Richard “Dick” Knoebel, who guided Knoebels Amusement Resort through nearly four decades of growth while preserving its family-owned traditions, has died at the age of 87.
Knoebels announced his passing Thursday, remembering its president emeritus as a determined leader who dedicated his life to the amusement resort and the families who visited it.
Knoebel served as president of the resort from 1988 until transitioning to president emeritus in 2025. During his tenure, Knoebels earned national and international recognition while maintaining its free-admission model, hometown atmosphere and focus on creating memories for visitors of all ages.
Born into the Knoebel family business, Knoebel developed a passion for the amusement park at an early age. Resort officials said his approach combined “an engineer’s mind and a Marine’s determination,” and he refused to accept that a project could not be completed.
Working alongside his family and the Knoebels team, he helped oversee the preservation and development of some of the park’s most celebrated attractions, including the Phoenix, Twister, Flying Turns, Haunted Mansion and Black Diamond.
His influence also extended throughout the amusement industry. Knoebel held leadership roles with the Pennsylvania Amusement Parks and Attractions and the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions. He was inducted into the IAAPA Hall of Fame in 2014.
Knoebels officials said he found great joy in walking through the park, checking on projects, speaking with employees and watching families enjoy their visits. He especially valued the resort’s employees and credited them with making those experiences possible.
“Dick’s legacy lives on in every laugh, every ride, and every tradition that makes Knoebels feel like home,” the Knoebel family said in a joint statement. “He loved this park, he loved the guests who made it special, and he loved the team who cared for it each and every day.”
Knoebel was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara, in 2009.
He is survived by his sons, Rick and his wife, Dawn, and Brian and his wife, Dawna; four granddaughters, Haley, Abby, Hannah and Ashley; his brother, Buddy, and his wife, Debbie; his sister, Leanna Muscato, and her husband, Joe; along with nieces, nephews, extended family members and friends.
The family also expressed gratitude to Knoebel’s caretaker, Jeannie Reedy, for the companionship and care she provided during his later years.
Brian Knoebel, Dick’s youngest son and the resort’s current president, recalled that his father routinely returned from trips around the park with a list of work that needed to be completed.
“At the conclusion of each trip he took around the park, I was handed a To-Do List,” Brian Knoebel said. “With his last breath, he did everything he could to make Knoebels the greatest destination on earth.”
Information about a memorial service and opportunities for guests to honor Knoebel’s memory will be announced in the coming days.