turns is up in the air right now. Can Knoebels overcome the ancient ride design and bad press and create another winning coaster? Hopefully, someday we'll find out!
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