Kennywood Celebrates 126 Years of Fun
126 years is a long time for an amusement park to entertain families, but that's precisely what Kennywood Amusement Park, located in West Mifflin, Penna. outside Pittsburgh, has done.
To create a rousing celebration, the park has spent years revitalizing and revamping each area of the park. The park is owned by Palace Entertainment.
The successful result includes everything from fresh paint to new rides. According to park communications manager Tasha Pokrzywa, “Generations of families have visited Kennywood Park over the past 125 years…to be in a community that long is such an honor.”
With that in mind, the goal, successfully achieved, was to give the park's committed fan base “even more fun” this year, Pokrzywa says.
The park's newest ride, Spinvasion, was manufactured by Italy-based Zamperla. The spin ride is a unique new addition for the park that combines high speed fun with with gravity-defying thrills. Riders go solo in single swinging seats, flying and spinning, moving up and down, crossing with other riders, and then settling into an exciting wave-like motion with a back story as moving in a defense against alien invaders. Designed for riders 48” tall and above, the attraction is a part of Kennywood's alien-themed Area 412. In the same park section, the Gift Ship shopping experience is housed in a structure designed to resemble a UFO, with a giant alien figure towering 12-feet near the entrance. Also located here, the park's Comic Chaos ride has been revamped to include bright new neon-green paint and detailed figures depicting aliens.
Kennywood general manager Rick Spicuzza says “Spinavision and other new experiences will wow our guests…” He adds that this year is “Kennywood's most thrilling season yet, with brand-new elements and park improvements.”
Among these improvements are new dining options, the return of both the Turtle and Aero 360 rides after periods of closure, a new summer event, and added entertainment.
The Turtle ride is a true icon and it's also the last such attraction of its kind. It's been a gentle part of the park's ride quiver since 1927. Before it's reopening, it received a complete restoration, allowing park guests to traverse hills and dips on this shiny green, turtle-shaped tumble bug ride that can be ridden by guests of any age. The also-returning Aero 360 is a popular pendulum ride that shows off Kennywood's classic arrow motif. Riders' legs hang free as they swing back and forth anchored to a pair of Kennywood arrows. They swing higher with each motion of the pendulum. The ride now features spiffy newly painted seats and an updated control system. Another completely restored and revamped classic is a favorite of the park's youngest guests, the Wacky Wheel, a mini-Ferris Wheel that entered the park's ride collection 100 years ago.
Showing off a complete update and retheming this year are the park's bumper cars. The updated classic is now called the Potato Smash. Its new theme is a tasty one, based on none other than one of the park's most beloved food treats: freshly cut Potato Patch fries. 20 bumper cars, manufactured by Majestic, have been reimagined so that fries themselves are popping from the cars' hoods, replete with cheese sauce and an over-sized fork. The attraction has also been revamped to serve a lower height requirement: 42” to ride and 48” to drive means that families can enjoy the bang-up fun together.
Other ride changes include fresh paint throughout the park including the S&S Swingshot ride, Kennywood's classic windmill, and the wooden coaster Thunderbolt's station. Bynum Painting handled the park's massive painting projects over the course of 2023.
Another well-worth-noting historic note: Thunderbolt includes a section that was part of the park's original The Pippin thrill ride. Those sections of track reach the venerable age of 100 in 2024 and are noted with new signage indicating their location.
Also new this season is the remodeled and reopened Lost Kennywood Gift Shop, the largest of the park's retail spaces. While some new sweet treats are on offer at the gift shop, there are also two completely new full dining options available at the park.
At Jeeters' Pub, the theming relates to the park's 70s era pink mascot Jeeter and is a partnership with Penn Brewery. As such the venue offers 12 varied draft beers as well as pub snacks like charcuterie boards and spicy wings, along with other beverages. The character of Jeeter himself makes appearances from time to time, with the classic costumed character roaming throughout the park grounds in a fun, throw-back return.
Located in Kennywood's Merry-Go-Round Pavilion, another new dining spot has debuted this season: the Carousel Burger Co. located in the former Johnny Rockets space at the park. The line-up naturally focuses on burgers and fries, as well as chicken, milkshakes, and the restaurant's signature Carousel Shakes, which are topped with a heap of sweet treats from cookies to candies.
And if after filling up, it's time for a little wake-me-up, Kennywood has also introduced a new coffee shop, 1898 Coffee. The caffeine rich line-up of blends includes one that bears Kennywood's own moniker.
Other dining establishments in the park also look fresher with new facades and paint.
New entertainment and events have also been on the roster for Kennywood this summer, with the Bites and Pints Food and Drink Festival running weekends in June and July; a special July 4th celebration with fireworks over the holiday weekend; and a celebration of Pittsburgh itself every Saturday and Sunday during the month of July as well. A big first was a drone show, which lit up the skies around Kennywood on July 20th.
All summer long, the park has offered expanded hours, often extending hours until 10 p.m.
