Welcome To Screamscape!

Park News - (7/26/10) A nice article about the allure of the classic amusement park that is Knoebels can be found here. It’s make a nice read, pointing out all the differences between Knoebels and the rest of today’s modern parks.
    (11/30/09) Sad news for the industry this weekend, as it was reported that Barbara Knoebel, wife of Dick Knoebel, passed away at her home on Friday, with her family by her side. At Knoebels Amusement Resort, Barbara was an important member of the family business. She worked side by side with Dick serving as Manager of the park office and Group Sales Manager. In the latter capacity she assisted groups in planning outings and arranged catered meals for thousands of guests each season. In September Dick and Barbara traveled to California where Amusement Today, an industry publication, honored them with the Golden Ticket award as industry Persons of the Year for 2009.
    Our deepest sympathy goes out to the Knoebel family at this time. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Barbara’s memory to Give Kids the World, Attn: Development, 210 S. Bass Road, Kissimmee, FL 34746.
    (9/21/09) The Knoebels family was given a special award at this year’s Golden Ticket Awards it seems, as Dick & Barbara Knoebel were surprised when they won the Person of the Year award. Congrats!

2010 - Flying Turns - Test & Adjust - (7/7/10) While it has been some time since we’ve seen progress over at the Flying Turns, a reader tell us about what appears to be sensors and possible cameras placed around the ride currently. I don’t know if these are a few development or left over from previous work, but it would be nice to see some sign of life there. Anyone know for sure?
    (3/9/10) While this article is mostly about the new Black Diamond ride in 2011, it does talk briefly about Flying Turns. Knoebels wont confirm an opening date or even year yet, sticking to the “It’ll be done when it’s done” line, but they do say that they’ve been testing a new train with “encouraging results”.
    (11/13/09) The Knoebels website has posted some pictures of the new train pieces that have arrived at the park this past week.
    (11/11/09) A Screamscape source tells us that the new Flying Turns train has now arrived at the park and testing is expected to begin possibly by the end of the week if possible.
    (11/5/09) Park World has posted an update on the Flying Turns at Knoebels. When will it open you ask? “When it is done,” according to Kick Knoebels. A new train design has been ordered and they expect to have it on site in time to do some test runs before the snow falls. If everything works out at last, we could see Flying Turns ready to open for the 2010 season.
    (8/24/09) While I haven’t heard very much at all, rumor has it that we shouldn’t expect to see the Flying Turns open until the 2010 season at this point.
    (6/8/09) I’ve got a bit of an update on the Flying Turns to share today. It seems they are making some more drastic changes to the track layout this time around while they wait for the new train to arrive. New footers have been spotted that indicate that the sweeping rear lower turn will be rebuilt to have a wider radius. Sections of the trough have been ripped apart here and there and it looks like the a large section of track near the end of the ride has already been completely rebuilt with a new layout. You can see a few pictures posted to Coaster Force.
    (4/18/09) What everyone wants to know is… what is the deal with The Flying Turns? Thankfully Knoebels has posted a new report on just this issue at the bottom of their What’s New page. Do they have an opening date? Nope. Can they confirm it will open in 2009? Not yet… but they report that they are closer than ever, and have been redesigning some of the trough as well as waiting to see the plans for a new 3rd version of the coaster train design, so they can approve it and begin construction of said train.  With that in mind… don’t count on seeing this sucker open until the end of season most likely.
    (10/12/07) While the track layout for the coaster is now complete, it seems that the mystery of the final train design is still eluding them for now. It seems that designing the rolling stock for this project has been probably one of the most difficult aspects of the entire project as they try to discover just what the perfect combination of size, weight, appearance, length, height and wheel material is to make it work. They did have a few pieces of the prototype train on site which they ran for the crowd. It was also mentioned that the final train is only expected to have 5 cars… each holding two riders, so the total capacity for each train will only be 10 riders at a time.
    As for the track itself, I’m told that it is made of up a total of six layers of wood strips, with the top “track” layer made from Cypress, a forgiving hardwood that is also very durable. Knoebels is also experimenting with an a epoxy surface coating that will both enhance the durability of the top layer but make it very slick and smooth, speeding up the train. Because this could also cause the train to slide around a bit too much they are still evaluating if they will use it or not. In the end they may have to come up with a combination of materials to use that will be slick enough to run the train on, but also have some gritty bits in it for the trains to grip on to.
    As for the test runs… it was said that the Flying Turns runs fairly silent right now and due to the design of the trough, it’s near impossible to catch anything more than a glimpse of it running through the course. There are a total of three lift hills, with the last one being fairly small and towards the end of the ride.

