Photo: Jill Ryan. View full-sized image.
For the past 5 years, ACE Eastern Pennsylvania has scheduled an event in July at Knoebels Amusement Resort in Elysburg, Pennsylvania, called ACE Flies with the Phoenix. In 2026, because the park would be celebrating its 100th anniversary, something grander was planned: ACE Flies with Knoebels 100, a three-day event from July 24 to 26 to honor the park and the family that created and developed it into the unique destination it has been for the past 100 years.
ACEers especially wanted to honor its president emeritus, Dick Knoebel, for his role in preserving wood roller coasters that might have been lost to history: moving The Rocket from Texas to Knoebels to become Phoenix, supporting a reworking of Mr. Twister at Elitch Gardens to become Twister at Knoebels, having the patience and determination to create a new Flying Turns from old plans and transforming Golden Nugget (a dark ride-coaster from the Jersey Shore) into Black Diamond. Although Dick lived long enough to see the park’s 100th anniversary on July 4, in a sad turn of events, he passed away before ACE’s event could take place.
Although Dick’s death could have lowered a cloud over this year’s event, the opposite happened. Dick’s spirit was everywhere: in the sunny, warm air all three days (the “Dick Dome”); in the happy vibe of the participants, who were glad to be spending three days with their friends at this park with great rides, food and planned activities; and in the warmth of the Knoebels’ family and staff, who were involved in all the planning.
During registration, volunteers were ready to help distribute packets and pass out preordered T-shirts.
Regional Rep Mike Matscherz initially kept mum about the event’s attendance but later revealed that the 2026 event had set an all-time regional attendance record: 518! Those 518 attendees checked in beginning at 10:30 Friday morning at Pavilion F, where they picked up their preordered T-shirt, ride wristband (for Friday), name badge, lanyard, $50 ride ticket book, ticket book coupon, $25 Grove Grub Card (for park food), meal ticket for Sunday, free photo ticket and special event buttons — a lot! (Well, it was a three-day event.)
Auction items were displayed during registration, but bidding was all online through Givebutter.
Photo: Jill Ryan. View full-sized image.
Fortunately, the pavilion was large, so there was plenty of room to display the silent auction items. Attendees could register to bid on Givebutter, the online site where all items were displayed.
Attendees learned about the latest progress toward opening the Bayern Kurve but still didn’t learn when it will open.
Photo: Lee Ann Draud. View full-sized image.
A pre-event email informed attendees of the optional behind-the-scenes (BTS) experiences, which ranged from a Bayern Kurve update to tours through various Knoebels’ rides and buildings. These took place throughout the three-day event, and each attendee could sign up for one. Informal takeover times (ITOTs) were also scheduled on various rides, which were a great way for attendees to come together and ride during the day.
Attendees bought tickets for unique opportunities at the Grand Carousel and some unique Knoebels ride vehicles.
Photo: Adam Ahmed. View full-sized image.
Participants in the Eye Spy 26 contest had to find 26 special logos that were hiding in the park.
Photo: Adam Ahmed. View full-sized image.
Also available at registration were forms to register for the Chance Auction and Eye Spy 26 Contest. To participate in the Chance Auction, attendees bought tickets for unique experiences during the weekend: an opportunity to ring the Grand Carousel bell during ERT on Saturday and/or to ride around the park in a Phoenix car or an Antique Car vehicle on Sunday. The Eye Spy 26 Contest challenged attendees to find all 26 ACE Flies with Knoebels 100 logos in the park. Easier said than done!
The Giant Flume was a popular ride throughout the hot day.
Photo: Adam Ahmed. View full-sized image.
Knoebels opened at noon, and the first official event activity was an ITOT on the Giant Flume. No problem getting wet on a warm, sunny day!
Attendees ventured to the Bandshell at 4:45 for the welcome ceremony, where Mike Matscherz greeted everyone and introduced his regional rep team and park President Brian Knoebel and park co-owner/co-manager Rick Knoebel. Brian shared that before their father passed, he was able to make one last trip around the park to see everything and to greet employees. Brian added that Dick left them a to-do list!
Regional Rep Mike Matscherz presented Brian (left) and Rick (center) Knoebel with a plaque expressing ACE’s gratitude for its relationship with the park.
Photos: Jill Ryan. View full-sized image.
ACE President Elizabeth Ringas (right) presented honorary member plaques to Mike Matscherz and Janine Rebbie Matscherz that recognized their many contributions to ACE over the years.
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Mike introduced ACE President Elizabeth Ringas, who called Janine Rebbie Matscherz to the stage. In an emotional moment for both Mike and Janine, Ringas announced that they were ACE’s newest honorary members and read the text of their plaques, which mentioned all their contributions to ACE over the years.
The ceremony concluded with 19 seconds of silent reflection on past experiences with Dick and his legacy at the park, which was then followed by 26 seconds of raucous cheers and applause. It was a nice tie-in to the park’s founding in 1926.
Happy riders during Phoenix ERT.
