Kennywood

Infobox Amusement park
name = Kennywood


caption = Main gates to Kennywood
location = 4800 Kennywood Blvd
location2 = West Mifflin
location3 = Pennsylvania, 15122
location4 = United States flagicon|USA
area = convert|107|acre|km2
homepage = [http://www.kennywood.com/ www.kennywood.com/]
opening_date = 1898
season = "2008 Regular season": May 3 & 8-11, May 14-August 24, August 29-September 1, September 6-7 & 13-14"2008 fall season": Fri nights & Sat nights September 26 - November 1, plus Sunday night October 12
rides = 32
coasters = 5
owner = Kennywood Entertainment
slogan = Make a New MemoryInfobox_nrhp | name =Kennywood Park
nrhp_type = nhld
location= West Mifflin, Pennsylvania
lat_degrees = 40
lat_minutes = 23
lat_seconds = 15
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 79
long_minutes = 51
long_seconds = 48
long_direction = W
locmapin = Pennsylvania
built =1898
architect= Davidson, George S.
architecture= No Style Listed
designated=October 9, 1960cite web|url=http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=1987&ResourceType=District|title=Kennywood Park |accessdate=2008-07-02|work=National Historic Landmark summary listing|publisher=National Park Service]
added = February 27, 1987
governing_body = Private
refnum=87000824cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2008-04-15|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service]

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. [cite news|title=First Annual Readers' Choice Awards|url=http://www.themeparksmagazine.com/mediakit/readers_choice_awards_2004.pdf|work=Theme Parks Magazine|date=June 10, 2005]

Kennywood now uses the slogan "America's Finest Traditional Amusement Park," although from the 1960s through the early 1990s the slogan was "The Roller Coaster Capital of the World." The property features three old wooden coasters still in working order, along with a newer steel coaster, the Phantom's Revenge (2001), and one indoor coaster, the Exterminator (added in 1999). The park features a variety of other family-type rides, with a total of [http://www.kennywood.com/attractions/rides.php 32 general-admission attractions] , plus 14 more child-only rides in " [http://www.kennywood.com/attractions/kiddieland.php Kiddieland] " (The SS Kenny ride is absent from the page).

Kennywood is also famous for its 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 frozen Potato Patch Fries in 2001.

One of only two amusement parks listed in the National Register of Historic Places (the other being Rye Playland Park), Kennywood also is one of the few amusement parks that still allow guests to bring their own picnic lunch, and is alcohol-free. [http://www.kennywood.com/park_info/park_info.php] For decades, smoking was tolerated anywhere in the park, but is now restricted to designated areas.

Kennywood is owned by Kennywood Entertainment, which until December 2007 was a closely held family business owned by the Henninger and McSwigan families. Kennywood Entertainment is now a subsidiary of Parques Reunidos, an international amusement park company based in Madrid, Spain. [cite news|publisher=Kennywood Entertainment Company|author=News Release|title=New Chapter in Kennywood Entertainment History Announced|date=2007-12-11|url=http://www.kennywood.com/docs/12.11.07KECNewChapterRelease.pdf]

Location

Kennywood is approximately convert|8|mi|km 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 Interchange No. 7 (Swissvale) on Interstate 376. Despite the park's relatively obscure location (it was once the terminus of a streetcar line), it is easy to find for two reasons. First, it is on the "Green Belt", part of the Pittsburgh/Allegheny County Belt System. Second, management over the years has blanketed the county with yellow "Kennywood" arrows (formerly an extended arm with pointing finger), to the point where the yellow arrow has become the park's logo.

Several Port Authority bus lines run to or near the park. One line, the 61C, stops at a park bus shelter, while the 55B, 55E and 59A stop at a nearby strip mall less than a quarter mile from the park. 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 at 40°23'15" North, 79°51'51" West.

History

Before developing the park, the Kenny family owned a grove of trees overlooking the river. People began picnicking at the site, 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. However, 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 with a large and loyal customer base.

