Kennywood

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Kennywood
Image:Kennywood.JPG
A view of the gates
Location West Mifflin, Pennsylvania Flag of United States 40°23′15″N, 79°51′51″WCoordinates: 40°23′15″N, 79°51′51″W
Address 4800 Kennywood Boulevard West Mifflin, PA 15122
Website www.kennywood.com/
Owner Kennywood Entertainment
Opened 1898
Operating season Summer, weekends in May and September, Phantom Fright Nights in late September and October
Area 107 acres
Rides 32 total
  • 5 roller coasters
Slogan America's Favorite Traditional Amusement Park

Kennywood is an amusement park near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in the borough of West Mifflin. It ranked second to Cedar Point in the category of "Favorite Park" in Theme Park Magazine's 2004 Reader's Choice Awards.[1] Kennywood uses the slogan "America's Favorite Traditional Amusement Park." It features a number of old wooden coasters (3) still in working order, along with a newer steel coaster, the Phantom's Revenge (2001), and one indoor coaster, the Exterminator (1999). There is also a variety of other unique family-type rides, 32 attractions total. Kennywood is also famous for their Fresh Cut French Fries at the "Potato Patch" stand. The fries are cut fresh and served in a basket with an option of up to eight toppings. The Potato Patch Fries have become so well known that Pittsburgh-based Giant Eagle grocery stores began selling Potato Patch Fries in frozen food form in 2001. From the 1960s through the early 1990s, Kennywood's slogan was "The Roller Coaster Capital of the World".

Kennywood is one of two amusement parks listed in the National Register of Historic Places, the other being Rye Playland Park. It is also one of the few amusement parks that still allow guests to bring their own picnic lunch into the park.[1]

Contents

[edit] Location

Kennywood is approximately 10 miles from downtown Pittsburgh, in West Mifflin, PA. The park is located on PA State Route 837, sometimes referred to as Kennywood Boulevard; the closest interstate exit is Interstate 376's Swissvale Exit #7. Despite the park's obscure location— it was once the terminus of a streetcar line— it is rather easy to find for two reasons. First, it is located on the "Green Belt", part of the Pittsburgh/Allegheny County Belt System. Second, Kennywood has blanketed the neighboring area with yellow wooden "Kennywood" arrows, to the point where the yellow arrow has become the park's logo.

Several Port Authority bus lines run up to or near the park. One line, the 61C, stops at park bus shelter, while the 55B, 55E and 59A stop a nearby strip mall that is less than a quarter of a mile from the park, while the 58C, 58P and 58V express lines (running only during rush hour) stop at a Route 837 intersection about 100 yards from the park entrance.

Kennywood Park is located at 40°23'15" North, 79°51'51" West.

[edit] History

Before becoming a park, the Kenny family owed a grove of trees overlooking the river. People began picnicking here, and eventually a trolley line was added. Kennywood Park began in 1898 as a trolley park that catered to local industrial workers and their families. Originally built at the end of a trolley line to encourage ridership, the park began to generate more revenue than the trolley business itself. Yet the Pittsburgh Street Railway Company wanted out of the amusement park business and sold it to A.S. McSwigan and Frederick W. Henninger in 1906. The two would work to expand the park into the Kennywood known today. Many Pittsburghers see Kennywood as a great and fun-filled place and the park has a loyal local fan base.

From its origin as a working-class picnic destination, the park grew in the first half of the twentieth century into a popular entertainment site that combined technological thrill rides with recreation venues like swimming pools and dance halls. In the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, the park remained successful by adding rides like the Log Jammer, the Raging Rapids, the Steel Phantom (later turned into the Phantom's Revenge) and the Pitt Fall. Kennywood is also known for its scenery and mascot Kenny Kangaroo.

Today the park features a nostalgic atmosphere and is supported by a loyal local fan base. Kennywood Entertainment also runs Sandcastle Waterpark [2], which opened in 1989, Idlewild Park [3] near Ligonier, and Lake Compounce [4], New England's family theme park in Bristol, Connecticut.

After the Pittsburgh Steelers won Super Bowl XL in 2006, Steelers safety Mike Logan, a native of McKeesport, Pennsylvania, near Kennywood, made a humorous riff on the "I'm Going to Disney World!" advertising campaign usually associated with the Super Bowl, saying, "Forget Disney World, I want them to open up Kennywood!"

