Other must-do attractions in this one-of-a-kind park include Sky Rocket ( steel launched coaster ), Phantom ’ s Revenge ( steel roller coaster ), Exterminator ( indoor spinning wild mouse ), Black Widow ( pendulum swing ride ), Olde Kennywood Railroad , Grand Carousel ( 1927 ), Auto Race vintage car ride ( 1930 ) and a 1919 , 16-car Whip , the oldest ride in the park . Two dark rides can be found at Kennywood : the Old Mill Boat ride and Ghostwood Estate .
Knoebels Amusement Resort
Visit : www . knoebels . com Phone : 800- 487-4386
Knoebel ’ s Amusement Resort in north Central Pennsylvania , outside of Shamokin , offers “ Food , Fun and Fantasy ,” as they proclaim . Nestled in a wooded valley , the non-fenced , 91-year-old-park has an “ old fashioned ” feel . There is no charge to go inside . Ride the rides or sit on a bench and watch – it ’ s your choice . “ America ’ s Largest Free-Admission Amusement Park ” also has free parking , entertainment and picnic facilities . It ’ s pet friendly too . Opened in 1926 as a creek-fed swimming area , the fifth generation , family-run amusement park has more than 63 rides , including six roller coasters ( three being of the wooden variety ). In 2016 , Knoebels Amusement resort was named fourth Best Park on the planet during the Golden Ticket Awards , sponsored by Amusement Today .
Must-do rides include the Phoenix , the second best wooden roller coaster in the world ( 2016 Golden Ticket Awards ) and Flying Turns , a wooden free-wheeling , bobsled-style coaster . Impulse is a steel coaster with a high-hat initial rise to 98 feet . In addition , Knoebels has annually been named as having the best Carousel ( The Grand Carousel ) and best food of any amusement part in the world ( Golden Ticket Awards ).
Lakemont Park
Visit : www . lakemontparkfun . com Phone : 814-949-7275
The oldest operating roller coaster in the world , Leapthe-Dips ( 1904 ), is located in a park that is one of the few in the country run by a municipality ( Blair County ). This gentle , but historic side-friction ride , hurdles passengers along at the break-neck speed of 10mph – very fast for the turn of the last century ! The coaster is a National Historic Landmark as designated by the National Park Service .
Sesame Place
Visit : www . sesameplace . com Phone : 215-752-7070
Bucks County is home to Sesame Place , a 14 acre children ’ s park based on the Sesame Street TV show . The park is home to 16 dry rides and nine major water rides . In 2007 , Sesame Place became the first park in Pennsylvania to become completely smoke-free .
Ride highlights include Grover ’ s Vapor Trail family roller coaster ; Sunny Day Carousel ; Blast Off ( frog hopper ); Captain Cookie ’ s High C ’ s Adventure pirate ship and Monster Mix-up teacup ride . Each day offers the Neighborhood Street Party Parade with all costumed characters . It should be noted that some portable dry rides are set up for the spring and / or Halloween / Christmas shoulder seasons only . Also all water rides are open only in the summer season ( Memorial Day-Labor Day ).
Waldameer Park & Water World
Visit : www . waldameer . com Phone : 814-838-3591
On the way to Presque Isle State Park on Peninsula Drive is where you will find Waldameer Park . In German the name “ Waldameer ” means “ Woods by the Sea ”. The admission-free park in Erie County offers 33 rides along with numerous covered picnic pavilions . The water park features 11 major slides ; an Endless River ; Heated Relaxing Pool and Tad Pool children ’ s complex with 4 smaller slides , along with the recently opened wave pool that can accommodate 1,000 people .
Notable rides include Ravine Flyer II a wooden roller coaster , the Comet , a junior sized wooden roller coaster ; Steel Dragon spinning wild mouse ; X-Scream drop tower ; Thunder River water flume and eight kiddie rides . Waldameer operates two classic dark attractions : the Whacky Shack ( built in 1970 ), a two-story ride ; and Pirates Cove ( built in 1972 ), a walk-through funhouse . Both were designed and built by the re-nowned dark ride master Bill Tracy and his company , Amusement Display Associates of Cape May , N . J .
Altoona Curve baseball fans will see the lift hill of their other , larger and more aggressive Skyliner roller coaster , comprising the left side of the outfield wall . The park is home to nearly 30 other rides . More notable ones include the bumper cars ; Lakemont Park Railroad ; German Swings and paddle boats .
6 . | EXPLORE PA 2017