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. In the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, the park remained successful by adding rides such as 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.

Kennywood Park has its own armed Public Safety Department. While not an actual police force, the organization enforces laws, investigates crimes, and responds to incidents within the park. Only a select few officers, however, are allowed to pursue troublesome guests and carry handcuffs.

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 [http://www.sandcastlewaterpark.com] , which opened in 1989; Idlewild Park [http://www.idlewild.com] near Ligonier; Story Land [http://www.storylandnh.com] , a children's theme park in Glen, New Hampshire; and Lake Compounce [http://www.lakecompounce.com] , New England's family theme park in Bristol, Connecticut, which is the oldest continuously-operating amusement park in North America.

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!"

The phrase "Kennywood's open!" is often used in the Pittsburgh region to alert another person that the zipper on his/her pants is open. [cite news|work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|author=Peter Leo|title=Pittsburgh English n 'at for visitors and newcomers|date=March 21, 2006|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06080/673828.stm]

On December 12, 2007, Kennywood Entertainment announced that it would be selling Kennywood Park, along with four other amusement parks in the Northeastern United States, to Parques Reunidos, a Madrid, Spain-based company. [cite news|publisher=Kennywood Entertainment Company|author=News Release|title=New Chapter in Kennywood Entertainment History Announced|date=2007-12-11|url=http://www.kennywood.com/docs/12.11.07KECNewChapterRelease.pdf]

Proposed expansion

In July 2005, Kennywood management was in negotiations to buy adjoining land, which would increase the size of the park from 92 to convert|140|acre|km2 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, which is planned to pass within yards 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 will be separate from the much larger Sandcastle Waterpark and would be built at the site of the former Kmart. West-to-West Coalition, a collection of 22 municipal governments, has announced that it is working with Kennywood on its expansion plan. Some sources cite hearing rumors about Kennywood Entertainment adding a new steel coaster and a new wooden coaster.

Attractions

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, making the second drop the longest and steepest drop in the ride.Many coasters sit in the footprint of former coasters. The Phantom's Revenge may seem familiar to the record-setting Steel Phantom, because in fact the length of track from the station brake run all the way to about 15' down the second drop is original track from the Steel Phantom. Also, the Steel Phantom was built on the former site of the Laser Loop. Older visitors will recall that the Thunderbolt is an improvement of the Pippin.

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. The ride, in fact, consists of one track referred to as a moebius track. 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 chosen by the conductors of the ride and typically alternated each time. A famous Kennywood tradition is to reach over and touch hands of the other car during the ride. There is a blue train, a red train, and a green train, however, only two race at a time with the third being used for maintenance rotation. The original Racer was built in 1924 on the current Kiddieland site. It was torn down after the 1926 season and the following season saw the opening of the new (and current) Racer constructed next to the Jack Rabbit.
*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 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 convert|55|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on.
*Exterminator - An indoor [http://www.reverchon.com Reverchon] spinning mouse roller coaster. This coaster has heavily themed scenery even in the line.
*Phantom's Revenge - A steel coaster built by Arrow Dynamics, opened in 1991, originally named the "Steel Phantom." The coaster briefly held several records such as the largest drop on a roller coaster (228 ft) 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 due to complaints of pain given during the ride (head and neck aches, bloody noses, etc.) and was then named the "Phantom's Revenge." The ride is also unique because the second drop is longer than the first. Although the first hill is only convert|160|ft|m tall, it is still considered a hyper-coaster because its maximum drop vertically exceeds convert|200|ft|m.

