America’s largest free-admission amusement park announced that the addition is brand new, but longtime visitors might recognize some characteristics of a former ride. According to Dick Knoebel, the ride, which has been given the name “Over the Top” by Knoebels, stood out to the Knoebel family at an industry expo in November.
“One of the reasons it caught our attention is that it gives riders a sensation similar to that of the old Flying Cages,” said Knoebel. “In addition, we received the stamp of approval from younger family members who never experienced the Cages and still spoke highly of the thrill.”
Knoebel is referring to the Flying Cages, or Cages, that operated at Knoebels from 1964 until the park’s Handstamp Building was constructed in 1986. A rider was challenged to shift his or her weight back and forth inside the cage, while standing, in an attempt to make the cage go ‘over the top.’ Visitors can find one of the original Cages in the Knoebels History Museum, and during its Hallo-Fun event, when a Cage reemerges as a decoration.
Though riders will not be tasked with propelling the new ride, the ‘over the top’ motion will be part of the rider experience, as will the fact that riders will be standing. The ride will have a Cages-like theme at Knoebels, and will move both clockwise and counterclockwise.
According to Knoebels spokeswoman, Stacy Ososkie, Over the Top will be located in the area of Wipeout, Fandango, and Cub Cars rides, and the Monkey Madness game.
Visitors need to be at least 48 inches in height to ride Over the Top. The ride will reach more than twenty-one feet in height when in operation, and can operate with twelve riders at a time. It is scheduled for a late spring/early summer opening. To date, it is the only one of its kind set for operation in Pennsylvania this year. It is manufactured by SBF-VISA Group.
