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Our annual trip to ATRA's favorite amusement park, Knoebels, for fun, food, and rides of all kinds - even coasters!
Who was there? What did they do?
Our annual trip to ATRA's favorite amusement park, Knoebels, for fun, food, and rides of all kinds - even coasters!
Co-Hosted by Samuel Linetsky and ATRA, members celebrated Sam's move to Alabama with a fun day at Cedar Point. Same day as the Last Stand on Mantis!
This year, like every year, ATRA member were in attendance at Morey's Piers' fantastic Coastin' by the Ocean event.
A fine time was had by all!
POP, ice cream, and many rides on Phoenix! Pete, Rick and Duke had a fun day at Knoebels!
Although April's birthday was April 1st, she invited everyone to come and celebrate her 40th Birthday on Knoebels Opening Day.
The Birthday Cake Pavilion was reserved for the entire day. There the group joined April for yummy cake! (Thanks to Dave for the cakes!) After, there were group photos, then we went back to ride! Later, Rick Davis graciously invited all ATRA members to his RV at the Knoebels Campground to continue the celebration
Many members wore their ATRA shirts, but Pete took his off later...
As always, it was a fun day at Knoebels!
A gathering for all ATRA Members attending the ACE Eastcoaster 2014 event, held in the hot tub at The Hilton Garden Inn, Allentown, PA.
Who knows what really happened?
A gathering for all ATRA Members attending the ACE Eastcoaster 2013 event, held in the hot tub at The Hilton Garden Inn, Allentown, PA.
Who knows what really happened?
Ran into Bruce Turner and his friend Ellen (sp?) at IOA - thus it was an ATRA Tour Event! Part of Duke and Lily's 2012 Florida trip. Click here to read more!
This year like every other...why would we miss Phunfest?
Click here for a photo gallery!
On the day after Riding of the Bull, ATRA members Duke, Lily, Rick, and Pete spent a fine day at Casino Pier, attending ACE New Jersey's regional event, Seaside Hangover. Little did they know at the time, this woudl be their last trip there before Hurricane Sandy reaped havoc on Seaside.
Click here for a photo gallery!
On Thursday, August 9, ATRA members April, Dave, Mark, Adam, Rick, and Pete spent a fine day at Kings Island.
Click here for a photo gallery!
So after a great day at Hershey Park, Duke, Lily, Pete, and Rick headed over to Dorney Park. The plan had been to attend Coaster Madness, bu in the end it was decided that all would head home early, so rides were had, frozen custard was consumed, and our intrepid group hit the road as the sun headed down in the sky. Click here for a photo gallery!
On Thursday June 7 ATRA members Duke, Lily, Pete, and Rick spent a fun day at Hershey Park, and collected their credits on new coaster, Skyrush. This was Pete's 850th roller coaster! Click here for a photo gallery!
As a preview to the ACE Spring Conference to follow at 5 p.m., ATRA members Duke, Lily, Mark, Pete, Rick, and Ron came to Cedar Point to enjoy the ride. Click here for a photo gallery!
Three members of the ATRA Executive Committee: Mark, April, & Pete enjoyed the annual last day event at Cedar Point on October 30, 2011. Many other ATRA members attended the event including Ron, Sam, Jason & Deb Monroe, Jim & Joyce Kilbane, and Dave.
ATRA Members Pete and Rick (seen here) as well as Rusty and Cindy got one last ride on Paddlewheel Excursions at Cedar Point. It was one of the oldest rides at the park, and Pete remembers riding them many times with his family and friends since his first visit in 1966. Although the boats have been updated and replaced over the years, the ride was part of the old school vibe of Cedar Point and will be missed by many. The Paddlewheel Excursions paddlewheelers took their final cruise Labor Day, September 5, 2011.
Many ATRA members attended Coastermania this year, and we have an ATRA first - a large group photo!!
ATRA members Pete, April, Sammy "Skittles," Luko, Bill, and Robnoxious enjoy a very cold & snowy day at the Wisp Resort Mountain Coaster. The event was held the day after the ACE CoasterBash! event in Pittsburgh. ACE Mid-Atlantic Region is organizing an event for the day after CoasterBash! each year starting in 2012. Once again...an ATRA first!
August 27 brought another beautiful day for ATRA Day at Knoebels, unlike ATRA Day in 2009. Although the attendance was low, all members had a great time. Pete was joined by Rick for their first trip to Knoebels together since 2007. ATRA Members Duke & Lisa and Jim were also enjoying the day. ATRA Day was created for members to enjoy a "regular" operating day at Knoebels in mid-season to experience the total vibe. Another tradition on ATRA Day is to search for new food at Knoebels. This year, three new food items were found: Fried Ice Cream Sundaes at the snack shop by the Twister, Pizza Logs (only $1) across from The Pioneer Train Station. and Apple & Cherry Pie A-La-Mode with Dipn Dots Ice Cream near the Sky Ride. Yum!