Other attractions

*Skycoaster® is not really a ride; it is a flight. One, two or three flyers are suited in a nylon harness and then attached to a cable that pulls them (Superman-style) to the top of the launch tower. From 180 feet above ground, riders release themselves with a parachute-like ripcord... then free-fall at approximately 75 mph. This ride is not included in the admission price due to a high demand.
*Noah's Ark is a classic walk-through "dark" attraction. The ride's opening year, 1936, began auspiciously as the City of Johnstown suffered its 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 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 now board a freight elevator that provides the effect of rising, then crashing to the ground, part of the re-theming of the ride includes props meant to appear like ancient artifacts that 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 shaker boards, still remains.
*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, Phantom's Revenge, Cosmic Chaos, Pitt Fall, Whip, and Carousel.
*Kandy Kaleidoscope is a candy store that sells homemade fudge, and other candies, and is located near the entrance of the park. It was formerly the home of the Rotor.
*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 Funday or Nightrider passes ("Funday" and "NightRider" are admission options). Several carnival games and food huts are adjacent to the Lagoon, as well as the Log Jammer.
*Turtle is a bumpy-track or undulating ride. The name is inspired by the turtle's curved shell. Originally the ride was called the Tumble Bug and featured bug-themed cars until the ride received new turtle-like exteriors. In fact, for the entire first year the ride was given a new turtle theme, it was still named the Tumble Bug. It is one of the first rides that most children graduating from Kiddieland ride, but it is also very popular with teenagers because operators usually let them ride several times in a row when lines are very short. It is also a unique ride, because the Turtle is the only one of the three standing that is currently operating.
*Kangaroo, also known as a Flying Coaster, is the last ride of its kind. It, like the The Turtle, is a good in-between ride for kids graduating from Kiddieland. 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 ascent in midair back down to the track only to go back up the hill again. Its resemblance of a Kangaroo's leap is what inspired its name.
*Merry-Go-Round, built in 1926, and completely refurbished for 2005, is a National Historic 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.
*Log Jammer is a log flume 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 gondola attached to two arms. The arms rotate in a circle while the platform flips riders upside down. The ride is built with jets of water that originally sprayed the riders as it spins, but after guest complaints and mold problems resulting in the replacement of the seat padding, they discontinued the use of the spraying effect so that the fountain is now just ornamental.
*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 Bavarian Wave Swinger, the Exterminator, and the Pitt Fall convert|251|ft|m|sing=on-drop tower ride. The Swing Shot joined the line-up in 2006. older rides which have been removed or relocated within the park since the opening of Lost Kennywood include the Phantom Phlyers, Rollo Plane, and Wipeout.
*Swing Shot is one of the first larger models of the S&S Screamin' Swing to debut. 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 convert|90|ft|m at a 120 degree angle and reaching speeds of convert|50|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on. 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 and placed in storage).
*Cosmic Chaos is a Mega Disk'O ride manufactured by Zamperla Inc. that made its debut in 2007. The ride seats 24 people on a giant disk, upon motorcycle-like pedestal seats with back restraints. Arms and legs are free from restraint and the passenger looks outward. From a top height of 50' the space ship begins its untamed flight along the 120' concave track while its passengers spin around in circle. Cosmic Chaos has a UFO theme, complete with UFO sounds, aliens, and even sounds from real aliens!
*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." During the 2008 Season, the Kennyville Stage offers an act by Jason Pipatone - Master Entertainer as well as all day viewing of "Kenny TV", a closed circuit TV network displaying various videos and trivia. "Kenny TV" can also be viewed at various other locations throughout the park. The Scheer's Lumberjack Show made its debut in 2008 replacing the "Pirates of Kenny Cove" high-dive show. The park also has strolling musicians and roaming mascots including 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 and sponsored by Gulf Oil. However, in 1987 these cars were removed and replaced with electric cars manufactured by Chance. It requires two riders. When it was created, it was a major investment for the park because the tracks could not be removed. It is now themed with a CO-GO's convenience store and a BP gas station. The price of gas at the Turnpike's gas station is read as "FUN"
*Paratrooper is a classic umbrella ride, originally called the SkyDiver.
*Auto Race, also known by several veterans as the Auto Ride, is also the last of its kind and was designed by the Traver Engineering Company. Electric cars run quite quickly through a trough-like track that twists and turns, almost like a maze. When the ride opened in 1930, it had several small hills placed in the track, but these were soon 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. This ride is the oldest ride at Kennywood, though it has gone through numerous major theme and structural changes throughout its existence. Since it debuted in 1901, it has been variously known as the Old Mill, 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—a Garfield theme—and all scenes became enclosed to insure a continuous 3D blacklight effect. The boats were slightly modified as well and the number of boats was increased to from nine to twelve.
*Whip was opened in 1918. In 2002, a park guest was killed when the ride's pavilion collapsed during a macroburst. The pavilion has not been put back up.
*Aero 360 is an unbelievably "flip-tacular" experience that was manufactured by Zamperla. Riders sit literally within the namesake Kennywood arrows and flip. The arrows swing higher and higher with each pendulum motion, culminating in a 360 degree experience.
*Ghostwood Estate is a ride that replaced the dark ride The Gold Rusher which was created in 1981. In 2008, Kennywood announced that a new interactive dark ride would replace the historic Gold Rusher. The facade is designed to look like a dilapidated mansion. Riders begin by standing in a "library/study" type room when, all of a sudden, Lord Kenneth (the owner of the estate), literally forces himself out of a picture frame. He informs of the ghosts and how you will be able to drive them from his home so that he may live in peace. Each rider then walks up a flight of stairs and approaches the trackless "Ghost Buggies". Each guest is provided with a "Ghost Blaster" to help them eliminate the ghosts.
*Kennywood also hosts several annual Nationality Days, each spotlighting a different local culture. These include, but are not limited to, Irish Day, Greek Day, Serbian Day, Croatian Day, Slovak Day, and Italian Day. On these days some of the park's many picnic pavilions will be in use for entertainers of the particular day's nationality, including ethnic dancers.