Spicuzza sums up this special Kennywood season as one that “continues to elevate the guest experience with even more thrills and excitement, in what is sure to be the biggest and best season yet.”
To create a rousing celebration, the park has spent years revitalizing and revamping each area of the park. The park is owned by Palace Entertainment.
The successful result includes everything from fresh paint to new rides. According to park communications manager Tasha Pokrzywa, “Generations of families have visited Kennywood Park over the past 125 years…to be in a community that long is such an honor.”
With that in mind, the goal, successfully achieved, was to give the park's committed fan base “even more fun” this year, Pokrzywa says.
The park's newest ride, Spinvasion, was manufactured by Italy-based Zamperla. The spin ride is a unique new addition for the park that combines high speed fun with with gravity-defying thrills. Riders go solo in single swinging seats, flying and spinning, moving up and down, crossing with other riders, and then settling into an exciting wave-like motion with a back story as moving in a defense against alien invaders. Designed for riders 48” tall and above, the attraction is a part of Kennywood's alien-themed Area 412. In the same park section, the Gift Ship shopping experience is housed in a structure designed to resemble a UFO, with a giant alien figure towering 12-feet near the entrance. Also located here, the park's Comic Chaos ride has been revamped to include bright new neon-green paint and detailed figures depicting aliens.
Kennywood general manager Rick Spicuzza says “Spinavision and other new experiences will wow our guests…” He adds that this year is “Kennywood's most thrilling season yet, with brand-new elements and park improvements.”
Among these improvements are new dining options, the return of both the Turtle and Aero 360 rides after periods of closure, a new summer event, and added entertainment.
The Turtle ride is a true icon and it's also the last such attraction of its kind. It's been a gentle part of the park's ride quiver since 1927. Before it's reopening, it received a complete restoration, allowing park guests to traverse hills and dips on this shiny green, turtle-shaped tumble bug ride that can be ridden by guests of any age. The also-returning Aero 360 is a popular pendulum ride that shows off Kennywood's classic arrow motif. Riders' legs hang free as they swing back and forth anchored to a pair of Kennywood arrows. They swing higher with each motion of the pendulum. The ride now features spiffy newly painted seats and an updated control system. Another completely restored and revamped classic is a favorite of the park's youngest guests, the Wacky Wheel, a mini-Ferris Wheel that entered the park's ride collection 100 years ago.
Showing off a complete update and retheming this year are the park's bumper cars. The updated classic is now called the Potato Smash. Its new theme is a tasty one, based on none other than one of the park's most beloved food treats: freshly cut Potato Patch fries. 20 bumper cars, manufactured by Majestic, have been reimagined so that fries themselves are popping from the cars' hoods, replete with cheese sauce and an over-sized fork. The attraction has also been revamped to serve a lower height requirement: 42” to ride and 48” to drive means that families can enjoy the bang-up fun together.
Other ride changes include fresh paint throughout the park including the S&S Swingshot ride, Kennywood's classic windmill, and the wooden coaster Thunderbolt's station. Bynum Painting handled the park's massive painting projects over the course of 2023.
Another well-worth-noting historic note: Thunderbolt includes a section that was part of the park's original The Pippin thrill ride. Those sections of track reach the venerable age of 100 in 2024 and are noted with new signage indicating their location.
Also new this season is the remodeled and reopened Lost Kennywood Gift Shop, the largest of the park's retail spaces. While some new sweet treats are on offer at the gift shop, there are also two completely new full dining options available at the park.
At Jeeters' Pub, the theming relates to the park's 70s era pink mascot Jeeter and is a partnership with Penn Brewery. As such the venue offers 12 varied draft beers as well as pub snacks like charcuterie boards and spicy wings, along with other beverages. The character of Jeeter himself makes appearances from time to time, with the classic costumed character roaming throughout the park grounds in a fun, throw-back return.
Located in Kennywood's Merry-Go-Round Pavilion, another new dining spot has debuted this season: the Carousel Burger Co. located in the former Johnny Rockets space at the park. The line-up naturally focuses on burgers and fries, as well as chicken, milkshakes, and the restaurant's signature Carousel Shakes, which are topped with a heap of sweet treats from cookies to candies.
And if after filling up, it's time for a little wake-me-up, Kennywood has also introduced a new coffee shop, 1898 Coffee. The caffeine rich line-up of blends includes one that bears Kennywood's own moniker.
Other dining establishments in the park also look fresher with new facades and paint.
New entertainment and events have also been on the roster for Kennywood this summer, with the Bites and Pints Food and Drink Festival running weekends in June and July; a special July 4th celebration with fireworks over the holiday weekend; and a celebration of Pittsburgh itself every Saturday and Sunday during the month of July as well. A big first was a drone show, which lit up the skies around Kennywood on July 20th.
All summer long, the park has offered expanded hours, often extending hours until 10 p.m.
Spicuzza sums up this special Kennywood season as one that “continues to elevate the guest experience with even more thrills and excitement, in what is sure to be the biggest and best season yet.”
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