PRINTER'S NO. 2273

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

No.

259

Session of

2023

INTRODUCED BY LEADBETER, STEHR, STENDER, OBERLANDER, PASHINSKI,

KINSEY, KAUFFMAN, HOHENSTEIN, BRENNAN, KHAN, MOUL, HADDOCK,

CURRY AND TWARDZIK, NOVEMBER 8, 2023

plot of land in central Pennsylvania, then known as "Peggy's

Farm"; and

WHEREAS, This land was eventually passed down to his grandson

of the same name, who developed a lumbering and sawmill

business; and

WHEREAS, Roaring Creek runs through the center of the land

and drew the attention of local townsfolk looking for a place to

relax and cool off on hot summer days; and

WHEREAS, They enjoyed creek side picnics and jumping off the

covered bridge into the swimming hole below; and

WHEREAS, In the same year, Henry Knoebel also opened a

restaurant on the grounds and featured a steam-powered carousel

operated by Philadelphia businessman, Joe Gallagher; and

WHEREAS, In 1938, Knoebels Amusement Resort purchased the

carousel from the Gallagher family, but as Knoebels Amusement

Resort continued to grow, a larger carousel was needed; and

WHEREAS, George Kremer originally built Knoebels Amusement

Resort's Grand Carousel in 1913, and renowned craftsman, Charles

Carmel, carved the horses; and

WHEREAS, It was purchased from Riverview Park in Rahway, New

honor his late father; and

WHEREAS, Pete Knoebel purchased the small train to take

riders through the woodlands surrounding Knoebels Amusement

Resort from Allen Herschell Company's Miniature Train Division;

and

WHEREAS, The Pioneer Train's track stretches a pleasant one

and a half miles through the backwoods of the park, where riders

can observe many types of wildlife; and

WHEREAS, The forested beauty of Knoebels Amusement Resort

drew many families to the area and they built cottages along the

first six official campsites; and

WHEREAS, Since that time the campground has grown to more

than 550 sites and 57 log cabins; and

WHEREAS, In 1996, Knoebels Amusement Resort also acquired

nearby Lake Glory Campground; and

WHEREAS, Knoebels Amusement Resort has endured several

natural disasters, beginning with the devastating floods of

Hurricane Agnes in 1972; and

WHEREAS, Floodwaters reached 24 of the park's 25 rides, but

the park was operational only nine days later; and

Commonwealth, with a top speed of 40 miles per hour, and the

coaster thrilled riders through the 1992 season; and

WHEREAS, Knoebels Amusement Resort continued to grow and

expand, and, in 1980, it was the largest park without a major

wooden roller coaster, a distinction that ownership wanted to

change; and

WHEREAS, Originally built in 1947 for a park in San Antonio,

Texas, the Phoenix was, at the time, the largest roller coaster

to ever be moved from one park to another; and

WHEREAS, Despite much doubt that this venture would be

introduced its first water ride, the Giant Flume; and

WHEREAS, Honoring the natural beauty of the valley, the flume

was built to preserve as many trees as possible, providing

riders a quick way to cool off with a bit of shade and a

pleasant splash; and

WHEREAS, On September 7, 2011, Knoebels Amusement Resort

experienced another flood, which is marked as the worst in

Knoebels Amusement Resort's history; and

WHEREAS, Roaring Creek and Mugser Run rose several feet above

flood level, with damage far exceeding the flood of 1972; and

Jepko family since 1959; and

WHEREAS, This acquisition by the fourth-generation members of

the Knoebel family became official on January 16, 2007, and the

course was renamed Knoebels Three Ponds; and

WHEREAS, Knoebels Amusement Resort announced in 2013 that it

was adding the park's tallest ride; and

WHEREAS, Towering at 148 feet, the StratosFear stands well

above the park's former tallest feature, the Giant Wheel; and

WHEREAS, The 45-acre amusement resort has 64 rides, 28 games,

24 gift shops, 14 attractions, 2 arcades, 34 food and beverage

WHEREAS, Knoebels Amusement Resort is America's largest free-

admission amusement park and offers free parking, free

entertainment and free picnic facilities; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate April

28, 2023, as "Knoebels Amusement Resort Day" in Pennsylvania.