Phoenix (roller coaster)

Phoenix
Lift hill of the Phoenix
Knoebels
Coordinates	40°52′42″N 76°30′23″W / 40.87833°N 76.50639°WCoordinates: 40°52′42″N 76°30′23″W / 40.87833°N 76.50639°W
Status	Operating
Opening date	June 15, 1985 (relocated)
Cost	US$ 1,500,000 (with relocation)
General statistics
Type	Wood
Manufacturer	Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters
Designer	Herbert Paul Schmeck, 1947
Track layout	Double Out and Back
Lift/launch system	Chain lift hill
Height	78 ft (24 m)
Drop	72 ft (22 m)
Length	3,200 ft (980 m)
Speed	45 mph (72 km/h)
Inversions	0
Duration	2:00 min
Capacity	720 riders per hour
Height restriction	42 in (107 cm)
Phoenix at RCDB Pictures of Phoenix at RCDB

The Phoenix is a wooden roller coaster located at the Knoebels Amusement Resort in Elysburg, Pennsylvania. Prior to its purchase by Knoebels and its subsequent relocation in the mid-1980s, it was operated under the name "The Rocket" at Playland Park in San Antonio, TX.

History

Designed and built by Herb Schmeck and the Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters (PTC), the roller coaster operated as "The Rocket" at the Playland Park in San Antonio from 1947 until the park's closure in 1980. At its opening, the Phoenix was hailed as "the largest roller coaster in the world," with 3200 feet of track and 78 foot first hill. Knoebels purchased the ride in 1984 and dismantled it starting in January 1985. As there were no blueprints to work with, each individual board was numbered and cataloged on site.

The restored roller coaster opened at Knoebels on June 15, 1985. It is named after the mythical phoenix bird which rises, reborn, from its own ashes. This effort, the first large-scale wooden roller coaster relocation in many years, helped spark a movement for the restoration and relocation of other roller coasters standing but not operating.

Features and popularity

The Phoenix coaster routinely gives a fast ride with many spots where riders experience upwards acceleration, or negative gravity. This floating sensation is known affectionately to coaster enthusiasts as "airtime," and they applaud the coaster as the airtime occurs. Since the inception of the Internet Wood Tracked Roller Coaster Poll, the Phoenix has consistently ranked among the top 10. The Phoenix is an ACE Coaster Landmark^[1] and has consistently been ranked at or near #4 for Best Wooden Coaster by Amusement Today magazine's annual Golden Ticket Awards, but reached #2 in its class in the worldwide 2011 Golden Ticket Award competition.

Golden Ticket Awards: Top wood Roller Coasters
Year	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016
Ranking	10[2]	6[3]	5[4]	4[5]	5[6]	4[7]	4[8]	4[9]	5[10]	3[11]	3[12]	4[13]	3[14]	2[15]	3[16]	3[17]	4[18]	3[19]	2[20]

Mitch Hawker's Best Roller Coaster Poll: Best wood-Tracked Roller Coaster[21]
Year	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013
Ranking	4	6	9 (tie)	9	12	9	11	11	6	6	3	5	4	7	5	8	4	5	5	5

NAPHA Survey: Favorite Wood Roller Coaster[22]
Year	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009
Ranking	1	1	1 (tie)	2	2 (tie)

Modern usage

Since 1986, Knoebels has held the "Phoenix Phall Phun Phest," a yearly October event for roller coaster enthusiasts. In 2001 alone, over 1500 roller coaster and amusement park fans converged on Knoebels, many in costume, to participate in a memorabilia swap meet and use the rides after the park closed to the general public. The event was rated the third best Halloween event in 2008 and 2009 by Amusement Today. The Phoenix also has a song about the move from San Antonio to Knoebels. It is called "Fly With The Phoenix" by Dave Parker. The music video is on YouTube.

Phoenix facts

• Trains - 2 PTC, 1 yellow and 1 orange, 24 passengers each

Trivia

The wooden coaster, Wolverine Wildcat at Michigan's Adventure, is loosely based on the layout of Phoenix.

References

1. ACE Coaster Landmark Awards
2. "Top 25 wood roller coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 6B. August 1998. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
3. "Top 25 wood roller coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 6B. August 1999. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
4. "Top 25 wood roller coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. August 2000. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
5. "Top 25 wood roller coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 6B. August 2001. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
6. "Top 25 wood roller coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 6B. September 2002. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
7. "Top 50 wood roller coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 10–11B. September 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
8. "Top 50 wood roller coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 14–15B. September 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 3, 2007. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
9. "Top 50 wood roller coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 22–23B. September 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
10. "Top 50 wood roller coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 30–31B. September 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
11. "Top 50 wood roller coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 11 (6.2): 42–43. September 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
12. "Top 50 wood roller coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 12 (6.2): 42–43. September 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
13. "Top 50 wood roller coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 13 (6.2): 38–39. September 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
14. "Top 50 wood roller coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 14 (6.2): 38–39. September 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
15. "Top 50 wood roller coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 15 (6.2): 46–47. September 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
16. "Top 50 wood roller coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 16 (6.2): 46–47. September 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 2, 2015. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
17. "2013 Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 17 (6.2): 40–41. September 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
18. "2014 Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 18 (6.2): 38–39. September 2014. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
19. "2015 Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 19 (6.2): 45–46. September 2015. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
20. "2016 Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 20 (6.2): 46–46. September 2016. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
21. Hawker, Mitch. "Wooden Roller Coaster Poll 20 Year Results Table (1994–2013)". Best Roller Coaster Poll. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
22. Surveys - National Amusement Park Historical Association