Trees have the right of way here

[Inspectorjoe]

Last night I got back from spending two days at Knoebels Amusement Resort in Elysburg, PA. It's the largest free admission amusement park in the country and has been family-owned since its start in 1926. It takes its history seriously, and values its trees immensely. It's a beautiful, wooded park in the hills of Northumberland County Pennsylvania. There are a number of buildings and structures that they built around trees, rather than cutting the trees down. Here's an example:

Click to Enlarge

108.68 KB

Click to Enlarge

68.73 KB

Click to Enlarge

51.67 KB

If anyone is within a few hours drive, you should go and spend a day there - even if you don't go on a single ride. Ther are tons of cool things to see and do. It's such an amazing and well-run place, and a good example of a management philosophy that is long-term oriented, instead of quarterly profit driven.

Here's a neat feature. This waterwheel, attached to the Old Mill ice cream stand is the power that's turning the canopy:

Click to Enlarge

60.66 KB

[John Kogel]

They will eventually run out of inner tubes big enough for that tree. []

That big old water wheel on a shaky stand and people sit under there without a care in the world, interesting.

[Erby]

People sit under the canopy without care because it's structurally sound. The big old water wheel providing the power is at the back right of the picture. Ain't nobody under it!

[Inspectorjoe]

That setup has been there for a long, long time. I found some video of it that I shot 3 years ago:

[kurt]

I thought the canopy is an old merry go round.

[Garry Sorrells]

Do believe frame is .

Real nice place not sanitized with concrete and steel. Worth the time to experience a classic experience.

Amazing comeback after being flooded out.