Photo: Adam Ahmed. View full-sized image.
Twister has been wild and crazy all year.
Photo: Mike Robinson. View full-sized image.
At 7:30, attendees met for a group photo at the Crystal Pool, and Twister was the perfect backdrop. While waiting for the park to clear after closing at 9, attendees could play the Derby Racer game (won by Andrew Krentz) before ERT began on Black Diamond, Phoenix, Twister, Flyers and Haunted Mansion. With so many choices for ERT, the lines weren’t too long for any of the rides, so attendees could ride them all easily. Phoenix (voted Best Wood Coaster in the 2025 Amusement Today Golden Ticket awards) and Twister were absolutely flying! Attendees who needed a break could visit the Phoenix Junction for Tiger Tails and Coaster Fries snacks and drinks. A happy ending to Day One!
Attendees enjoyed an opportunity to walk through the coaster/dark ride Black Diamond and in the trough of Flying Turns.
During ERT on Grand Carousel, the five winners of the Chance Auction could both ring the bell and make the required announcements.
Lift hill climbs are always a treat, as was this one on Twister.
Photo: Aaron Maricic. View full-sized image.
On sunny Saturday, there were BTS experiences before the park opened on Black Diamond, Flying Turns, Haunted Mansion, History Showcase, Phoenix and Twister for those who had registered. During ERT, Calvin Bareiss, Mike Robinson, Pam Kanai, Pat Byrne and Seth Miller (gifted to Serenity C.), who were winners in the Chance Auction, rang the bell and made the announcements during rides on the Grand Carousel.
Mark Cole filled the cups for the Water Cup Challenge.
Photo: Linda Weisenstein. View full-sized image.
Photo: Mike Robinson. View full-sized image.
A crowd gathered at 10 a.m., when the Water Cup Challenge began on StratosFear. Much hilarity ensued as each of the 33 attendees tried to be the one who had the most water in their cup at the end of three rides on the 148-foot tall drop tower. Wet clothes told the tale!
Impulse.
Photo: Mike Robinson. View full-sized image.
Attentive Eye Spy contestants on the Bumper Car ERT could add this logo to their lists.
Photo: Jenn Fortney. View full-sized image.
Morning ERT was scheduled on the Zierer coaster Impulse, Kozmo’s Kurves (E&F Miler Industries family coaster), Bumper Cars and Grand Carousel. Who spotted the ACE logos on the back of the bumper cars? Fans of the game Fascination could play at no charge from 10:45 a.m. to noon, when the park opened. Saturday was a ticket-only day, so the $50 ride ticket booklet came in handy.
Shortly after a group photo in front of the Phoenix station, attendees traveled to the Flying Turns entrance for an ACE Roller Coaster Landmark presentation. It was a homecoming experience for Knoebels family members and others who had been involved in the seven-year project to open Flying Turns. Present was John Fetterman, a long-time Knoebels employee who remembered Dick’s love of the Norman Bartlett-designed Flying Turns at Euclid Beach Park and suggested that it would make a great ride for Knoebels. Also invited for the occasion was retired engineer Mike Boodley, who, after much trial and error, created a train design that finally worked on the track.
ACE Historian Dave Hahner watched as Knoebel family members uncovered the Roller Coaster Landmark plaque for Flying Turns.
Photo: Mike Robinson. View full-sized image.
The Roller Coaster Landmark plaque is flanked by Elizabeth Ringas, Rick Knoebel, John Fetterman and Mike Boodley.
Photo: Jessica Knouse. View full-sized image.
Mike Matscherz introduced ACE Preservation Manager Josh Brown, ACE Historian Dave Hahner, the Knoebels team and the ACE preservation team. Before reading the plaque, Hahner informed the crowd that they were “experiencing history even though [Flying Turns] is a modern roller coaster.” Rick Knoebel remembered the day the coaster opened, when he no longer had to answer the question “When is Flying Turns going to open?” Brian Knoebel spoke as well, and Boodley got a laugh when he related that he initially spent hours on the phone trying to talk Dick out of pursuing the project in the first place!
Attendees could ask questions of any of the Knoebels family and staff. This one was for Brian Knoebel.
Photos: Jill Ryan. View full-sized image.
Later, at the Q&A with the Knoebels family and staff at Pavilion F, Mike Matscherz reviewed the upcoming Saturday activities and introduced Brian Knoebel, who welcomed everyone and thanked them for “making the trip to the metropolis of Elysburg.” In response to the question “What made Dick so successful?”, Brian’s answer was that “He cared. He wasn’t chasing awards; he was chasing doing things the right way.” Brian summed up Dick’s philosophy about Knoebels as “Take care of it, respect it, and never stop making it better.” He felt that Dick was present at this event and in all the stories that were being shared.
First-ACE-event attendees and new members had a chance to meet the Eastern Pennsylvania regional rep team and ask questions.
Photo: Jill Ryan. View full-sized image.