[edit] Proposed Expansion

In July 2005, Kennywood was in negotiations to buy brownsfield land that would increase the size of the park from 92 to up to 140 acres, and carry it into the neighboring city of Duquesne. Kennywood officials, however, insist that the proposal is contingent on the completion of the long-delayed Mon-Fayette Expressway to pass within feet of the park.

As of March 2006, Kennywood had bought 15 acres and is in the process of acquiring another 28 acres of the Union Railroad yard. Its $60 million expansion plan, all contingent on taxes and the Mon-Fayette Expressway, includes a hotel, an indoor water park, and a new signature thrill ride. The new water park would be separate from the much larger Sandcastle Waterpark. West-to-West Coalition, a collection of 22 municipal governments, has announced that it is working with Kennywood on its expansion plan.

[edit] Gallery

view from the parking lot

another view from the parking lot

Thunderbolt

Phantom's Revenge

[edit] Attractions

[edit] Roller Coaster History

Through the years, Kennywood has made use of the hilly Pittsburgh terrain to create coasters that wouldn't be feasible anywhere else. The Thunderbolt and the Jack Rabbit, both wooden coasters, place the lift chain in the middle of the ride, not at the beginning. In both cases, the car leaves the station and drops into a valley for its first hill. Phantom's Revenge uses the same valley as the Thunderbolt, where the Phantom's second drop passes through the supports of the Thunderbolt's first drop. Many coasters sit in the footprint of former coasters. The Phantom's Revenge bears an obvious resemblance to the record-setting Steel Phantom. Older visitors will recall that the Thunderbolt is an improvement of the Pippin.

[edit] Current Roller Coasters

  • Racer - A John A. Miller wooden roller coaster with a track that is looped over on itself to create the appearance of two separate, parallel tracks. Riders choose from one of two trains, one on each side of the loading platform, that then race against each other as they traverse the course. The winning side is alternated each time. A famous Kennywood tradition is to reach over and touch hands of the other car during the ride.
  • Jack Rabbit - A John A. Miller wooden roller coaster, known especially for its double dip. Coming down off of its second hill, the track levels out briefly half of the way down, then continues downward—a double-dip drop. The speed of the train as it enters this second part of the drop is so high, (only about 30 mph) that the riders are given the impression that they will be thrown free of the train. The Jack Rabbit is one of the oldest running roller coasters in the world.
  • Thunderbolt - A wooden roller coaster. Originally there was a John A. Miller wooden coaster known as the Pippin on this site, built in 1924. A new design, by Andy Vettel, Sr., was used in the 1967 reconstruction of the Pippin, reusing several of its elements, but resulting in a larger, faster coaster to be known as the Thunderbolt. The Thunderbolt regularly places at or near the top of lists concerning the world's top coasters and is distinguished by an immediate drop out of the starting gate, rather than the standard long climb. The Thunderbolt has a top speed of about 55 mph.
  • Exterminator - An indoor Reverchon spinning mouse roller coaster. This coaster has heavily themed scenery even in the line, and halfway through the ride, your car spins freely. This ride is not for people with weak stomachs.
  • Phantom's Revenge - "The Steel Phantom," a steel coaster built by Arrow Dynamics, opened in 1991. The Steel Phantom briefly held several records such as the largest drop on a roller coaster (228 feet) and the fastest roller coaster (82mph). After the 2000 season, the coaster was heavily modified by Chance-Morgan, including the removal of all of the inversions. The ride is also unique because the second drop is longer than the first.