Being a regular operating day, a Pay-One-Price was in effect and as always discount coupons were available at Danville motels. ATRA members were fortunate to get many rides on the great collection Knoebels has to offer. One thing these five ATRA members agree that The Phoenix is their #1 wooden roller coaster! And as always, The Phoenix was flying on ATRA Day!
New memories were made with ATRA friends, rides, food, and fun! Click here to see a small photo gallery
Pete's Birthday celebration began with a Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band concert at Fallsview Casino in Niagara Falls on June 24. It was the opening night of the 2010 tour, which also included a show on Ringo's 70th Birthday at Radio City Music Hall in NYC. Paul McCartney and many other stars appeared at this show.
The birthday celebration continued for Pete at a Furthur concert at the Highland Bowl in Rochester NY on Friday, June 25. This was also opening night of Furthur's summer tour, which ended at the Mann Music Center in Philadelphia on July 11. Pete joined ATRA members Duke & Lisa and Brian for both shows.
The ATRA Tour Continued on Saturday, June 26- Pete's 52nd Birthday. ATRA celebrated this event at Waldameer Park in Erie PA, one of Pete's favorite amusement parks. Many ATRA members were in attendance: Duke & Lisa, April, Dave, Jim, Ron, Noreen & Tony, Rusty & Cindy, Lee, Joe and his cousins. It was a beautiful day and everyone had a great time riding Ravine Flyer and the wonderful collection of rides at Waldameer Park. After a group photo at The Potato Patch, the group had an ITOT (Informal Take Over Time) on the classic Comet wooden coaster. The entire group filled one train and after another group photo, they sang "Happy Birthday" to Pete as the train left the station and climbed the lift hill. As you can see in the following photos, a splendid time was had by all!
And so dear viewers, on a dark and stormy Friday morning, our heroes on the ATRA Tour arrived at the famed Knoebels Amusement Resort in the hills east of Elysburg PA for a fun filled day of rides and food. But as fate would have it, the winds of rain were upon them, so while periods of rainlessness were regular, those of precipitation were repeated as well. But our plucky adventurers were persistent, and many rides were had. Rain was the chance to eat meals or treats, or play fascination, or nap. Yes folks, the Phoenix was her flying self, Twister too was turning fast laps, and we even got a new credit on Kosmo’s Kurves. And don’t forget Ole’ Smokey! And although one Tour member left to consume mass quantities of barley malts, and one held a meeting with the Sandman in a dry micro-bus, three lasted to closing with two in the one last and final train.
Those ATRA JellyHeads also attempted a side trip at the Land of Make Believe. Their complete trip report can be found here.
In August of 2007 the Vermont No-Coaster Club sent a scouting party to Nova Scotia. They were never heard from again. This is the tragic story of their attempted rescue...
It was an ambitious plan, but a plan nonetheless, and the only chance we had to find our missing scouts. We'd drive to Moncton, New Brunswick on Saturday, 8/1, search the wilds of Nova Scotia on Sunday, and return, victorious or chest fallen, on Monday. The budget would allow for no more – Sunday, blessed Sunday, was our only chance. We knew we'd be more effective with help, and as this journey was put together last minute, there were few who could assist, but ATRA Historian Pete volunteered to fly out to join us. His plane was scheduled to land at Manchester NH at 9:55 a.m., so we could be in Moncton by 8 p.m. at the latest, and make our first stop, the Crystal Palace in Dieppe, before they closed at 10. Our plan looked promising, but ah, the best laid plans... More...
ATRA members Tina, April and Dave attended Family Day at Stricker's Grove to ride Tornado, Teddy Bear, the Flying Scooters and other fun ride -- and maybe the kiddie whip?
Stricker's Grove is an ATRA favorite -- a small, traditional park with 2 wood track coasters! (And Flyers for April!)
To see how the new ownership has effected the park ATRA members Pete, April and Dave trekked out to the cornfields of Indiana and the once fabled Indiana Beach. They found the park more crowded than they had ever seen. A good time was had, but they only got to ride each coaster once. Their only complaint: they shut down rides before closing time! That, and Galaxy was closed!
Everyone needs to go and get some rides on Tig'rr Coaster, the last operating Jet Star in North America! How long will it last...?
ATRA members Pete, Dave, April and and her friend Kelly cruised into this massive amusement park for a day with friends, and the coasters that are in it.
A week after Pete's 50th Birthday celebration at Knoebels, Pete, April and Dave visited Six Flags St. Louis. They were treated to many rides on their new wooden roller coaster, Evel Knievel. This was Pete's 150th wooden roller coaster! Pete has also ridden 657 steel coasters, for a total of 807 roller coaster credits! Unbelievable!
Evel Knievel was built by Great Coasters International and opened on June 20, 2008. Pete believes it to be the best of all the wooden coasters that GCI has designed!
Through the graciousness of the Western New York Coaster Club, ATRA members were not only able to attend CoasterfestTM 2008, we were invited to present our own plaque to commemorate the opening of the Ravine Flyer II, as well as presenting the park with a copy of the Waldameer Song Blues.
