Running an amusement park isn’t all fun and games. But doing it with a traditional Lehigh work ethic has helped the Knoebel family build a 100-year family legacy in Elysburg, Pennsylvania.
“From a young age, I was surrounded by hard work — maintaining rides, building improvements, and keeping things running smoothly. It wasn’t just a family tradition; it was a way of life,” says Richard "Dick" Knoebel ’61 P’92, who recently retired as president of Knoebels Amusement Resort after 37 years of leadership.
In October, Dick passed the reins to his son Brian Knoebel, who now serves as the fourth president in the history of the family business, which began in 1926 as a picnic and swimming grove. He leads as part of the fourth-generation ownership team with Dick’s oldest son, Rick ’92, who lends his industrial engineering background. Today, nine members of the third, fourth, and fifth generations are actively involved in the park’s daily operation.
A Solid Foundation
As a prospective Lehigh student, Dick was drawn to the reputation of the university’s engineering program.
“That education taught me how to analyze, plan, and problem-solve — skills that became invaluable later on,” he says. “At Knoebels, understanding how things work isn’t optional; it’s essential. Whether it was ride design, infrastructure, or expansion planning, that technical background helped guide every project I tackled.”
After graduating from Lehigh, Dick joined the Marines and served as an aircraft maintenance officer.
“The Marine Corps sharpened my discipline and leadership — lessons that translated directly into running a business where safety, efficiency, and teamwork come first.”
He returned home to rejoin the family business, married his wife, Barbara P’92, in 1968, and began working alongside her.
“She managed our growing food and catering operations, and I focused on the park’s continued development.”
Officially taking over the park’s leadership in 1988, Dick drew on both his engineering education and Marine Corps training to strengthen Knoebel’s foundation and expand its reach.
“Over the years, we [grew] from a regional destination into the largest free-admission amusement park in the country. Today, we welcome more than 1.4 million guests annually — proof that steady leadership, sound decisions, and a commitment to quality never go out of style.”
Beyond Blood
“I first visited Lehigh on a Boy Scout trip, and I really liked what I saw — though they forgot to show us all the hills!” Dick recalls.
He vividly remembers the high school wrestling match that ended with his mother running to him, waving his acceptance letter to his dream school.
“All I could think about was college and the excitement ahead. That fall, my mother dropped me off Labor Day weekend, said goodbye, and I moved into Dravo, ready to start the next chapter.”
That next chapter included Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity and serving on the Brown and White newspaper staff. He photographed campus life, sports, and other events.
“Some of my favorite memories came from covering the wrestling team,” he recalls. “Camera in hand, traveling with them to meets, and capturing the energy and camaraderie that made Lehigh such a special place.”
When he went on to his long-term career at Knoebels, he maintained his connection to his alma mater, relying on fellow alumni as some of his most trusted partners.
John Fetterman ’74 helped design the Twister rollercoaster, based on the plans of the famed “Mister Twister” in Denver.
Dick describes Fetterman as “brilliant” in taking blueprints and adapting them to fit their lot. Fetterman also contributed to the Phoenix, which won Best Wooden Coaster at Amusement Today's Golden Ticket Awards for seven consecutive years; and Flying Turns, which Dick describes as the only wooden bobsled-style coaster in the world.
Another alum, Mary (Hynoski) Helwig '05, serves as Knoebles’ director of marketing. She grew up in Elysburg and worked as a Knoebels lifeguard before heading off to Lehigh to study business and economics and play basketball. After graduation, she worked for Weis Markets for 10 years.
All the while, she kept in touch with Dick, Rick, and John Fetterman who were proud of her hard work and achievements at Lehigh. In 2014, she was offered the job of leading the park’s marketing.
“I grew up at the park and loved the park and knew the Knoebel family, so when an opportunity came up, I jumped on it,” says Helwig. She had moved back to the Elysburg area and was raising a young family. The idea of working for a family-focused business was appealing to her.
For the Thrill of the Ride
Dick says when he came back from the Marines in 1965, they had six rides.
“Now we have 60. A lot of that's my fault,” he laughs. He says his favorite attractions are the Skooter Bumper Cars, the Flyer, and the Haunted Mansion.
Dick inherited a genuine appreciation for engineered fun from his grandfather, Henry Knoebel, who founded the park after recognizing that fun could be translated into capital.
“His family ran the saw mill, and local people would come out to the property and swim in the creek [and] jump out of the covered bridge. [My grandfather] decided there was another revenue stream here and charged a dime to swim on Sunday,” says Dick.
When this became more popular, Henry saw the potential for growth on their farm.
“First he decided to build a swimming pool and took his best potato field and dug it up. Then one day, my grandmother said, ‘Henry! What's all that noise in the barn?’”
“I'm building fences and tables,” replied Henry. It was then that his wife knew they were never leaving the farm.
Family Fun
USA Today recently named Knoebels’ “Hallo-Fun” the top theme park Halloween event in the country. After years of top-10 placements, winning the top spot came as a surprise, says Dick.
He says they started keeping the park open on weekends in October when they realized people wanted to indulge in fall festivities that offer something for all ages.
“We have it so the little kids can come and they can get a prize for their costume, and it becomes a real family affair,” says Dick.
Hallo-Fun officially launched in 2009. “A few years prior to that, we opened the Haunted Antique Cars and Phoenix roller coaster rides in the dark on Saturdays in October,” Dick recalls. “It started as a simple way to offer our guests another season of Knoebels fun and has grown into something really special.”
As the event grew, so did the planning, which Helwig appreciates as a full team effort.
“While we’re decorating for the current season, the team is already jotting down ideas for next year,” she says. “From designing scenes to planning themed food, we have folks from every department who pour their heart into it.”
“It has been a joy to watch Hallo-Fun grow in both offerings and guest excitement over the years thanks to our team’s creativity and enthusiasm for the event,” Helwig continues. “We stay true to who we are. We’ve always taken great pride in providing family-friendly, memorable experiences, so this is really an extension of those values into the fall season.”
Dick, now president emeritus, still loves seeing the park through visitors’ eyes.
“More than anything, I love roaming the park during Hallo-Fun and hearing the sound of families having fun together. That’s why we do what we do.”
