Jul 9, 20215 min read

Kennywood!

As Kennywood was the final park on the trip and I was visiting for the first time, I was optimistic that most of the rides would be operational. However, considering the past issues with Steel Curtain and Skyrocket, I was unsure if they would be available. I also wondered if I could ride Thunderbolt alone, which remained to be seen.

One aspect worth mentioning about Kennywood is the challenge of reaching the park. Navigating the roads can be quite tricky as it is situated on the side of a valley and not directly accessible from the highway. To reach the park, you will need to navigate through some of Pittsburgh's residential streets. Additionally, visitors have the choice between free parking and preferred parking. I opted for preferred parking because it offered a guard shack at the entrance, providing an extra layer of security for my car.

Entering the park, I found it unique that you pass under the roadway next to the park, with the parking lot not being directly attached to the park. On to the park!

Sky Rocket

As I headed to Sky Rocket, this ride evoked the strongest sense of nostalgia for me. You may wonder, how can a ride I've never been on bring about nostalgia? Well, I recall Sky Rocket as the first roller coaster for which I followed construction updates online when I was younger. This ride is also special as it represents the first generation of Premier Rides' Sky Rocket model. It features a launch from 0-50mph up a 95ft top hat, gradually slowing down at the peak before plunging into a 90-degree drop, followed by a cut back corkscrew and a zero-g roll. After a brake run, it descends into its final inversion and then navigates a couple of s-bend curves. Overall, the ride had a strong first half and a pretty weak second half. On to the next ride which is the Jack rabbit.

Jack Rabbit

The second roller coaster of the day was Kennywood's oldest rollercoaster is the Jack Rabbit, which was constructed in 1920 by the renowned wooden coaster designer John A. Miller. Featuring a 40ft lift hill and a thrilling 70ft drop into a ravine, the ride also includes a tunnel and a well-known double dip drop. With a height restriction of 42 inches, the Jack Rabbit is ideal for families.

The Racer

Next was the Racer. This ride is known as being one of the oldest racing roller coasters around and uses a mobius loop track configuration. A Mobius loop is a layout that consists of a ride going through the layout and at the end of the ride, you exit on the track that you had just raced. The ride consists of a 50 ft drop and reaches a speed of 40mph.

Steel Curtain

I was able to ride one of Kennywood's rarest rollercoasters, which is known for being out of operation most of the time. This Steel Curtain, themed in Pittsburgh Steelers colors, features a 220-foot hill with the highest inversion reaching 197 feet. It boasts a layout of 9 inversions, the most in the United States, all at a speed of 75mph. Describing the ride doesn't do justice to the intensity of the experience. If Kennywood manages to keep this ride operational, I believe it could easily rank among the top five rollercoasters.

Thunderbolt

My visit was almost disrupted by the Thunderbolt ride because it required having another rider to accompany me. Fortunately, if you are determined to experience the ride, the operators allow you to wait for a partner at the platform. After a 20-minute wait, I was able to ride with someone.

The Thunderbolt stands out for its unique beginning, as it plunges into a valley before ascending the hill, making a turn, and then climbing the first lift. Although the maximum height of the ride is 70ft, the surrounding terrain allows for a 90ft drop. With a top speed of 55mph, the ride delivers intense lateral forces during its double helix turn near the ride entrance. Overall, the experience was quite bumpy, with frequent jolts against the person seated beside me. I believe this ride is best experienced just once.

On to the Phantoms Revenge.

Phantoms Revenge

The following attraction, previously known as Steel Phantom, underwent a name change and layout change to become The Phantoms Revenge. Originally featuring inversions, the ride now boasts a first drop of 160ft, followed by its largest drop of 228ft, which takes advantage of the surrounding terrain and aslo dives through the wooden structure of the Thunderbolt rollercoaster. The ride reaches 85mph throughout to 3200 ft of track. To top it all off, the drops are not the scariest part of the ride. The bunny hops at the end feel liek they lift you a couple inches out of your seat. he trip to Kenny wood is worth it just to ride the Phantoms Revenge.

Now to the last major coaster in the park, Exterminator

Exterminator

Exterminator is an indoor spinning wild mouse rollercoaster. The theme revolves around escaping exterminators in a mouse car throughout the ride to avoid being exterminated. The majority of the experience takes place in darkness, intensifying the thrill as you spin uncontrollably without a clear sense of direction.

Honorable Mentions

Following a ride on the Exterminator, I strolled to the Potato Patch stand to indulge in Kennywood's renowned Potato Patch fries. These fries are prepared on-site through baking and frying, and customers can personalize their order with various toppings.

When it comes to Dark rides, I believe that the best ones I tried at Kennywood were Ghostwood Estate, a spooky mansion dark ride with unique effects, and Noah's Ark fun house, which raised concerns for me about its compliance with current fire codes because of its narrow corridors. Both are highly recommended to experience. Unfortunately, I missed out on riding the Old Mill as it was its debut year and had lengthy queues.

Overall, Kennywood is a unique park if you are into theme park history and has a pretty neat collection of rides that some are over 100 years old.

This concludes the 2021 rollercoaster road trip and Im excited to see what's new for next year to plan the next one.

Pictures are below and Keep Coast 'n' Dudes

Kennywood, We are not Worthy!

I see you Steel Curtain! Please run today.

Skyrocket rocking is twisted blue track. Where does the track begin?

The Jack Rabbit was supporting its snazzy 100th anniversary trains

The racer is located behind that sign. Taking pictures is challenging because most of the rides are integrated into the surrounding terrain. Don't mind Steel Curtain in the background.

The Steel Curtain is a must-see attraction that should not be underestimated. Regardless of your team affiliation, this ride is a must-experience destination.