ATRA members where some of the first to ride the all new new Ravine Flyer II! Full report coming soon...
The long lost photo gallery --
ATRA members April, Dave and Pete traveled to far off and remote McHenry, in western Maryland to visit Wisp Mountain Ski Resort Park and ride their new Mountain Coaster!
April's report:
On Saturday, March 29, 2008, Dave and I set out for McHenry, Maryland, where the mountain coaster at Wisp Ski Resort awaited us.
We departed around 11:30 am and after a couple of stops, made our way through 4 states (Ohio, PA, WV (twice!!), and MD) to complete the approximate 4-hour drive to the mountain coaster, one of only four of its kind. More...
A large contingent of ATRA members (most incognito) could be found skulking around Knoebels during this years beautifully warm Phoenix Phall Phunfest. While not strictly an ATRA event, we felt some photos were in order:
Darrell Klompmaker, Park General Manager and ATRA member, congratulated Pete before the park opened.
At 12 Noon, Pete and Rick boarded the train. Pictures were taken and they were treated to "triple rides" on The Meteor all day! Little Amerricka Ride Operator and ATRA member, Mary, was also on hand.
The Meteor opened at Little Amerricka on August 8, 2007, and has given 4600 rides to date. It was moved from Hillcrest Park in Lemont, Illinois, which closed on September 1, 2003.
The roller coaster was originally designed by Herbert Schmeck in 1952, and operated as the Little Dipper. Little Amerricka purchased the Little Dipper at the Hillcrest Park auction on October 25, 2003 for $9000.
ATRA PR Director April and members Dave, Pete, and Ron, joined by Raptorman Dave, were happily able to take April's brother Mike, after 7 years of serious withdrawal, for a spin on some monster coasters at CP. Particularly fun for Mike was Maverick and Top Thrill Dragster, where cries of "Holy ****" were heard as the monstrous train twisted down its 400-foot drop. Rides were mostly walk-on and it was a very fun and thrilling day. (Mike has since become an ATRA member.)
Since it was the holiday weekend, Pete left for New Jersey a few days early to visit Rehoboth Beach to ride the unique dark ride, Haunted Mansion for the first time.
Pete and Mark met at The Boardwalk in Atlantic City early Tuesday afternoon. Mark had just been on his first airplane ride from Cleveland, and was in Atlantic City for his job.
The Steel Pier was closed, but the workers allowed us to walk through and take photos of the pier, since Mark was never there before. Sure hope The Steel Pier opens again in 2008!
It was too late to go to the Mariner's Landing waterpark in Wildwood, so we went to the Day's Inn on the Boardwalk, where Pete was staying, and took a nice relaxing dip in the ocean. Swimming in the ocean was also a first time event for Mark. The weather was beautiful and the water was warm.
Then off to Ocean City to get some rides at Gillian's Wonderland Pier and Playland's Castaway Cove, which we were surprised that they were open 6-11PM, since it was after Labor Day and a weekday. It was Mark's first time in Ocean City and we had a beautiful night!
Mark and Pete visited Waldameer Park to view the Ravine Flyer II construction.
Ravine Flyer has been Mark's most anticipated roller coaster in 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007. It will finally open in May 2008!
It was a dark and stormy night...erp, day....and, despite much hope of getting on a single coaster, most, if not all four ATRA members were able to ride Villain, Dominator, Thunderhawk, Double Loop and attend a magic show with a break in the weather. Warm soft pretzels added a much-needed solution to hunger. A fun few hours was had by all.
A Joint ATRA / VMNCC outing to New York's Adirondack Park, Three ATRA or Three VMNCC members traveled to the mountainous and tourist filled upstate NY region to gain a credit at Santa's Workshop (Santa's Sleigh Coaster) and ride one of the best wood tracked coasters on the planet, Great Escape's Comet.
Santa's Workshop | ||
Great Escape | ||
An assortment of ATRA members attempted to pick up the coaster credit at Pocono Play Park, then ride and eat at Knoebels while they wished Flying Turns was open!
Well, as they knew, Flying Turns was not open, but neither was the coaster at Pocono Play Park! Moral of the story -- always call these little parks before driving out of your way to get there...
Also P.R.Director April's Birthday. Seven ATRA members were in attendance
We were able to get a group rate of $13 per person, a $5 savings for each person! The event was attended by 10 ATRA members
There were more than 20 ATRA members scheduled to attend and we were scheduled ERT from 8:30-9:30 p.m. Many of our members did not show up, so the ERT was canceled. Mark Kindler, ATRA President did not show up till 7:55 p.m. and The Silver Comet was closed (the park closed at 8) and the last train was ready to pull out of the station. Mark pleaded with the ride operator, who allowed Mark to board the train and get the final ride of the night.
Our President, Mark Kindler, could not attend this event. There were six ATRA members in attendance-Pete, April, Marshall, Fred, Kathy, and Ron.
Pete, April, Ron & Fred |
April, Pete & Ron |
Pete, April & Mike (April's Brother) |
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