Seek Thrills &Ye Shall Find - Summer Fun Awaits at Area Amusement Parks

The slow clank of pulleys trundles coaster cars to soaring peaks. Fountains of water spray from log flumes, and the smell of buttery popcorn wafts through the air. Amusement park season has arrived. And whether your idea of fun is fast thrills and vertical drops or more mild teacups and carousels, with three amusement parks well within driving distance, excitement awaits.

Where the Wild Things Are Roughly an hour from Doylestown off I-95 in Jackson, N.J., Six Flags Great Adventure is the largest Six Flags amusement park in the country. Boasting both the 45-acre Hurricane Harbor Water Park, as well as award-winning roller coasters like the wooden El Toro, dropping a steep 76 degrees, and the steel coaster Nitro, with a 215-foot dive and speeds approaching 80 mph, Great Adventure is a must-stop for theme park lovers everywhere.

“We are a destination park,” says AngelAristone, director of communications at Great Adventure. “It takes more than one day to do everything.” Physically bigger than any other park in the area, Great Adventure lays claim to the largest variety of rides. It’s also a coaster enthusiasts’ dream. The park is home to Kingda Ka, the tallest and fastest coaster in the world; Superman: Ultimate Flight, where riders are hurtled head-first along a twisting track; and the Dark Knight Coaster, housed completely in blackness.

The park is also home to the popular Wild Safari. “The safari makes Great Adventure unique,” says Aristone. “It’s an experience everyone can enjoy, whether you’re 5 or 75.” Home to more than 1,100 animals – many of them endangered – on 350 acres, the preserve allows you to drive through the open habitat and see herds of lions, rhinoceroses, elephants and giraffes, among others. “This year we have five new lion cubs, which is almost unheard of,” says Aristone. The largest drive-through safari outside of Africa, admission is only $19.99 per person, less when purchasing an admission to the park as well.

Aristone recommends doing the safari first. “Get here early,” she says. “Do your research, and check the website.” Several promotional offers and coupons run throughout the summer, and purchasing tickets online can save you money. Season passes pay for themselves after two visits.

The Sweetest Place on Earth Hershey Park, about two hours east of Doylestown in Hershey, Pa, also features both a theme and water park. Opened in 1907 by Milton Hershey as a picnic and pleasure ground for his employees, the park has operated for over 100 years. Growing over time to encompass 110 acres and over 65 rides and attractions, the park caters to all ages and desires. “What sets Hershey Park apart is its themed areas,” says Kathy Burrows, the park’s public relations manager. Each area, with names like Pioneer Frontier, features thrill rides, family rides, at least three children’s rides and entertainment. “The areas have everything,” says Burrows. “That way, families can go through the park together. One parent doesn’t have stay in the kiddie area the whole day.”

And catering to families is perhaps what Hershey does best. “We don’t have the most aggressive machines,” says Burrows. “We focus on trying to accommodate as many needs as possible.” That means creating and maintaining rides that grandparents can ride with their grandchildren. “Many of our rides have been here for a long time,” she adds. Burrows remembers riding coasters like the wooden Comet, dating from 1946 and still in operation, as a girl. Now, she rides them with her grand-children. “People go to have experiences together,” Burrows says. Still, not to be outdone by the competition, the park also features the hydraulic coaster Storm Runner, launching riders from a standstill to 72 mph in only two seconds, and the vertical-lift coaster Fahrenheit, featuring a 97-degree drop for those looking for spine-tingling thrills.

While many people visit Hershey for a day, the preview plan allows those who have purchased admission for the next day to enter the park the night before two and a half hours before closing. Discounts are also available for those staying at certain sponsored hotels. Admission also includes entrance to Zoo America, a North American wildlife park, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.

Just Like in the Olden Days Knoebel’s Amusement Resort is America’s largest free-admission park. Opened in 1926 by H.H. Knoebel, the park is still family-run. Located in Elysburg, Pa., near Bloomsburg, the park employs a ticket system, where visitors pay for each ride individually. Most rides cost one to two dollars while children’s’ rides are 75 cents. “We view ourselves as a place for inter-generational fun,” says Joe Muscato, a spokesman for Knoebel’s. Paying only for what you use, families can easily bring non-riders with them without having to pay pricy admission fees. Plus, the tickets never expire. If there are any left over, they’re good to use another day.

Set among the trees, Knoebel’s exudes a sense of peaceful play. A stream runs through the park, there are plenty of benches and even a few covered bridges. The park features daily entertainment and old favorites like bumper cars, log flumes, merry-go-rounds, motorboats and teacups for families. “We never have long lines,” says Muscato. “It’s a great place to get away a little bit and just enjoy.”

Like a throwback to another era, all of the carousels at Knoebels feature real organs and hand-carved horses. The Grand Carousel, built in 1913, is still in operation and is one of the only of its kind to still feature brass rings. The carousel in Kiddieland features an organ crafted in Germany in 1926.

Nearby camping allows for easy access to the park, but book early: On weekends, the campsites are usually full. Other attractions at Knoebel’s include a bald eagle habitat, the Three Ponds Golf Course, the Knoebel’s History Museum and the Mining Museum. Both museums are free. With so much to do, says Muscato, “Many people make a whole weekend out of it.”

Go online at: sixflags.com
hersheypark.com
knoebels.com