HR 448 — A Resolution designating July 4, 2026, as "Knoebels Amusement Resort Day" in Pennsylvania, celebrating 100 years of operation in this Commonwealth.

PRINTER'S NO.    3044

                  THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



           HOUSE RESOLUTION
              No. 448
                                              Session of
                                                2026

     INTRODUCED BY STEHR, HAMM, M. MACKENZIE, RAPP, MADDEN,
        STAMBAUGH, HADDOCK, BRENNAN, NEILSON, KAUFFMAN, GILLEN,
        PICKETT, MALONEY, RADER, STENDER, SCHEUREN, ROWE, HOHENSTEIN,
        FLICK, TWARDZIK, HEFFLEY, BRIGGS, ARMANINI, WATRO,
        BENNINGHOFF, CIRESI AND LEADBETER, MARCH 19, 2026

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TOURISM, RECREATION AND ECONOMIC
        DEVELOPMENT, MARCH 23, 2026


                               A RESOLUTION
 1   Designating July 4, 2026, as "Knoebels Amusement Resort Day" in
 2      Pennsylvania, celebrating 100 years of operation in this
 3      Commonwealth.
 4      WHEREAS, Knoebels Amusement Resort, commonly referred to as
 5   "Knoebels," is a family-owned-and-operated amusement park and
 6   campground located in Elysburg; and
 7      WHEREAS, Knoebels is the largest free admission park in the
 8   United States; and
 9      WHEREAS, Knoebels opened on July 4, 1926, upon a beautiful
10   valley in central Pennsylvania; and
11      WHEREAS, The Knoebel family purchased a plot of land in 1828
12   for $932 and used the land predominantly for farming until the
13   early 1900s; and
14      WHEREAS, The location later turned into a popular picnic
15   destination named "Knoebels Grove," where visitors could enjoy
16   the creek-fed swimming hole and purchase soft drinks and snacks;
 1   and
 2         WHEREAS, Popularity for Knoebels Grove grew and the Knoebel
 3   family began to lease plots of land along the creeks as summer
 4   cottage sites, with some of these cottages still existing on the
 5   property today; and
 6         WHEREAS, In 1926, the Knoebel family's entrepreneurial vision
 7   included adding a restaurant, a steam-powered carousel and
 8   transforming the old creek-fed swimming hole into a concrete
 9   filtered swimming pool named "The Crystal Pool"; and
10         WHEREAS, The Crystal Pool became the focal point of the park
11   with over 50 attractions, rides and games added for visitors to
12   enjoy; and
13         WHEREAS, Knoebels thrived over the years, spanning 150 acres
14   and featuring 64 attractions that include roller coasters and
15   water rides; and
16         WHEREAS, In those thriving years, the amusement park endured
17   many challenges with Mother Nature; and
18         WHEREAS, Due to the amusement park's proximity to water
19   sources, Knoebels has suffered substantial damage to property
20   from major flooding in 1972, 1975, 1996, 2004, 2006 and 2011;
21   and
22         WHEREAS, Despite Mother Nature's best attempts at
23   destruction, Knoebels continues to reopen year after year, with
24   the help from dedicated staff and loyal community support; and
25         WHEREAS, Knoebels is more than just a free admission, free
26   parking and free entertainment amusement park, Knoebels is a
27   shining example of what Pennsylvania is known for; therefore be
28   it
29         RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate July 4,
30   2026, as "Knoebels Amusement Resort Day" in Pennsylvania and

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1   celebrate a century of pure Pennsylvania amusement and
2   entertainment.




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