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 seven in the evening and closes at one in the morning. 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 (dyed water). 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 Musik Express, Halloween-themed music is all that is played. 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.

Current Haunts include indoor attractions such as Villa of the Vampires in the Penny Arcade, Mortem Manor in the Parkside Cafe, The Haunted Ark in Noah's Ark, and Captain Skully's Curse in 3-D in the Log Jammer Pavilion. Outdoor haunts include Kennyville Cemetery in the grassy Dancing Waters/Gazebo area and Voodoo Bayou in the Raging Rapids trough.

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. Kennywood will admit attendees of any age.

Kennywood in popular culture

* Kennywood was mentioned in an episode of entitled "Turning of the Screws", which dealt with a Las Vegas roller coaster derailment. CSI Supervisor Gil Grissom, who is a roller coaster enthusiast, tells the park engineer that he holds the marathon riding record on the Steel Phantom in Kennywood Park, Pennsylvania.
* Footage of Kennywood's Musik Express was shown in the beginning of the 1994 film Only You.
* In the pilot episode of Disney's Even Stevens, the camera pans across Kennywood, most likely, from the upper parking lot or the top of the shopping center. The Pirate Ship, Swings, Noah's Ark, Thunder Bolt, and Steel Phantom are clearly visible.Dubious|Even Stevens?|date=March 2008
* The upcoming 2009 film "Adventureland" was filmed at Kennywood.
* Kennywood also served as the inspiration for "Joyland Park" in LJ Smith's teen horror novel "The Forbidden Game: The Kill".
* Rock 'n roll singer Freddy Cannon recorded a slightly remade version of his 1962 hit "Palisades Park" called "Kennywood Park", featuring attractions at Kennywood [http://www.colorradio.com/freddy_cannon.htm] . The song was released on a limited-edition 45 vinyl pressing and sold as a $1.99 fundraising item for Pittsburgh's Children's Hospital through the now-defunct National Record Mart. The record is considered by some to be a collector's item today.Fact|date=April 2008

"Kennywood Memories"

On September 28, 1988, the local PBS station, WQED, first aired "Kennywood Memories", a one hour documentary about Kennywood. Rick Sebak narrated. Though twenty years later, many of the rides talked about are gone, the historic information about the park is still quite relevant. WQED has made the entire [http://www.wqed.org/education/pghist/logs/kennywood.shtml 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.

