Quick Trip Report: Knoebels Opening Day

A quick trip report on Knoebels opening day:

Power surge was closed, waiting on parts from Zamperla. All other rides were running. The Phoenix got brand new track, from the top of the lift to the top of the first turn around. That section was glass smooth. Once you got back on the old track, the bumpy and shuffling started, typical of the Phoenix we got accustomed to.

The Twister got some reprofiling, all new track from the bottom of the hill leading into the double helix as well as portions of the double helix. The top of the hill leading into the helix is now banked. You no longer get that big jolt as you whip around that curve. The transition is much more smoother.

Black Diamond now feels more "complete". There were a lot of empty spots and "unfinished business" when it first opened last October. There are now more scenery, and those empty spots have been filled in. I suspect the scenery was there in October, but the lights for it wasn't turned on. Some of the timings were improved, and the trains now move through it at a more quicker and consistent pace. It also has a water effect similar to the one that the Haunted House has, but it wasn't visible last October.

The Grand Carousel looks great for it's 100th birthday. They added stenciling on the overhead beams. The carousel originally had them but they were painted over. It looks like Knoebels had the original date of manufacture wrong- on the granite sign for the carousel it states "1913", however they found out that the actual year of manufacture was 1912.

Another side note- it was Dick Knoebel's birthday on Saturday too!

Great T/R! Yeah, we were there to cover the park in the off-season and were able to get pics of the trackwork on Phoenix taking place.