The final event of the afternoon was a new member meetup in the pavilion for new ACE members or for first-ACE-event attendees. It was an opportunity for them to meet the Eastern Pennsylvania regional rep team and to get to know more about ACE and their region.
Flying Turns.
Photo: Mike Robinson. View full-sized image.
This retired bumper boat could be seen in the History Showcase building.
Photo: Linda Weisenstein. View full-sized image.
The interior of the Haunted Mansion looked entirely different with the lights on.
Photo: Linda Weisenstein. View full-sized image.
Phoenix.
Photo: Mike Robinson. View full-sized image.
Winners of the Phoenix (above) and Antique Car (below) rides were driven around the park Sunday morning.
Photo: Jill Ryan. View full-sized image.
Photo: Jill Ryan. View full-sized image.
Whipper.
Photo: Mike Robinson. View full-sized image.
Was it Sunday already? The day began with a BTS experience at the History Showcase for those who registered and ERT on Phoenix, Twister, Black Diamond (lights on) and Haunted Mansion (lights on). The eight winners of the Chance Auction opportunity to ride in the Phoenix and Antique cars could be seen in a miniparade around the park. Sunday was another ride ticket-only day, so attendees were happy to have that $50 ride ticket book plus the coupon to buy more. There was a final ITOT on Whipper.
Attendees lined up at 2 p.m. for the farewell luncheon in Pavilion F, where they were offered BBQ chicken, meatball subs, lots of sides, ice cream and various soft drinks. Mike Matscherz thanked everyone for coming and announced that an anonymous donor had agreed to match all the money raised in the silent auction and donate it in memory of Dick Knoebel. He reported that the event’s 518 attendees represented 29 states and one Canadian province. There were even more giveaways, with event buttons and stickers for everyone. Custom mugs created and donated by William Supko were given to attendees who were at their first ACE event or visiting Knoebels for the first time.
Winners of the Water Cup Challenge Bob Prentki (third), Quinn Hutchinson (second) and Dave Morra (first) stand with Stacey Singer.
Photo: Mike Robinson. View full-sized image.
Eye Spy winning teams: E-Luhmanators (Aaron, Angela and Mark Luhman) in third, Knoe-It-Alls (Tina Napotnik Sepcic, Xander Lee and Adam Napotnik [not pictured]) in second and O-Town Coaster Crew (Michael Leszkowicz and Abbigail Dees) in first.
Photo: Mike Robinson. View full-sized image.
It was time to announce the winners of the various contests! In the Water Cup Challenge, which raised $183.25 for the ACE Preservation Fund, Bob Prentki took third, Quinn Hutchinson second and Dave Morra first. The Eye Spy 26 winning teams were E-Luhmanators (Mark Luhman, Aaron Luhman and Angela Luhman) in third, The Knoe-It-Alls (Adam Napotnik, Xander Lee and Tina Napotnik Sepcic) in second and O-Town Coaster Crew (Michael Leszkowicz and Abbigail Dees) in first.
A live auction followed for an XD theater seat, a handmade ACE Flies with Knoebels 100 sign and a bumper car, all of which raised $1,350 for the Preservation Fund. The Chance Auction total was $1,216 for the Grand Carousel bell-ringing opportunity and the Knoebels car rides, and the heads or tails game raised $105. The Silent Auction total was $3,265 for ACE’s various charitable funds. This brought the weekend’s fundraising grand total to $6,119.25!
Attendees were grateful to Knoebels and to the ACE Eastern Pennsylvania regional rep team of Derek Shaw, Jessica Knouse, Mike Matscherz, Sue Yekel and Gina Althouse for organizing this event.
Photo: Jessica Knouse collection. View full-sized image.
In thanking Public Relations and Guest Experience Director Stacy Yutko and the Knoebels staff for their help developing ACE Flies with Knoebels 100, Mike also remarked on how important and supportive Dick had been for ACE over the years.
Yutko thanked Mike and the regional rep team for planning ACE Flies with Knoebels 100 and all attendees for coming to the event to honor the park’s anniversary and its late president. After thanking everyone for attending, Brian Knoebel spoke about the park’s anniversary celebration and the sad event that followed and said that he had wondered how he would feel at the Eastern Pennsylvania event. He concluded that this event was like a little break from reality, from the sorrow of recent events, and he was grateful for that.
On a lighter note (and sounding like Dick), Brian challenged attendees to guess how many carousel steel rings the park goes through per year. No one came close, so after supplying the answer (55,000!), he warned with a smile, “if any are in your pockets, leave them here!”
Mike closed the event with a “cheers to Dick” toast — an acknowledgment of ACE’s gratitude and how much Dick’s presence was felt at this event. Attendees left not with a sense of loss and fear of unwanted changes to the park but with the feeling that the legacy of Dick Knoebel would live on through his family and the park staff, who, like Dick, are committed to doing things the right way and always making the park better.
— Lee Ann Draud, ACE News Editor
Photo: Jason Bloom. View full-sized image.
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