Phoenix (roller coaster)

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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 located at Knoebels Amusement Resort in Elysburg, Pennsylvania. It was moved to its current location in central Pennsylvania in 1985.[1] Prior to its purchase and relocation to Knoebels, it operated under the name "The Rocket" at Playland Park in San Antonio, Texas.

History[edit]

Phoenix was designed and built by Herbert Paul Schmeck and Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters (PTC). It operated as "The Rocket" at Playland Park in San Antonio, Texas 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 3,200 feet of track and a 78-foot lift 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]

Ride experience[edit]

The ride features two PTC trains, one yellow and one orange, each capable of accommodating 24 passengers. After being dispatched, the train takes a sharp right turn as it exits the station and enters a dark tunnel. Upon reaching the end of the tunnel, the train ascends the 78 foot lift hill. After reaching the top of the lift hill, the train drops down a 72-foot initial descent before entering the first turnaround.

Following a leftward turn, the train descends to ground level and traverses two smaller airtime hills before ascending into the second turnaround. Continuing alongside the lift hill, the train descends another slope, then rapidly ascends and descends twice in succession, before reaching the final turnaround, which curves around the outer side of the initial turnaround. Subsequently, the train traverses a series of four consecutive undulating hills resembling bunny ears, culminating in the ultimate deceleration zone. It then returns to the station.

Awards and rankings[edit]

Phoenix has consistently ranked among the top 10 wooden 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.[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 2023
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] 1[29]
NAPHA Members Survey: Favorite Wood Roller Coaster[30]
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[edit]

Since 1986, Knoebels has held the "Phoenix Phall Phun Phest," a yearly October event for roller coaster enthusiasts. In 2001, over 1500[citation needed] 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 voted the third best Halloween event in 2008 and 2009 in an Amusement Today survey.[31]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "This central Pa. legend 'could easily be considered the perfect coaster'". York Daily Record. Retrieved 2023-05-30.
  2. ^ "Phoenix". RCDB. Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  3. ^ "2020 GTA Winners". The Golden Ticket Awards. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  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. ^ "2023 Golden Ticket Award Winners". Amusement Today. 27 (6.2): 71–72. September 2023. Archived from the original on September 10, 2023. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
  30. ^ Futrell, Marlowe. "NAPHA Members Survey". National Amusement Park Historical Association. Archived from the original on April 9, 2022. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  31. ^ Baldwin, Tim (September 2009). "Southern California hosts AT's 2009 Golden Ticket Awards" (PDF). Amusement Today. 13 (6.2).
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