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Phoenix
Previously known as The Rocket (1947–1980)
Lift hill of Phoenix
Knoebels Amusement Resort
LocationKnoebels Amusement Resort
Coordinates40°52′42″N 76°30′23″W / 40.87833°N 76.50639°W / 40.87833; -76.50639
StatusOperating
Opening dateJune 15, 1985 (1985-06-15)
Cost$1,500,000
General statistics
TypeWood
ManufacturerPhiladelphia Toboggan Coasters
DesignerHerbert Paul Schmeck, 1947
Track layoutDouble Out and Back
Lift/launch systemChain lift hill
Height78 ft (24 m)
Drop72 ft (22 m)
Length3,200 ft (980 m)
Speed45 mph (72 km/h)
Inversions0
Duration2:00
Capacity720 riders per hour
Height restriction42 in (107 cm)
Phoenix at RCDB
Video

Phoenix is a wooden roller coaster built in 1947[1] located at the Knoebels Amusement Resort in Elysburg, Pennsylvania.[1] It was moved to its current location in central Pennsylvania in 1985[1] Prior to its purchase by Knoebels, its relocation in the mid-1980s, it was operated under the name "The Rocket" at Playland Park in San Antonio, Texas.

History

Phoenix was designed and built by Herb Schmeck and the Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters (PTC). It operated as "The Rocket" at the Playland Park in San Antonio from 1947 until the park's closure in 1980. At its opening, the Rocket was hailed as "the largest roller coaster in the world," with 3200 feet of track and a 78-foot first hill. Knoebels purchased the ride in 1984 and dismantled it starting in January 1985. As there were no blueprints to work with, each individual board was numbered and cataloged on site.[2]

The restored roller coaster opened at Knoebels on June 15, 1985. It was renamed after the mythical phoenix. As the first large-scale wooden roller coaster relocation in many years, Knoebels helped spark a movement for the restoration and relocation of other roller coasters standing but not operating.

Ride experience

Once dispatched, the train makes a right turn out of the station into a pitch-black tunnel. At the end of the tunnel, the train ascends the 78-foot climb up the lift hill. Off the lift hill, the train descends a 72 foot first drop before rising into the first turnaround. After making a left hand turn, the train drops back down to ground level, and passes through two smaller airtime hills before rising into the second turnaround. Now running adjacent to the lift hill, the train goes down another drop, followed by a double-up and double-down in quick succession, before rising into the final turnaround, wrapping around the outside of the first turnaround. From here, the train goes through a set of four consecutive bunny hills before hitting the final brake run.

Awards and rankings

The Phoenix has consistently ranked among the top 10 roller coasters in various polls such as the annual Golden Ticket Awards from Amusement Today, and has won the Golden Ticket Award itself in the Best Wooden Coaster category in 2018, 2019 and 2021 (there was no competition in 2020 due to COVID-19).[3] It was also awarded the Coaster Landmark designation by ACE.[4]

Golden Ticket Awards: Top wood Roller Coasters
Year 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2021 2022
Ranking 10[5] 6[6] 5[7] 4[8] 5[9] 4[10] 4[11] 4[12] 5[13] 3[14] 3[15] 4[16] 3[17] 2[18] 3[19] 3[20] 4[21] 3[22] 2[23] 2[24] 1[25] 1[26] 1[27] 1[28]
NAPHA Members Survey: Favorite Wood Roller Coaster[29]
Year 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Ranking
1
1
1 (tie)
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1

Modern usage

Since 1986, Knoebels has held the "Phoenix Phall Phun Phest," a yearly October event for roller coaster enthusiasts. In 2001 alone, over 1500 roller coaster and amusement park fans converged on Knoebels, many in costume, to participate in a memorabilia swap meet and use the rides after the park closed to the general public. The event was rated the third best Halloween event in 2008 and 2009 by Amusement Today.

Phoenix facts

References

  1. ^ a b c "This central Pa. legend 'could easily be considered the perfect coaster'". York Daily Record. Retrieved 2023-05-30.
  2. ^ "Phoenix - Knoebels Amusement Resort (Elysburg, Pennsylvania, United States)".
  3. ^ http://goldenticketawards.com/
  4. ^ "ACE Coaster Landmark Awards". Archived from the original on 2010-12-12. Retrieved 2008-02-22.
  5. ^ "Top 25 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 6B. August 1998. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
  6. ^ "Top 25 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 6B. August 1999. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
  7. ^ "Top 25 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. August 2000. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
  8. ^ "Top 25 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 6B. August 2001. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
  9. ^ "Top 25 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 6B. September 2002. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
  10. ^ "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 10–11B. September 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
  11. ^ "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 14–15B. September 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 3, 2007. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
  12. ^ "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 22–23B. September 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
  13. ^ "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 30–31B. September 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
  14. ^ "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 11 (6.2): 42–43. September 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
  15. ^ "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 12 (6.2): 42–43. September 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
  16. ^ "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 13 (6.2): 38–39. September 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
  17. ^ "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 14 (6.2): 38–39. September 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
  18. ^ "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 15 (6.2): 46–47. September 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
  19. ^ "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 16 (6.2): 46–47. September 2012. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
  20. ^ "2013 Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 17 (6.2): 40–41. September 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
  21. ^ "2014 Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 18 (6.2): 38–39. September 2014. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
  22. ^ "2015 Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 19 (6.2): 45–46. September 2015. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
  23. ^ "2016 Top 50 Wooden Coasters". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2016. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
  24. ^ "2017 Top 50 Wooden Coasters". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2017. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
  25. ^ "2018 Top 50 Wooden Coasters". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2018. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
  26. ^ "2019 Top 50 Wood Coasters". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2019. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
  27. ^ "2021 Golden Ticket Award Winners". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2021. Archived from the original on November 15, 2021. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
  28. ^ "2022 Golden Ticket Award Winners". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2022. Archived from the original on September 12, 2022. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
  29. ^ Futrell, Marlowe. "NAPHA Members Survey". National Amusement Park Historical Association. Archived from the original on April 9, 2022. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
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