In the wake of snowy days and semester slumps, it can be hard to remember that so much fun is just around the corner, especially at our favorite local park, Knoebels. While you’re working hard on classes, Knoebels is working hard for their 99th season’s grand opening. So, what’s going on up there during the closed winter months?

First, the newly refurbished Bayern Kurve has been fully constructed, by the looks of it. The attraction was quietly added to the park’s digital maps back in August, hopefully signaling that the thrill ride will be ready to rock and roll for the 2025 season! A Bayern Kurve is a nearly extinct ride model that operates by accelerating riders in a circle with a small airtime hill, up to 70 miles an hour. This Bayern Kurve, in particular, is rumored to be purchased from Kennywood and lovingly refurbished to entertain generations of thrill-seekers for years to come! I know I’ll certainly be in line whenever it debuts; I hope to see you there!

Want to get the jump on your summer fun? Knoebels has a few deals on their website for Valentine’s Day for pre-paid ride tickets and some bonus delicious fudge. A plethora of theme parks around this point of off-season are offering discounted tickets or passes with benefits (Hershey especially), so keep your eyes peeled for the best deals!

We here at the Voice would be remiss if we did not mention the elephant in the room for the entire, nationwide theme park industry – massive layoffs and pay cuts of seasonal staff at Six Flags, and the demolition of historical, high-maintenance rides, including the world’s tallest operating coaster – Kingda Ka. Another, future edition of Kickin’ it at Knoebels will discuss more in-depth the somber state of the industry – but also how Knoebels is optimistically going against the grain and advocating for their employees.