[edit] Other Attractions

  • Noah's Ark is a classic walk through. The ride's opening year, 1936, begin auspiciously as the City of Johnstown suffered it's St. Patrick's Day flood that year. Patrons walk through an ark recreating Noah's attempt at bringing animals aboard. This classic ride, one of two in the world (the other being at Blackpool Pleasure Beach), was remodeled in 1997. Instead of entering through a whale's mouth, patrons now board a freight elevator that provides the effect of rising, then crashing to the ground, part of the re-theming of the ride to appear like ancient artifacts were found below the Ark. Over the years, different parts were removed, including a fan that would shoot air up from the ground. One popular part, the bouncing boards, still remain.
  • Kiddieland collects all of the child-only rides in a compact area between the Auto Race and the Aero360, scaling the river view side of the park. Rides include miniature versions of the Turtle, Swings, Flying Carpet, Pitt Fall, Whip, Carousel, and Phantom.
  • The Kandy Kaleidoscope is a candy store that sells homemade fudge and other candies, and the candy store is located near the entrance of the park.
  • The lagoon features paddle boats and a bungee-type ride, the Sky Coaster, which only takes 1-3 riders at a time and is not included in the ride-all-day pass. Several carnival games and food huts are adjacent to the lagoon.
  • The Turtle and The Kangaroo are bumpy-track rides inspired by, in turn, the turtle's curved shell and the kangaroo's leap. They are the first rides that most children graduating from Kiddieland ride, but they are also very popular with teenagers because operators usually let them ride several times in a row when lines are very short. They're also both unique rides, because the Turtle is one of only five standing and three currently operating, and the Kangaroo is the last of its kind.
  • The Merry-Go-Round, built in 1926, and completely refurbished for 2005, is a historical landmark. Kennywood encourages large groups to use it as a meeting-spot considering it is centrally located--a custom to most smaller and older parks.
  • The Log Jammer is a water ride, resembling a roller coaster, which runs through the wooded area in the back of the park. It was the park's first multi-million dollar project. It was built by Arrow Dynamics.
  • King Kahuna was added to the park in 2003. It originally stood at Kennywood's sister park, Lake Compounce in Connecticut. The ride consists of a platform attached to two arms. The arms rotate in a circle while the platform flips riders upside down. The ride is unique in that the ride is never the same twice. On warm, sunny days, fountains spray riders multiple times, getting them soaked!
  • Lost Kennywood, which was added to the park in 1995, was built on the old pay parking lot area. The area evokes memories of Kennywood's long history, and also the illusion of yesteryear's dangerous rides, with modern safety features, of course. The area includes the Pittsburg Plunge, a Shoot-the-Chute named after the brief period in the 1890s when Pittsburgh dropped the "h" from its name, the Whip which was moved from its original location near the Log Jammer, the Wave Swinger wicker swing ride, the Exterminator, and the Pitt Fall 251-foot-drop tower ride. The Swing Shot joined the line-up in 2006.
  • Swing Shot is one of the first larger models of the S&S Screamin' Swing added in 2006. The name was chosen from a long list of names that were entered in the "Name the New Ride" contest Kennywood held over the summer of 2005. It is basically a giant swing that swings riders back and forth, reaching a height of 90 feet at a 120 degree angle and reaching speeds of 50 mph. This ride stands where the Wipeout once stood (the Wipeout was moved to the former site of the Bayern Kurve, which was removed from the park in 2005).
  • Entertainment is a focal point of Kennywood. Strolling musicians, live shows, and costume characters truly evoke Kennywood's rich history. For the park's 100th anniversary in 1998, the park had side shows, magicians, and other events in their "anniversary midway." Today, the Kennyville Stage offers 3 shows a day and in 2006, the park introduced their first High Dive act in the Garden Stage area. The Garden Stage received a major overhaul and will debut in 2007. The park also has roaming mascots, Kenny Kangaroo-an original character, and Garfield and Odie from Garfield cartoons.
  • Turnpike is a vintage car ride located right at the front if the park. Originally replacing the Laff in the Dark in 1966, this attraction originally debuted with gasoline powered cars. However, in 1987 these cars were removed and replaced with electric cars manufactured by Chance. It requires two riders. The Turnpike is the closest ride to the main entrance.
  • Paratrooper is a classic ride, originally called the SkyDiver.
  • The Auto Race, also known by several veterans as the Auto Ride, is also the last of its kind. Electric cars run quite quickly through a trough-like track that twists and turns, almost like a maze. There used to be several small hills placed in the track, but were removed due to rear-end collisions caused when cars couldn't get up and over them on rainy days.
  • Garfield's Nightmare is a dark ride in bright 3D fluorescent colors under black light. It features the characters from Garfield comic strip and cartoons. Children below 46 inches must ride with a responsible adult. [5] This ride is the oldest ride at Kennywood. It debuted in 1901 and has undergone several theme and structural changes throughout its existence. The Old Mill has also been known as the Panama Canal, Fairyland Floats, and Hard Headed Harold's Horrendously Humorous Haunted Hideaway. The scenes inside this vintage dark attraction have featured "gorgeous grottos" from around the world including Hawaii and Australia. More recently this attraction featured scenery from a mine haunted by ghosts, ghouls, and skeletons. It even featured three outdoor scenes. In 1991 the name was changed back to the Old Mill and received some minor scenery upgrades. In 2004, the ride received a major scenery overhaul and all scenes became enclosed to insure a continuous 3D effect. Outside, the overhaul included a new roof for the building with skylights, a waterfall, a new queue line area that features television relaying the history of the Old Mill to riders, as well as a Garfield photo booth, gift shop, and food stand. The boats were slightly modified in 2004 as well. Because of the new queue line, riders enter on the left hand side of the boat and exit on the right hand side. Previously riders entered and exited from the right. Therefore, the brass hand rail on the right hand side was removed and footsteps were placed on the right hand side of the boat. The ride also increased its number of boats to 12. Previously, the ride only operated with approximately 9 boats.

