Tac Talks Coasters - Post 116: #54
Photo Sources: All photos are mine
Impulse at Knoebels!
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Opened: 2015 Manufacturer: Zierer Height: 98 ft (30 m) Speed: 55 mph (89 kph) Length: 1,975 ft (602 m) My most recent ride: 2023
Knoebels is most famous for their fantastic trio of wooden coasters in Phoenix, Twister and Flying Turns, but in 2015, they did something no one had expected and built a modern, inverting steel coaster. Knoebels had had an inverting steel coaster before, with Whirlwind operating at the park between 1993 and 2004, but that was an old, relocated Vekoma looper, so I can only imagine how bad that must have been lmao.
But Impulse, as surprising an addition as it was, is really a fantastic fit for Knoebels. It compliments their wooden coaster lineup very well, brings a thrilling steel coaster with inversions back into the park, but isn't too extreme that it scares off younger riders. It's located right at the front of the park and it's impossible to miss as you drive in, with it's bright blue and yellow color scheme.
I've been going to Knoebels nearly every year since about 2007, and it's probably the most sentimental park out there for me. Even though it's not my home park, it's the park that I feel that I grew up at and where I first found my love of roller coasters. So when I first heard that they were building Impulse, I was so excited, and the result absolutely did not disappoint! Although I will say, I do sometimes kinda miss the bumper boats Impulse replaced lol
Impulse has a really great variety of forces and elements. The vertical lift immediately into a vertical drop offers some awesome airtime, and then goes right into some really strong positive Gs going into the cobra roll. The vertical loop after the cobra roll is also solid. The following sweeping turn and helix around the lift hill are a bit of a chance to catch your breath before the ride's best inversion: a super slow heartline roll passing through the vertical loop. This roll offers some fantastic hangtime. It's not quite as long as the jojo roll on Hydra at Dorney, but that's the element I'd compare it to the most. After that, you go through a helix that offers some more solid positive Gs and then you head on into the brake run.
Impulse is not a very long ride, which I think is the only notable thing I'd critique about it, but outside of that, I think it's really solid. I always love getting some rides on this any time I go to Knoebels, and it makes me wonder what kind of coaster Knoebels might add next. If they do something unconventional and outside their comfort zone like this, I think whatever they might add next could be even more unique. And when they do that, you know I'll be first in line for it hehe
Thanks for checking out today's coaster post! Keep an eye out for tomorrow's coaster!