PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The long-time president of Knoebels Amusement Resort in north-central Pennsylvania has died.
The family-owned park announced the death of Richard “Dick” Knoebel on Thursday. He was 87.
No cause of death was disclosed.
Knoebel served as president of the 100-year-old park that bears his family’s name from 1988 to 2025.
According to the park, he oversaw the creation and preservation of many of its iconic rides, including the Phoenix roller coaster, the Giant Wheel, Flying Turns, Haunted Mansion and Black Diamond.
Knoebel also held leadership roles in both local and national amusement park trade associations.
In a statement, his youngest son and current park president, Brian Knoebel, said, “With his last breath, he did everything he could to make Knoebels the greatest destination on Earth.”
