Knoebels Amusement Park

Atlas ObscuraJun 15

The Wooden Way: A Cross-Pennsylvania Pilgrimage to the Golden Age of Thrills

Long before massive steel coasters launched riders into physics-defying drops and corkscrews, Pennsylvania helped define the art of the wooden roller coaster. When they debuted in the early 20th century, many of the state’s classic amusement parks drew city dwellers to lakesides, river valleys, and wooded hillsides for fresh air and excitement. By the 1920s, innovative coaster engineers at loca…