[edit] Phantom Fright Nights

Phantom Fright Nights is a Halloween event held at Kennywood on Friday and Saturday nights during the month of October. The park typically opens at six or seven in the evening and closes at one or two in the morning. The event began in 2002, though the concept of theming an amusement park for Halloween is not new. "Phantom Fright Nights" was ranked the 3rd best Halloween event in the world in 2005.

Labor Day traditionally marked the end of the season and the park would shut down until the spring. In 2002, Kennywood decided to break the long-standing tradition and turn almost half of park into a giant Halloween extravaganza. The park's initial trial of Phantom Fright Nights in 2002 consisted of four traditional haunted houses, with only a few rides and roller coasters in operation. Despite the relatively limited scope of the opening year, the experiment proved to be a success, and new areas of the park and rides are opened for the festivities every year. In 2004 Kennywood debuted Gory Park, a haunted zone in Lost Kennywood. The following year, 2005, the park managed to have 3/4 of the rides and attractions operable due to high demand and record-breaking crowds. The park has reported attendance greater for one Fright Night than they have on a good normal operating day.

In the spirit of Halloween season, the park itself is given a complete make-over, with costumed actors roaming the paths, spooky music filling the air, and fog blanketing the park and every light bulb in the park is changed to a different color--even in the restrooms. The merry-go-round horse normally found in the fountain by the entrance is replaced by a giant Death-like figure. In some places sheets are hung up and classic horror movies are played, such as the original "House on Haunted Hill". Several areas of the park, including Kiddieland and Lost Kennywood, are turned into open-air haunted attractions. Other buildings, such as the Penny Arcade and the Parkside Terrace Cafe, are converted into more traditional haunted houses. Even the entrance tunnel is affected; massive amounts of fog are pumped into the passage way and chainsaw wielding characters stalk unsuspecting guests as they enter. These ghouls are also found throughout the park when least expected.

Kennywood discourages children under the age of thirteen from attending the park during Phantom Fright Nights as the atmosphere may be too intense for some younger children, but letting children attend is solely at the discretion of parents or guardians. Many children go to Fright Night's anyway, even with the suggestion. Kennywood will admit attendees of any age.

[edit] Kennywood on T.V and in film

  • Kennywood was mentioned in an episode of CSI:Crime Scene Investigation. During Episode #421 - TURNING THE SCREWS (original air date - May 06 2004), which dealt with a Las Vegas roller coaster disaster, the park is mentioned by CSI Supervisor Gil Grissom. Grissom, a roller coaster enthusiast, tells the park engineer that he holds the marathon riding record on the Steel Phantom in Kennywood Park.

[edit] Kennywood Memories

On September 28, 1988, the local PBS station, WQED, first aired "Kennywood Memories", a one hour documentary about Kennywood. Rick Sebak explained. Though in 2006, many of the rides talked about are gone, the historic information about the park is still quite relevant. WQED has made the entire program log available on their website. It was also mentioned on an episode of Without a Trace. They showed the park, but the name of it was not the same. It had the famous Steel Phantom in the park also.

[edit] Trivia

  • The phrase, "Kennywood's open!" is often used in the Pittsburgh region to alert another person that his or her fly is open.[2]

