Kennywood is an amusement park located in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania. The park first opened as a "trolley park" attraction at the end of the Mellon family's Monongahela Street Railway on May 30, 1898. It was purchased in 1906 by F. W. Henninger and Andrew McSwigan who later formed the Kennywood Entertainment Company, which owned and operated the park as a closely held family business for over 100 years. Kennywood was purchased by Parques Reunidos in 2007. The amusement park features various structures and rides dating back to the early 1900s. Along with Rye Playland Park, it is one of only two amusement parks designated a National Historic Landmark for its history and historic rides, and is one of only thirteen trolley parks still operating in the United States.
Kennywood has made use of the hilly Pittsburgh terrain to create coasters that wouldn't be feasible in some amusement parks. 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, making the second drop the longest and steepest drop in the ride.
Kennywood Amusement Park is now considered to be one of America's "finest traditional amusement parks." Its collection of old wooden coasters and newer, faster steel coasters also makes it a favorite with roller coaster connoisseurs. Although it features many state-of-the-art rides, Kennywood still retains a nostalgic atmosphere and is a designated national historic landmark... Let's have a look around...
Informational sign...
Tunnel entryway...
Jackrabbit.
A wooden out and back roller coaster, one of the oldest running in the world. The Jack Rabbit is famous for its double dip, lifting riders out of their seat. It is also one of the few remaining coasters operating with only a seatbelt to restrain passengers.
Jackrabbit double dip...
The Turtles.
This is a bumpy-track or undulating ride with six cars that travel counter-clockwise on a circular track over a series of three hills and dips. Originally called the Tumble Bug, the ride featured bug-themed cars until it received new turtle-like exteriors. The Turtle is one of only two operating rides of its kind and the only known Turtle variant of the Tumble Bug left in existence.
Aero 360
This ride is a modern, open-air version of the park's old Ranger ride and features the Kennywood arrows on the rotating arms. Seated on inverted seats with legs freely dangling, riders swing back and forth – higher and higher with each pendulum motion. As momentum builds, the ride culminates by spinning riders the full 360 degrees.
Auto Race...
Also known by several veterans as the Auto Ride, this ride is the last of its kind and was designed by Harry Traver of the Traver Engineering Company. Electric cars run through a trough-like wooden track that twists and turns. When the ride opened in 1930, it had several small hills placed in the track, but these were soon removed to avoid rear-end collisions that were caused when cars could not get up and over them on rainy days. Again to avoid rear-end collisions, the ride was fully computer automated and the cars slowed down for the 2014 season.
Bayern Kurve.
Riders sit in one of the sixteen cars that travel at a high-speed around a circular, single-hilled track. Riders start in an upright position and as the cars pick up speed, they tilt inward toward the center of the ride. This ride is also known for its loud air horn which, along with the sound of the moving vehicles, is reminiscent of a diesel train. A popular ride since 1971, this is the third Bayern Kurve that the park has installed.
Black Widow.
The ride seats 40 people and swings riders back and forth like a pendulum, reaching speeds up to 68 mph. The ride structure stands at 90 ft and at the peak of the pendulum's swing height riders will hang 146 ft off the ground.
The Kangaroo.
The last ride of its kind; purchased in 1962. During the ride, eight cars travel a circular track with a single steep hill. After "bouncing" off the top of the hill, the cars then make a slow descent in midair back down to the track, giving each guest the sensation of flying. Its resemblance of a Kangaroo's leap is what inspired its name.
The Carousel.
Referred to simply as the carousel by many, the Merry Go Round is a Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation Historic Landmark and is Kennywood's third and largest carousel. Originally commissioned by the U.S. Government for the 1926 Philadelphia Sesqui-Centennial Exposition, it was not completed in time and was purchased by Kennywood. It is also the last carousel that was ever built by William Dentzel. There are 50 jumping and 14 stationary horses. The only two non-horse animals featured on the ride are the tiger and the lion. It is one of four rides at Kennywood with a ride start/stop bell that dates back to the origin of the ride and features over 1500 lights.
Music is provided by a 1916 Wurlitzer style #153 Military Band Organ, which is the oldest of its kind in existence, and possibly the first of more than 140 style #153 organs built between 1916 and 1936.
Noah's Ark.
A walk-through "dark" attraction. Patrons walk through an ark recreating Noah's attempt at bringing animals aboard. This ride, the last operating of its kind in the world, was remodeled in 1996. During the remodeling, the Ark was entirely rebuilt due to structural problems with the original "boat." Instead of entering through a whale's mouth, patrons boarded an old industrial service elevator that provided the effect of rising, then crashing to the ground. Part of the re-theming of the ride included props meant to appear like ancient artifacts that were found below the Ark. One popular classic gag, the shaker boards, still remains. In the winter of 2015–16, the Ark was entirely remodeled to its pre-1996 state, including the famed whale's mouth entrance. Older gags that were removed in the 1996 renovation of the Ark that were re-added include air jets that were previously used to blow air up women's skirts, but now are simply used to catch guests off-guard.
Phantoms Revenge.
A steel coaster that resulted from renovating the 1991 Steel Phantom. After the 2000 season, the coaster was heavily modified by D. H. Morgan, including the removal of all inversions due to complaints of uncomfortable shoulder restraints. The ride is unusual because the second drop is longer than the first. Although the first hill is only 160 feet tall, it is still considered a hyper-coaster because its maximum drop exceeds a 200 foot change in elevation.
Racers.
A wooden racing roller coaster with a track that is looped over on itself to create the appearance of two separate, parallel tracks; the ride in fact consists of one track referred to as a Möbius track. The winning side is the one that passes the black and white checkered finish line above the brake run just before the station, and is signaled by one of two red lights on either side of the operators' booth. The "Don't Stand Up" sign is at the top of the lift hill... I think they mean it!
Raging Rapids.
This ride was opened in 1985 and simulates a white-water rafting trip through canyons and beneath waterfalls. Three pumps are constantly filling the cement trough with 93,000 gallons of water each minute.
Swingshot...
One of the first 32-passenger models of the S&S Screamin' Swing to debut. It is 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
Thunderbolt.
A wooden roller coaster that resulted from a renovation of the Pippin (1924–1967). It was ranked the Ultimate Roller Coaster and King of Coasters by the New York Times in 1974. The coaster is unusual in that the lift hill isn't immediately out of the station. Instead, the lift hill is in the middle of the ride.
The Whip.
It is the oldest flat ride in the park and the last operating 16 car whip. The ride's 16 cars travel along an oblong track and "whip" as they go around the bend at either end. The Whip was relocated from the Log Jammer Pavilion to Lost Kennywood in 1995 and is one of four rides in Kennywood with a ride start/stop bell that dates back to the origin of the ride.
Hungry yet??? Lets eat!
The Potato Patch is a long time favorite... They serve up, well, look below...
French Fries with just about anything on them... Mmmmm.... Gravy!
Parkside Restrauant... More relaxed casual dining...
Parkside inside... relaxing atmosphere...
At last the sun goes down...
Jackrabbit night...
Goodnight Kennywood! See you soon!
Special thanks to Wikipedia in assistance with some information...