2011 - Black Diamond - (7/21/10) Knoebels have posted some new pictures of Black Diamond on their Facebook page this week.
    (7/11/10) A nice article about the new Black Diamond ride under construction can be found here.
    (7/7/10) A reader has sent in three new construction pictures of Black Diamond to share this week and as you can see, track placement has begun.
    (6/8/10) A reader has sent in several pictures of Black Diamond under construction to enjoy. According to one rumor, there is a small chance that they could have Black Diamond ready in time for preview rides for the Phall Phoenix Phunfest.  Unfortunately nothing new looked to have progressed at the Flying Turns… it’s still a ghost town and shows no sign of opening anytime soon.
    (5/20/10) New construction photos of the building going up to huse Black Diamond were sent in by a reader this week. They’ve already got much old the building frame up as you can see, so they’re making progress.
    (4/26/10) A special thanks to Ken Jones for sending in these two pictures of the Black Diamond construction site at Knoebels this week. A group of ACErs at the park were told that vertical construction on the new ride building could start as early as this week and that the entire ride will be enclosed on all three levels.
    (1/31/10) A reader has sent in a picture showing off the start of the foundations for Black Diamond being set up at Knobels.
    (1/11/10) On the official Knoebels Facebook page they reminded everyone that Black Diamond wont be opening until 2011, so there you have it.
    (1/7/10) While Knoebels hasn’t confirmed anything yet, another source tells us that Black Diamond most likely isn’t due to open until 2011 due to the extensive work needed to rehab and restore the old ride.
    (1/6/10) Knoebels posted something interesting on their official Facebook page yesterday… pictures of a ladder truck in the park hoisting people up near a tree… for something called Black Diamond. Now where have I heard that name before? Oh yes... In our last update (see below) we were told that Black Diamond was the new name they would likley used for their version of the Golden Nugget dark ride / coaster they bought from Wildwood, New Jersey. Now I guess the question is... will we see Black Diamond for 2010 or 2011?
    (5/19/09) Thanks to Ken Jones for the following news report from the ACE Spring Preservation Dinner. He tells us that Knoebels was awarded the first ever American Coaster Enthusiast Ray Ueberroth Preservation Award. Dick Knoebels also mentioned that the new name they have planned right now for the former Golden Nugget is Black Diamond. Before we’ll see it go up however, they need to build a new enclosure for the Eagles first since Black Diamond is planned to take over their location.
    (1/27/09) Amusement Today has confirmed that Knoebels was indeed the one who purchased the Golden Nugget’s track and trains from Morey’s. According to the Knoebels there are no immediate plans to install the ride right away, as they say that this is a 2010 project at best right now. (Obviously their plate is full trying to finish up the Flying Turns once and for all in 2009.) The idea is to restore the ride, but not to reproduce it exactly as it was, so I’m guessing we’ll see the old ride put in with some 21st tricks and themeing, along with a new theme.
    (12/30/09) Screamscape sources tell us that the park may indeed have purchased the Golden Nugget coaster from Morey’s. According to an update on the Morey’s website, “substantial portions of the historic Golden Nugget mine ride would be saved for reuse” before they demolish the exterior of the ride. The new owner has asked not to be identified yet, but will soon pick up the track and trains from the ride. As for the identity  of the new owner they would only say “I am very thrilled to say that this ride will be placed in the most capable of hands.” When it comes to saving old rides, that certainly does seem to fit Knoebels.