Ride/Attraction timeline

*2008: Ghostwood Estate [http://www.kennywood.com/docs/2008NewRideMediaRelease.pdf] , new Kiddieland games building.
*2007: Cosmic Chaos, SS Kenny, roofing over the escalators to lot 2, Gold Rusher removed.
*2006: Swing Shot
*2005: New front gate structures built, Bayern Kurve and Swing Around removed
*2004: Garfield's Nightmare (theme change from Old Mill)
*2003: King Kahuna (formerly Top Spin from Lake Compounce), Ham-on-Rye (removed in 2005), Volcano Valley themed area, Volcano (theme change from Enterprise), Roll-O-Plane removed
*2002: Garfield's Pounce Bounce, Phantom Fright Nights debut
*2001: Phantom's Revenge (rebuilt from Steel Phantom), Crazy Trolley
*2000: Aero 360, Dancing Waters relocated across from Grand Prix
*1999: Exterminator, Laughin' Sal moved to train station, Wonder Wheel removed.
*1998: Kennywood celebrates its 100th anniversary, Centennial Midway (one season), Le Cachot removed
*1997: Pitt Fall
*1996: Lil Phantom (Kiddieland), Kenny's Parkway, Noah's Ark remodeled, Phantom Phlyer removed
*1995: LOST KENNYWOOD expansion in former location of Sunlite Swimming Pool - Pittsburg Plunge, Phantom Phlyer (bought from Idora Park, who had bought it from West View Park. Removed in 1996, moved to Lake Compounce), Roll-O-Plane III (removed in 2003), Whip and Wave Swinger moved to Lost Kennywood, Great Balloon Race removed
*1994: SkyCoaster, Bayern Kurve (Removed in 2005)
*1993: WipeOut
*1992: Tri-Star (lasts only one season, moved to Idlewild), Old Mill (Haunted Hideaway renamed)
*1991: Steel Phantom (quickly tops top 10 list, rebuilt as Phantom's Revenge in 2001)
*1990: Great Balloon Race (removed in 1995, moved to Idlewild), Laser Loop removed
*1989: Swing Around II (removed in 2005)
*1988: Flying Carpet (removed in 2006), Rotor III (removed in 1994, eventually moved to Lake Compounce), Tilt-A-Whirl removed
*1987: Musik Express, electric cars added to Turnpike and directions cars face on track reversed
*1986: Wonder Wheel (removed in 1999)
*1985: Raging Rapids, Super Round-Up removed
*1984: Wave Swinger and Swing Around I (latter is removed at end of season, but returns five years later)
*1983: Ranger (lasts only one season)
*1982: Pirate
*1981: Gold Rusher (removed in 2007), Paddle Boats
*1980: Laser Loop.(Removed in 1990)
*1979: Monster III, renamed Monongahela Monster (removed 1991), Garden Stage (removed in 2006)
*1978: Enterprise (renamed Volcano in 2003)
*1977: Monster II; Nearby West View Park closes
*1976: Tilt-A-Whirl III (removed in 1988, moved to Idlewild), (Super) Round-Up III (moved to Idlewild 1985)
*1975: Log Jammer (first multi-million dollar ride in the park's history)
*1974: Hardheaded Harold's Horrendously Humorous Haunted Hideway (theme change of park's Old Mill)
*1973: Gran Prix, Sunlite Swimming Pool removed
*1972: Le Cachot (Name means "The Dungeon" in French, replaced Safari dark ride, removed 1998), Monster I (removed 1974)
*1971: Roll-O-Plane II (removed 1985)
*1969: Noah's Ark remodeled, Loop-O-Plane II (removed 1983)
*1968: Thunderbolt, rebuilt from Pippin. Only the four drops from the ravine and the lift hill remain intact from the original coaster. The new Thunderbolt track had a small hill in the inner helix, but was removed in 1969
*1967: Road Runner (Cuddle Up), Ghost Ship (Replaced Tornado, Both rides destroyed in fire on June 19, 1975)
*1966: Turnpike (Electric cars added in 1987)
*1965: Rotor II (removal date unknown), Popover (removed in 1976), Laff in the Dark removed
*1964: Tornado dark ride (from defunct Freedomland, removed 1966), Round-Up II (replacing original Round-Up; damaged by the June 19, 1975 fire and replaced with Super Round-Up)
*1962: Kangaroo (last 'Flying Coaster' flat ride in existence)
*1961: Bandshell destroyed in fire, Calypso (removed 1983)
*1958: Wild Mouse (removed 1960)
*1957: Round-Up I (replaced with new model in 1964)
*1955: Rotor I (removed 1958)
*1952: Octopus (removed 1965)
*1950: Roll-O-Plane I (removed 1969)
*1949: Tilt-A-Whirl II (removed 1963)
*1948: Little Dipper (remodeled in 1958, removed in 1984)
*1947: Teddy Bear removed
*1945: Olde Kennywood Railroad
*1940: Rockets (Traver circle swing added to island in lagoon, removed 1978)
*1938: Ridee-O (removed 1959)
*1937: 13 Spook Street funhouse (later renamed Daffy Klub)
*1936: Noah's Ark (re-built in 1996), Loop-O-Plane I (removed 1950)
*1935: Teddy Bear (removed in 1947), Skooter (removed 1979)
*1930: Auto Race, Laff in the Dark (removed 1965)
*1928: Tilt-A-Whirl I (removed 1934)
*1927: Carousel, current Racer, Turtle, larger 16 car Whip, Kiddieland II (moved from near Jack Rabbit coaster to former location of original Racer coaster)
*1926: 1910 Racer removed
*1925: Sunlite Swimming Pool (removed 1973)
*1924: Pippin (converted to Thunderbolt in 1968), Kiddieland I (originally located near Jack Rabbit coaster, relocated to current location in 1927)
*1923: Speed-O-Plane removed
*1921: Jack Rabbit, Gee Whiz Dip the Dips removed
*1918: Whip (replaced in 1927)
*1911: Speed-O-Plane (removed 1923)
*1910: 1910 Racer (original version, removed 1926), Dip-the-Dips Scenic Railway removed
*1905: Dip-the-Dips Scenic Railway (removed 1910)
*1904: Steeplechase removed
*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 formerly named/themed as Hard Headed Harrold's Horrendously Humorous Haunted Hideaway and Panama Canal)
*1899: Park's first carousel, Casino restaurant (now Parkside Cafe), Dancehall
*1898: Kennywood opened by Monongahela Street Railways

