Kennywood


Kennywood is an amusement park located in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania just southeast of Pittsburgh. The park first opened on May 30, 1899, as a trolley park attraction at the end of the Mellon family's Monongahela Street Railway. It was purchased in 1906 by F. W. Henninger and Andrew McSwigan, both of whom later formed the family-owned Kennywood Entertainment Company. The company later sold Kennywood, along with four other parks, in 2007 to Parques Reunidos, an international entertainment operator based in Spain. 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 as a National Historic Landmark. Kennywood is also one of only thirteen trolley parks in the United States that remains in operation.

Location

Kennywood is approximately from Downtown Pittsburgh, in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania. The park is along Pennsylvania Route 837, known as Kennywood Boulevard as it passes through the borough. The closest Interstate connection is Exit 77 on Interstate 376. The Mon–Fayette Expressway will eventually go past Kennywood, which will prompt an expansion of the park when it is built.
Historically, the park is on the location of the July 9, 1755 Battle of the Monongahela, where British general Edward Braddock was mortally wounded, ending his expedition to capture the French Fort Duquesne during the French and Indian War. George Washington was a colonel to Braddock, and fought at the battle before they retreated. Later the land on the bluff above the Monongahela River was part of a farm owned by Anthony Kenny. Starting around the time of the American Civil War, the site was a popular picnic grove for locals, known as "Kenny's Grove".

History

A tree-filled portion of a farm owned by Anthony Kenny, known as "Kenny's Grove" overlooking the Monongahela River near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania was a popular picnic spot for local residents since the American Civil War. In 1898, the Monongahela Street Railways Company, partially owned by prominent banker Andrew Mellon, seeking to increase fare profits on the weekends, leased the land from the Kenny family in order to create a trolley park at the end of their line. The company's chief engineer, George S. Davidson, designed the original layout of the park and served as its first manager. A carousel, casino hall, and dance pavilion were added in 1899. A bandstand was constructed in 1900, while the Old Mill was constructed in 1901, and the park's first roller coaster, the Figure Eight Toboggan, was added in 1902. After less than a decade, the trolley company no longer wanted to manage the park. The standing manager, Andrew S. McSwigan, along with partners Frederick W. Henninger and A. F. Meghan, leased and operated the park as Kennywood Park Limited beginning in 1906.
From its origin as a working-class picnic entertainment destination, the park grew in the first half of the twentieth century into a popular attraction that combined thrill rides with recreation venues such as swimming pools and dance halls.
Kennywood ceased to be served by streetcar when Mon Street Railways successor Pittsburgh Railways Company converted the route serving it, the lengthy #68 Duquesne-McKeesport line, to bus on September 15, 1958.
Today, the park features a nostalgic atmosphere and is supported by a loyal fan base. As of December 2007, Kennywood Entertainment also ran Sandcastle Waterpark , which opened in 1989; Idlewild Park near Ligonier; Story Land , a children's theme park in Glen, New Hampshire; and Lake Compounce , New England's family theme park in Bristol, Connecticut, which is the oldest continuously operating amusement park in North America.
On December 12, 2007, Kennywood Entertainment announced that it would be selling Kennywood Park, along with Sandcastle Waterpark and four other amusement parks in the Northeastern United States, to Parques Reunidos, a company based in Madrid, Spain.
Kennywood now uses the slogans “Welcome to the Family”, "America's Finest Traditional Amusement Park", and "Make a New Memory", although from the 1960s through the early 1990s the slogan was "The Roller Coaster Capital of the World". The property features three old wooden roller coasters still in working order, along with three newer steel coasters, the Phantom's Revenge and the Sky Rocket, The Steel Curtain, and one indoor coaster, the Exterminator.
Through the years, the phrase "Kennywood's open!" has gained an alternate meaning and is often used in the Pittsburgh region to alert another person that the zipper on his/her pants is open.

Park timeline

For the past several years, Kennywood has been rated the "Favorite 'Dark Attraction Park'" by the Darkride And Funhouse Enthusiasts, or DAFE.
It ranked second to Cedar Point in the category of "Favorite Park" in Theme Park Magazine's 2004 Reader's Choice Awards.
The park was designated a U.S. National Historic Landmark in 1987.

Attractions

Themed areas

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.
NameImageOpening yearTypeDescription
Jack Rabbit1920WoodenA wooden out-and-back roller coaster, which is one of the oldest operating coasters in the world. The Jack Rabbit is famous for its double dip element, which is a drop that levels out midway before dropping again. It is also a rare roller coaster still in operation that restrains passengers with only a seatbelt.
Racer1927WoodenA wooden racing roller coaster built by the legendary John A. Miller. The track is a Möbius loop layout, in which there is one continuous track shared by both trains. After returning to the station, each train has traveled half the track and ends on the opposite side from which it began.
Thunderbolt1968WoodenA wooden roller coaster that originally opened as Pippin in 1924. Following a major renovation, it reopened as Thunderbolt in 1968. It was ranked as the "Ultimate Roller Coaster" and "King of Coasters" by the New York Times in 1974. A unique characteristic involves its lift hill, which instead of being located near the beginning of the ride, it occurs near the middle.
Lil' Phantom1996KiddieThe park's kiddie coaster. Added in 1996, this is a modern coaster in the style of classic coasters manufactured by Allan Herschell. The ride was rehabbed, overhauled, and rebuilt for the 2007 season.
Exterminator1999SteelA spinning Wild Mouse roller coaster that also features dark ride elements and heavily-themed scenery.
Phantom's Revenge2001SteelA steel Hyper Coaster model originally named Steel Phantom and manufactured by Arrow Dynamics. It was later renovated by D. H. Morgan Manufacturing transforming the ride into Phantom's Revenge. The ride, which makes heavy use of the surrounding terrain, has an unusual characteristic where the second drop exceeds the length of the first.
Sky Rocket2010SteelAn LSM launch roller coaster that propels riders from in three seconds. It was the first coaster at the park since 1991's Steel Phantom to feature an inversion.
Steel Curtain2019SteelA record-breaking roller coaster themed to the Pittsburgh Steelers NFL football team built in the former location of Log Jammer, a flume ride that closed in 2017. The reaches a maximum speed of and features nine inversions – third most on any coaster in the Western Hemisphere. It also holds a world record for having the highest inversion at.

