Valley Girl Views: The Texas Rocket Rises Again As The Knoebels Phoenix

Wednesday, June 19, 2019

The Texas Rocket Rises Again As The Knoebels Phoenix

1948

Did you know that the Phoenix is not originally from Elysburg? This wooden roller coaster was originally built in San Antonio Texas, in 1947, where it stood until 1985, 5 years after Playland Park in San Antonio had ceased operations.

The Rocket, abandoned in Texas

Designed by Herbert Schmeck and built by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company (PTC) in 1947, the Rocket was hailed one of the world best roller coasters. It operated until the park closed on September 1st, 1980 .

Knoebels purchased the coaster in 1984, and relocated it to PA on 34 trucks over a six month period from January to June 1985.

There were no blueprints for the coaster, so each board was numbered and cataloged for it to be rebuilt later at Knoebels.

The coaster reopened in Elysburg Pa as the Phoenix, the mythical bird that rose from the ashes, on June 15 1985.

The first official ride on the Phoenix was to raise money for storm victims. Tickets for Rides on the first run were auctioned off, and brought prices from $40 to $175. (A ticket will cost you $3 in 2019) Demand was so high that a second run was made, bringing the total raised to $2,315. The money was all to benefit storm victims, after a recent tornado

In July of 1985, the students at Shamokin Middle School completed a model of the coaster.

"Shamokin Area Middle School students constructed this scale model of the "Phoenix" roller coaster. There were 25 students involved in the project. Looking over the model are John Stehr and David Shaffer."

In 2018 The Phoenix won the Golden Ticket Award for best wooden roller coaster. Since the awards conception in 1999, the Phoenix has never been lower than 6th on that list.

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