"Roman numerals indicate number of times a ride was replaced or re-introduced. They were/are not part of the actual ride name."

ee also

*Incidents at independent parks

Notes

Further reading

*Futrell, Jim. " [http://books.google.com/books?id=tEXZb9dKUpIC&dq=%22Amusement+Parks+of+Pennsylvania%22&pg=PP1&ots=smOE1zpWH9&sig=Jg9HQCwhnO-8_RkVcFoXfQnjEBs&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=4&ct=result#PPA98,M1 Amusement Parks of Pennsylvania] ". Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books, 2002.

External links

* [http://www.kennywood.com Official website]
* [http://www.phantomfrightnights.com Phantom Fright Nights Official Website]
* [http://www.visitkennywood.com/ Visit Kennywood]
* [http://www.parquesreunidos.com/# Parques Reunidos Official Site]
* [http://www.kpconnection.com Kennywood Connection]
* [http://www.coasterimage.com/pictures/kennywood/index.htm Kennywood Pictures]
* [http://www.postgazette.com/pg/06071/668640.stm "Rare two-family ownership arrangement keeps Kennywood Park thriving for last century"] , "Pittsburgh Post Gazette"
* [http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06068/667152.stm "Kennywood banks another 28 acres for park expansion"] , "Pittsburgh Post Gazette"
* [http://rcdb.com/qs.htm?quicksearch=kennywood Kennywood RCDB Site]