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Kennywood
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Main gates to Kennywood
Location4800 Kennywood Blvd
, West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, 15122
Websitewww.kennywood.com/
OwnerKennywood Entertainment
Opened1898
Operating season2008 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

Area107 acres (0. West Mifflin is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, just southeast of Pittsburgh. The Kennywood Entertainment Company is as of December 2007, the owner of five United States Amusement parks: three in Western Pennsylvania 43 km²)
Rides32 total
  • 5 roller coasters
SloganMake a New Memory
Portal:Amusement parks Amusement Parks Portal

Kennywood is an amusement park near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in the borough of West Mifflin. Theme park is the generic term for a collection of rides and other Entertainment attractions assembled for the purpose of entertaining a large group West Mifflin is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, just southeast of Pittsburgh. It ranked second to Cedar Point in the category of "Favorite Park" in Theme Park Magazine's 2004 Reader's Choice Awards. Cedar Point is a 364 acre (15 km² Amusement park located in Sandusky, Ohio, U [1]

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). A wooden roller coaster or woodie is most often classified as a Roller coaster with laminated steel running rails overlaid The park features a variety of other family-type rides, with a total of 32 general-admission attractions, plus 13 more child-only rides in "Kiddieland".

Kennywood is also famous for its Fresh Cut French Fries at the "Potato Patch" stand. French fries ( North American English; sometimes not capitalized chips ( British English) fries or French-fried potatoes (formal 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. Giant Eagle Inc, is an American Supermarket chain with stores located in Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, and Maryland

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. The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP is the United States government's official list of districts sites buildings structures and objects deemed worthy of Playland, often called Rye Playland and also known as Playland Amusement Park, is an Amusement park located in Rye New York. [1] For decades, smoking was tolerated anywhere in the park.

Kennywood is owned by Kennywood Entertainment, which until December 2007 was a closely held family business owned by the Henninger and McSwigan families. The Kennywood Entertainment Company is as of December 2007, the owner of five United States Amusement parks: three in Western Pennsylvania Kennywood Entertainment is now (subject to due diligence) a subsidiary of Parques Reunidos, an international amusement park company based in Madrid, Spain. Due Diligence is a term used for a number of concepts involving either the performance of an investigation of a business or person or the performance of an act with a certain Standard A subsidiary, in business matters is an entity that is controlled by a bigger and more powerful entity Parques Reunidos is an international entertainment operator based in Madrid, Spain. Madrid (pronounced in English in Spanish and colloquially in Spain) is the Capital and largest city of Spain. [2]

Contents

Location

Kennywood is approximately 8 miles (13 km) from downtown Pittsburgh, in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania. West Mifflin is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, just southeast of Pittsburgh. The park is along Pennsylvania Route 837, known as Kennywood Boulevard as it passes through the borough. Pennsylvania Route 837 is a State route located in western Pennsylvania. The closest interstate connection is Interchange No. 7 (Swissvale) on Interstate 376. Interstate 376 ( I-376) is an auxiliary route of the Interstate Highway System in the U Despite the park's relatively obscure location (it was once the terminus of a streetcar line), it is easy to find for two reasons. A tram, tramcar, trolley, trolley car, or streetcar is a railborne vehicle, of lighter weight and construction than a Train First, it is on the "Green Belt", part of the Pittsburgh/Allegheny County Belt System. The Green Belt is a highway in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 's fourth "belt" in the Pittsburgh/Allegheny County Belt System, running a half-circumference The Allegheny County Pennsylvania Belt System color codes miscellaneous county roads to form a unique system of routes in and around the city of Pittsburgh. 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. Port Authority of Allegheny County (also known as the Port Authority or sometimes by its former nickname PAT) is the second-largest public transit agency in 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. In the United States, trolley parks, which started in the 19th century were Picnic and Recreation areas along or at the ends of Streetcar 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 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. Working class is a term used in academic Sociology and in ordinary conversation to describe depending on context and speaker those employed in specific fields or types In contemporary usage picnic can be defined simply as a pleasure excursion at which a Meal is eaten outdoors ( Al fresco or En plein air The twentieth century of the Common Era began on A swimming pool, swimming bath, wading pool, or simply a pool, is an artificially enclosed Body of water intended for Swimming or 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 [2], which opened in 1989; Idlewild Park [3] near Ligonier; Story Land [4], the children's theme park where fantasy lives in Glen, New Hampshire; and Lake Compounce [5], New England's family theme park in Bristol, Connecticut, which is the oldest continuously-operating amusement park in North America. Sandcastle is a Water park located in the Pittsburgh suburb of West Homestead. Idlewild and Soak Zone is a family Amusement park situated near Ligonier Pennsylvania, along US Route 30. Ligonier Township is a township in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States. Story Land is a theme park located in Glen one of three villages of Bartlett New Hampshire. Lake Compounce is an Amusement park located in Bristol, Connecticut, United States and a part of the neighboring town of Southington Bristol is a city located in Hartford County Connecticut, USA, 20 miles (32 km southwest of Hartford