[edit] Ride/Attraction Timeline

  • 2010: Park expansion- contingent on Mon-Fayette Expressway.
  • 2007: Cosmic Chaos, SS Kenny (Rock'n Tug)
  • 2006: Swing Shot.
  • 2005: New front gate structures built
  • 2004: Garfield's Nightmare, theme change from Old Mill.
  • 2003: King Kahuna, from Top Spin from Lake Compounce, Ham-on-Rye (Removed in 2005), Volcano Valley themed area.
  • 2002: Garfield's Pounce Bounce, Phantom Fright Nights debut.
  • 2001: Phantom's Revenge, from Steel Phantom, Crazy Trolley.
  • 2000: Aero 360.
  • 1999: Exterminator.
  • 1998: Kennywood celebrates its 100th anniversary, Centennial Midway (one season).
  • 1997: Pitt Fall.
  • 1996: Lil Phantom (Kiddieland), Kenny's Parkway, Noah's Ark remodeled.
  • 1995: LOST KENNYWOOD expansion - Pittsburg Plunge, Phantom Phlyer (removed in 1996), Roll-O-Plane (removed in 2003), Whip and Wave Swinger moved to Lost Kennywood.
  • 1994: SkyCoaster, Bayern Kurve (Removed in 2005).
  • 1993: WipeOut
  • 1992: Tri-Star (lasts only one season, moved to Idlewild).
  • 1991: Steel Phantom. Quickly tops top 10 list. (Rebuilt as Phantom's Revenge in 2001).
  • 1989: Swing Around (removed in 2005)
  • 1988: Flying Carpet (removed in 2006), Rotor (Removed in 1994)
  • 1987: Musik Express.
  • 1986: Wonder Wheel (removed in 1999).
  • 1985: Raging Rapids.
  • 1984: Wave Swinger and Swing Around (The latter is removed at end of season, but returns five years later)
  • 1983: Ranger (lasts only one season)
  • 1982: Pirate.
  • 1981: Gold Rusher, Paddle Boats.
  • 1980: Laser Loop. (Removed in 1990).
  • 1979: Monongahela Monster (removed 1991), Garden Stage. (Removed in 2006).
  • 1978: Volcano (the Enterprise before 2003).
  • 1977: Nearby West View Park closes
  • 1976: Super Round-Up (moved to Idlewild 1985).
  • 1975: Log Jammer. (first multi-million dollar ride in the park's history).
  • 1973: Gran Prix.
  • 1972: Le Cachot (replaced Safari dark ride, removed 1998).
  • 1969: Noah's Ark remodeled.
  • 1968: Thunderbolt, rebuilt from Pippin. Small hill removed in 1969.
  • 1967: Road Runner (Cuddle Up), Ghost Ship (Replaced Tornado, Both rides destroyed in fire 1975).
  • 1966: Turnpike (Electric cars added in 1987).
  • 1964: Tornado dark ride (from defunct Freedomland, removed 1966).
  • 1962: Kangaroo. (last 'Flying Coaster' flat ride in existence)
  • 1961: Bandshell destroyed in fire.
  • 1958: Wild Mouse (removed in 1960)
  • 1948: Little Dipper. Remodeled in 1955. (Removed in 1984).
  • 1945: Olde Kennywood Railroad.
  • 1936: Noah's Ark. (Re-built in 1996).
  • 1935: Teddy Bear. (Removed in 1947).
  • 1930: Auto Race, Laff in the Dark (removed 1965).
  • 1927: Carousel, Racer, Turtle, Kiddieland developed in current location.
  • 1926: Whip.
  • 1925: Swimming Pool (removed 1973).
  • 1924: Pippin. (Converted in 1968 to Thunderbolt).
  • 1921: Jack Rabbit.
  • 1911: Speed-O-Plane (removed 1923).
  • 1910: Racer (removed 1926).
  • 1905: Dip-the-Dips Scenic Railway (removed 1910).
  • 1903: Steeplechase (removed 1904).
  • 1902: Gee Whiz Dip the Dips (Park's first coaster, removed 1921).
  • 1901: Old Mill. (Converted to Garfield's Nightmare in 2004. Also referred to in the past as Hard Headed Harrold's Horrendously Humorous Haunted Hideaway).
  • 1899: Park's First Carousel, Casino restaurant, Dancehall.
  • 1898: Kennywood opened by Monongahela Street Railways.

[edit] Sister Parks

Amusement parks owned by Kennywood Entertainment

Idlewild and Soak Zone - Kennywood - Lake Compounce - Sandcastle Waterpark

[edit] References

  1. ^ "First Annual Readers' Choice Awards", Theme Parks Magazine, June 10, 2005.
  2. ^ Peter Leo. "Pittsburgh English n 'at for visitors and newcomers", Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, March 21, 2006.

[edit] External links

Roller coasters at Kennywood

Exterminator - Jack Rabbit - Racer - Phantom's Revenge - Thunderbolt
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