Knoebels Amusement Resort

In 2001 Knoebels celebrated its 75th anniversary. While the celebration lasted the entire season, the highlight was a series of special ceremonies held on July 4th of that year. A history book, "Knoebels, An Amusement Park With A Heart" by Harry J. Deitz, was also published that year.

Kozmo’s Play Pool was added to the Crystal Pool complex in 2003 when Knoebels determined that the addition of an interactive kiddie play area would make the pool a more attractive destination to families with small children.

Rides continued to be added on an annual basis leading to Knoebels' next major project, the Flying Turns. After years of research, Knoebels began construction of the Flying Turns in the spring of 2006. Again, the recreation of this classic ride is a complete Knoebels’ project. Working with a John Fetterman design, Knoebels again brought Leonard Adams on board and hired local carpenters and craftsmen. The flood of June 2006 backed the project up but it is expected to open soon. The Flying Turns is a ride of largely wooden construction first built in Dayton, Ohio in 1929 by a company formed by visionary Norman Bartlett and legendary coaster builder John Miller. There were 7 Flying Turns rides built by Bartlett and either Miller or Philadelphia Toboggan Company between 1929 and 1939.

The appeal of this style ride is that the “track” is less restrictive than a regular roller coaster in that the train rides in a trough with no further guide than the curved walls surrounding it. The cars are allowed to freewheel to wherever in the trough centrifugal force guides them. The effect is not unlike that of a Bobsled ride. It is also similar to the sort of daredevil barnstorming carried on by aviation pioneers.