3 Pennsylvania Theme Parks Are Some Of The Best In The U.S.
There are many amusement and theme parks and attractions here in the U.S. with some having millions of visitors a year. According to the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA), they expect to see a 2 percent boost in North American theme park attendance, representing more than 300 million visits in 2024. Consumer spending is expected to match the pace, with more than $32 billion projected to be spent.
Sometimes, when looking to plan the perfect theme park vacation, trying to pick which park to visit can potentially be overwhelming. To help narrow down the options, USA TODAY, 10 Best asked a panel of experts to nominate their top 20 parks across the country. Then, their readers voted for their favorites.
3 Pennsylvania Theme Parks Are Some of the Best in the U.S.
You may have guessed it, and yes, Hersheypark is on their list. The amusement park found itself a spot at number 4. The park was highlighted for featuring over 120 acres with 70 rides, strolling shows, multiple stages and additional performance areas, a water park, and an 11-acre zoo. They also showed some love to Fahrenheit and Candymonium. “Fahrenheit, one of the park’s most popular thrill rides, is a vertical lift coaster with a 121-foot lift followed by a breathtaking 97-degree drop. Candymonium, the park’s tallest, fastest, and longest hyper coaster debuted in 2020.”
Lower on the list at number 8 is West Mifflin’s Kennywood. At this park, you’ll find wooden roller coasters like the side-by-side Racer, the Thunderbolt, and the “circa” 1920 Jack Rabbit. “If you love a theme park with oodles of history and a collection of iconic rides, Kennywood is your place,” they said.
Higher on the list at spot number 2 is Elysburg’s Knoebels. “The rare amusement park that’s still free to enter (rides require old-school-style tickets), Knoebels is home to Phoenix, one of the most popular wooden roller coasters in the United States,” they said. According to the park’s website, Knoebels Amusement Resort came to be on July 4, 1926. The park’s first attractions included the Crystal Pool, a merry-go-round, and a few food stands.
The Number One Theme Park in the U.S.
The number one best theme park on their list is Branson, Missouri’s Silver Dollar City. This city has an 1880s mining town theme and, according to the ranking, attracts 2 million visitors annually. They were highlighted for their combination of entertainment, festivals, 100 resident craftsmen, and more than 40 rides and attractions. The park is also home to Time Traveler, the “world’s fastest, steepest, and tallest spinning coaster.” This year, the theme park has a Bluegrass & BBQ event planned, a Summer Celebration, a Harvest Festival, an Old Time Christmas event, and other events according to its website.
Take a look at the complete list of best theme parks in the U.S. here.