Flat rides

Upcharge attractions

Dark rides

Water rides

Transportation rides

Kiddieland

Ride/Year OpenedManufacturer/DesignerDescription
Crazy Trolley ZamperlaAdded in 2001, this ride kicked off a rehabilitation and expansion project for Kiddieland. Placed on a new midway that replaced the Safety City truck ride, this is a miniature version of the park's former Flying Carpet ride. It is themed to the Kennywood trolley that leads the Fall Fantasy parades and roams the streets of Pittsburgh. Adults may ride.
Dizzy Dynamo San Antonio Roller WorksA unique ride, in which riders sit in one of eight cars mounted to a circular platform. As the platform begins to spin, so does each individual car, in alternating directions. Finally, the whole ride tilts over. This ride has an umbrella over top of it as well, and adults are allowed to ride. Originally named the Mini Bouncer.
Elephant Parade ZamperlaA ride reminiscent of Disney's iconic Dumbo the Flying Elephant, which allows children to fly an elephant using a lever to control the height. Elephant Parade spins in the clockwise direction.
Kenny's Karousel W.F. MangelsIt is one of Kiddieland's original rides. This miniature merry-go-round actually pre-dates the park's full sized version. It was refurbished for the 2009 season.
Red Baron ChanceA common kiddie ride, loosely based on the iconic real-life story of World War I pilot Manfred von Richthofen. On this ride, children pilot a plane in a circle, using a lever to control the height. Red Baron spins in the counter-clockwise direction.
S. S. Kenny ZamperlaThe most recent addition to Kiddieland, added in 2007. This ride is a miniature version of the Cosmic Chaos, which was added to the park the same year. As the colorful boat vehicle goes back and forth on a U-shaped ramp, the boat spins. This ride replaced the Kiddieland Magic Show after one season of operation, which itself replaced the Kiddie Cadillac ride. A statue of Kenny Kangaroo, the park's mascot, wearing a sailor suit stands in front of the ride. Adults can ride.
Steel City Choppers San Antonio Roller WorksThis ride lets children ride around in a circle on miniature Honda motorcycles. A large umbrella covers the ride.
Turtle Chase R. E. ChambersA kiddie version of the Turtle ride. While Kennywood's Turtle is one of only two in operation, there are many examples of the kiddie version to be found throughout the United States. Until Kiddieland's expansion, this ride was located next to the Dizzy Dynamo. Adults are allowed to ride.
Wacky Wheel W.F. MagnelsOne of the first four kiddie rides installed, this miniature ferris wheel ride has had its cars replaced, but the ride is much like it has been since its opening. Originally named simply the Kiddie Ferris Wheel.
Whippersnapper W.F. MagnelsA kiddie version of the park's Whip ride. A kiddie whip has been in place in Kiddieland for many years, although this one was purchased in 1985 from a park in Oregon to replace the original ride lost in a 1975 fire.
Whirlwind ZamperlaA kiddie version of the Wave Swinger, although this ride does not lift or undulate. Originally named Kiddie Swings.

Thomas Town opened in 2018 and contains Cranky's Drop Tower, Harold's Helicopter, Firefighting Flynn, The Convoy, Also the Olde Kennywood Railroad is part of this area, rethemed as Journey With Thomas.

Former attractions

Landmarks

Entertainment

Phantom Fright Nights is a Halloween event held at Kennywood on Friday and Saturday nights during the month of October. The park traditionally opened at seven in the evening and closes at one in the morning. In 2015 the hours were changed to six until midnight. The event began in 2002, though the concept of theming an amusement park for Halloween is not new. "Phantom Fright Nights" received third place in the Golden Ticket Awards for best Halloween event in 2007.
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 the 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 the restroom windows are covered in colored films. The merry-go-round horse normally found in the fountain by the entrance is replaced by a giant Phantom-like figure with glowing red eyes hovering over bubbling red blood. 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. Some rides are given entirely new lighting and fog effects including strobes and blacklights, or in the Exterminator's case, an absolute absence of light. In the case of the Carousel and Müsik-Express, Halloween-themed music is all that is played. Even the entrance tunnel is affected; a great amount of fog is pumped into the passageway 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 Nights anyway, even with the suggestion since Kennywood will admit attendees of any age.

Haunted attractions

Indoor Haunts
Outdoor Haunts
Haunted Midways
Past/Changed Haunts
Kennywood's world-renowned reputation and nationwide popularity has led to its mention and appearance in many forms of media, including TV shows, movies, books, records, and has even warranted a reason to film a documentary about the park's history.

Television

Kennywood served as the main inspiration for Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer's novel Wild Ride. The writers acknowledged the park by stating "Kennywood for giving us a place to start thinking about Dreamland"

Music

Kennywood employs weapon-certified security officers that have the ability to make arrests that are supported by the district's local police force. A famous case resulting from a 1986 arrest of a park visitor for drug possession went all the way to the Pennsylvania Superior Court in 1988, which ruled in favor of the park's security force. The defendant had unsuccessfully attempted to have the evidence suppressed.