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 politely alert another person that the zipper on his/her pants is open. Super Bowl XL featured the American Football Conference (AFC champion Pittsburgh Steelers and the National Football Conference (NFC champion Seattle Mike V Logan (born September 15, 1974 in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania) is a former professional football player for the NFL. McKeesport is a city in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, US, at the confluence of the Monongahela and Youghiogheny Rivers " I'm going to Disney World! " and " I'm going to Disneyland! " are Advertising slogans used in a series of television commercials by Walt Disney World Resort is the most visited and largest recreational resort in the world containing four Theme parks two Water parks twenty-three themed hotels [3]

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. Events 627 - Battle of Nineveh: A Byzantine army under Emperor Heraclius defeats Emperor Khosrau II 's Persian Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. The Northeast is a region of the United States. As defined by the U Madrid (pronounced in English in Spanish and colloquially in Spain) is the Capital and largest city of Spain. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. [4]

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 140 acres (0. 57 km²) and carry it into the neighboring city of Duquesne. Duquesne is a city along the Monongahela River in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States and is part of the Pittsburgh Metropolitan 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. Pennsylvania Route 43, commonly known as the Mon/Fayette Expressway and officially the James J

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. Kmart (sometimes spelled as " K-Mart " is a chain of department stores in the United States, Puerto Rico, the U West-to-West Coalition, a collection of 22 municipal governments, has announced that it is working with Kennywood on its expansion plan.

Phantom's Revenge, Pitt Fall, Grand Prix, and cable car ride to extended parking section
Phantom's Revenge, Pitt Fall, Grand Prix, and cable car ride to extended parking section
Park Entrance
Park Entrance
Phantom's Revenge
Phantom's Revenge
Thunderbolt
Thunderbolt
Exterminator
Exterminator
Racer entrance
Racer entrance
The Racer's two cars pass each other
The Racer's two cars pass each other
Jack Rabbit
Jack Rabbit

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 Phantom's Revenge is a steel Roller coaster at Kennywood Park, in West Mifflin Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh. The Phantom's Revenge is a steel Roller coaster at Kennywood Park, in West Mifflin Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh. The Thunderbolt is a wooden Roller coaster located at Kennywood Park in West Mifflin Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh. The Exterminator is a steel Roller coaster located at Kennywood Park, in West Mifflin Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh. The Racer is a wooden Roller coaster located at Kennywood Park, in West Mifflin Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh. Jack Rabbit is a wooden Roller coaster located at Kennywood Park in West Mifflin Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh. 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 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 main drop is original track from the Steel Phantom. Older visitors will recall that the Thunderbolt is an improvement of the Pippin.

Current roller coasters

Other attractions

Phantom Fright Nights

Phantom Fright Nights is a Halloween event held at Kennywood on Friday and Saturday nights during the month of October. Halloween, or Hallowe’en, is a Holiday celebrated on the night of October 31. 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. Amusement Today is a monthly newspaper centered in Arlington Texas.

Labor Day traditionally marked the end of the season and the park would shut down until the spring. Labor Day is a United States Federal holiday observed on the first Monday in September 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. A haunted house is defined as a house that is believed to be a center for Supernatural occurrences or Paranormal phenomena 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.

Kennywood in popular culture

Kennywood Memories

On September 28, 1988, the local PBS station, WQED, first aired Kennywood Memories, a one hour documentary about Kennywood. Events 48 BC - Pompey the Great is assassinated on orders of King Ptolemy of Egypt after landing in Egypt. Year 1988 ( MCMLXXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar) The Public Broadcasting Service ( PBS) is a Non-profit Public broadcasting Television service with 354 member TV stations in the Rick Sebak narrated. Rick Sebak (born 1953) is an American Film director and producer who lives and works in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, U 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 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

Sister parks

See also

References

  1. ^ "First Annual Readers' Choice Awards", Theme Parks Magazine, June 10, 2005. This is a summary of notable incidents that have taken place at various independently-owned Amusement parks, Water parks or Theme parks. Events 1190 - Third Crusade: Frederick I Barbarossa drowns in the Sally River while leading an army to Jerusalem Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.  
  2. ^ News Release. "New Chapter in Kennywood Entertainment History Announced", Kennywood Entertainment Company, 2007-12-11. The Kennywood Entertainment Company is as of December 2007, the owner of five United States Amusement parks: three in Western Pennsylvania Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 359 - Honoratus, the first known Prefect of the City of Constantinople, takes office  
  3. ^ Peter Leo. "Pittsburgh English n 'at for visitors and newcomers", Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, March 21, 2006. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, also known simply as the "PG" is the largest daily Newspaper serving metropolitan Pittsburgh, Events 630 - Byzantine emperor Heraclius restores the True Cross to Jerusalem. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar.  
  4. ^ News Release. "New Chapter in Kennywood Entertainment History Announced", Kennywood Entertainment Company, 2007-12-11. The Kennywood Entertainment Company is as of December 2007, the owner of five United States Amusement parks: three in Western Pennsylvania Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 359 - Honoratus, the first known Prefect of the City of Constantinople, takes office  

External links


The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, also known simply as the "PG" is the largest daily Newspaper serving metropolitan Pittsburgh, A geographic coordinate system enables every location on the Earth to be specified in three coordinates using mainly a spherical coordinate system.
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