Elysburg, PA – The parking field at Knoebels Amusement Resort that typically welcomes visitors to the area from near and far is currently a sea of blue and yellow steel. On Tuesday, February 3, that steel will begin to make its way to the site where it will be assembled as Knoebels’ first major steel coaster since Whirlwind was removed in 2005.
The tower roller coaster, dubbed “Impulse,” will be one of the first things visitors see as they approach the park via Knoebels Parkway. It is expected to open during the 2015 season and features: over 2,000 feet of track, a 98 foot high chain lift hill, a 90-degree free fall drop, several inversions, speeds over 55 miles per hour, three eight-passenger roller coaster cars with lap bar restraints, and more.
The Knoebels team began preparing the site for the new thrill ride the second the park closed for the day this past Labor Day. Initial efforts included removing Boat Tag and Bumper Boats, rerouting storm drains and various underground utilities, and fencing in the area. After site preparation, came drilling and foundation work. The 159 caissons on site are an average of 17’6” into the earth with 4’ of that being rooted in bedrock. The area is further stabilized by roughly 3,100 cubic yards of concrete.
Impulse is employing approximately 45 people at the site alone. The roller coaster was manufactured by German company Zierer, meaning that the steel was designed, constructed, assembled to ensure proper fit, disassembled, primed, and painted in Europe. The steel track and supports will arrive in a total of 51 containers, some from Germany, and others from Slovakia. So far, 20 of those 51 containers have arrived at Knoebels with the next delivery occurring next week. Knoebels is currently designing the station for the ride and will be constructing the station as the final part of the process.
The Impulse project is a major initiative of the fourth generation of the Knoebel family. Being that Knoebels is an amusement park for all ages to enjoy, management hopes that this ride will appeal to a new generation of riders.
