How Knoebels proved integrations don’t have to be painful

In 2022, Knoebels partnered with Attractions.io to launch its first mobile app in just eight weeks, ready for opening weekend. Built on the Attractions.io core platform, it featured interactive maps, live ride times, messaging, and itinerary planning. Since then, the park has integrated ticketing, payments, and on-ride photography, connecting every part of the guest experience without replacing any existing systems.

"For most parks, integrations drag because someone ends up stuck in the middle. We eliminate that. Our integrations team works directly with partners, manages timelines, and resolves issues before they reach the client's desk.

That's the value of experience: we've done this many times across ticketing, photos, payments, and more, so we know the pitfalls and how to avoid them." — Cory Nadler, Senior Customer Success Manager at Attractions.io

Even with the rapid, out-of-the-box deployment, Knoebels required one custom integration. Their existing, homegrown ride operations system managed live ride statuses, and Attractions.io built an API to connect it directly to the app.

The app delivered value from day one. Guests could see live ride times pulled from Knoebels’ custom system, navigate effortlessly with interactive maps, and stay informed through timely updates and offers.

"Having the ability to send push notifications to our guests is amazing. We promote our dining experiences and have seen an uptick in revenue. We're seeing up to 20% of users engage with our promotional messages."

Tiff Kalejta,
Digital Marketing Manager at Knoebels

Native ticketing and mobile wallet at Knoebels

Native ticketing & the mobile wallet

After a strong first season with the core platform, Knoebels was ready to tackle a major guest pain point: ticketing lines. The park faced long queues at ticket booths, and its existing web store had a 24-hour cut-off. If a guest forgot to buy tickets the day before, they had to queue up in person.

Attractions.io integrated Gateway Ticketing’s Galaxy ticketing system directly into the app. A proven, out-of-the-box integration we’d already delivered across multiple attractions. That familiarity kept timelines tight and reduced technical risk for Knoebels.

By shifting purchases to the app, Knoebels reduced time spent on each in-person transaction. Guests who bought in the app simply had their passes scanned and wristbands applied, freeing up staff and shortening overall wait times.

"The in-app purchase process is far quicker than completing the full transaction at the window. Guests who buy through the app are scanned, banded, and on their way much faster." — Tiff Kalejta, Digital Marketing Manager at Knoebels

The addition of a mobile wallet also opened up new possibilities. Guests could store their passes or purchased ride bundles digitally, and the app could send timely reminders or upsell opportunities.

Bringing ride photos into the app

Next season came ride photography. Knoebels wanted guests to collect and purchase their ride photos through the app, rather than having to visit a photo booth or kiosk. This meant integrating with Get The Picture Corp (GTP), Knoebels' existing on-ride photography provider.

It was a brand-new integration for Attractions.io, but the process ran seamlessly. Our in-house integrations team led the project from start to finish, working directly with GTP’s engineers to align systems and data flows. Knoebels didn’t have to coordinate between vendors or get bogged down in technical details; they were only involved when decisions affected the guest experience.

“Attractions.io made a complex project simple. They understood our platform, leveraged GTP's technology, and worked hand-in-hand with our team to deliver a seamless integration. Knoebels didn’t have to get involved in the technical details—the result was a clean, guest-friendly experience that connects our imaging platform directly with the app.” — Michael Shearer, Vice President, Systems & Engineering, Get The Picture Corp

Knoebels integrated photos in mobile app

A connected experience

Ride photos went live in the Knoebels app for the summer season, and the implementation was elegant from a guest perspective. Now users can:

Link their photo pass to the app (even passes bought earlier in the season).

Share photo passes across multiple family members' devices.

Scan a unique QR code at ride photo displays to instantly pull that image into their app's wallet gallery.

"Guests can now buy their photos when it suits them. They buy more, faster, and Knoebels gets a self-sustaining system that keeps generating revenue without extra work." — Cory Nadler, Client Success Manager at Attractions.io

With ticketing, wallet, and photos successfully integrated, Knoebels now has a connected digital ecosystem that can evolve with guest expectations. Each new integration has built confidence and capability, giving the team a foundation to adapt quickly whenever the next opportunity arises.

How Knoebels integrations were delivered

Integrations rarely fail because of code. They fail because of process, misaligned vendors, vague ownership, and teams stuck in the middle. Attractions.io’s approach prevented that by being built on these core principles:

Vendor-agnostic and client-first:

The platform is designed to integrate with any existing systems an attraction already uses. Knoebels didn’t have to replace Gateway or GTP; Attractions.io handled the integration directly with their teams.

Handle the heavy lifting:

Our integrations team manages the technical delivery end-to-end, coordinating directly with partner engineers and APIs. Knoebels didn’t need to become middleware experts or juggle project management. They stayed focused on the guest experience while we dealt with the backend complexity

Proven connectors first:

Wherever possible, we start with existing, tested integrations — like the Gateway Galaxy connector already deployed at other parks — to reduce risk and speed up rollout. We prioritise proven connectors for speed and reliability, but we’re just as comfortable building new ones when required.

Focused collaboration:

Knoebels wasn’t buried in meetings. We looped them in only when a decision affected the guest journey.

By taking this approach, every integration was delivered smoothly and on schedule. For Knoebels, the conversation shifted from “Can we do this?” to “What do we do next?”

Knoebels mobile app provider Attractions.io

Integration, done right

Knoebels’ app now anchors the park’s entire digital experience.

Every integration added value guests could feel, from faster entries to photos that appear like magic. The systems stayed the same; the experience improved.

Meet with the team