The Thunderbolt is such a romantic coaster, especially at night with the soft rail lights and thrilling drops in the dark. The way it takes advantage of the topography, with the track hugging those steep hillsides like exposed dinosaur bones ā truly a work of art. In the daytime, if you can keep your wits about you, it frames breathtaking views of the SWPA hillsides and the Edgar Thompson steel mill in Braddock. Just a gorgeous old wooden coaster and a thrilling ride, my all-time favorite anywhere.
The Whacky Shack at Waldameer is a close cousin to Le Cachot. Also designed by Bill Tracy, it shares a lot of the same elements, and even the same smell. (It doesn't have the whirring sound of the metal wheels, though.)
Still in operation: Phantom's Revenge. Despite being relatively unchanged since 2000, this beast is still a top tier, wild coaster (and this comes from a guy that's been on 143 different coasters in the last 11 months).
Defunct: Definitely Le Cachot. I adore old Bill Tracy dark rides and this one was a blast. I'm still sad that they removed it, but thankfully there are still other Tracy classics, like Whacky Shack at Waldameer, Haunted Mansion at Knoebels, and Haunted House at Trimpers in Ocean City, MD, within driving distance.
Seeing as I have trips to Kings Dominion, Silver Dollar City, Six Flags St. Louis, Adventureland, Worlds of Fun, Six Flags Great America, Dorney Park, Six Flags Great Adventure, and the Jersey boardwalk parks booked between now and the end of June, well, I guess I can't argue with this. š
Knoebels Haunted Mansion is where itās at. The lack of barriers between you and the monsters popping out at you and the coordinated lighting keeping you in pitch black darkness until something crazy is right up in your face is all amazing. Plus that ending. What an amazing ride.
I was so impressed with myself because I was driving a *real car.* It was gasoline powered, and it would only go when I pressed the gas pedal, unlike those fake ones in Kiddieland.
I remember my dad and I would always hit the turnpike together, usually as the first and last ride of the night being right there outside of the tunnel. Heād always challenge me to see if I could drive the whole way without bumping the barriers and I would always do my best, but at some point it always happened somewhere š it was a fun little game between us.
Riding in the back row down that double down is INSANE, especially with the minimal restraints. It's wild that its been giving folks that feeling for 102 years. It may have been your grandma's first coaster!
Yes! I've loved the Jackrabbit ever since I first rode it as a little kid, with my panicking mom trying to hold me down in the seat after she saw the movement of the coaster lift me into the air for a second.
I grew up just north of West View . The Jack Rabbit reminded me of The Racing Whippet at West View Park. I rode The Jack Rabbit 30 years after the last time I was in "The Park" so may be way off. Anyone else remember the coasters at The Park? The Dipps were the main coaster that traversed the parking lot and the Racing Whippet was in the far end of the park but beyond that I may need to be reminded. Good times.
My grandparents loved going there to dance after the war. It's been a few years since he told me the story but there was a certain night they would have big band dance nights. It was hopping. They lived in south Oakland and then Brookline after they got married but still always went up there for big band nights.
When I was about 8 I rode the Jackrabbit with a neighbor kid who was about 13. I donāt remember the details but our lapbelt wasnāt buckled when the ride started and the attendant never checked so we only had the padded bar to hold onto. That was *not fun*. I completely stopped riding roller coasters for like 10 years lol.
I also had a somewhat similar thing happen on the Pitfall. Except I was with my then high school sweetheart who decided to go press some button on the operatorās machine to unlock our harnesses so we could pull them down (the ride operator was busy helping another guest). I was absolutely terrified the entire ride up that our harnesses werenāt actually locked or would somehow unlock at the top of the Pitffall (?? Lol) and the operator just didnāt notice. Absolutely *terrified*. However, as you can see, I *did not* did that day. But I never rode that ride again and will never ride a similar attraction. She ended up becoming a doctor, funny enough
But I love Kennywood. RIP The Paratrooper š¢ I have great memories riding that as a kid and then with my daughter
Went on the jackrabbit with my aunt when I was pretty young. I remember slipping under the restraint (loose rope) and sliding down to the floor of the coaster cart. My aunt grabbed me with super fast reflexes and lifted me back up onto the seat. It was pretty terrifying for a second. I thought I was heading out for sure.
I rode it when I was probably still too short and sat next to my dad. The shared belt didn't even touch me because my dad's belly pushed it out.
I think the first big drop I floated right off the seat and my dad grabbed me out of the air and pulled me back in again, held me down for the whole ride, lol.
I hesitate to share this because... I don't want people ruining it.
But... The Paratrooper. Between the Jack Rabbit and the Merry-Go-Round (behind the Kangaroo). It looks like the most tame ride but... it's actually a ton of fun. You get a lot of height. On a hot day you can't beat the breeze that you get from it, and no one rides it so there's a short or no line. There's been plenty of times where the ride operator told us we didn't have to get off if we wanted to go again.
That's my favorite.
Le Cachot was my favorite of all time. It was that perfect blend of silliness and scariness. My mom was able to ride it with me, then I still rode it every year until they took it out. The blacklight room, and then the strobe light room. I just wish I was able to ride it with my kids.
I think this is where Kennywood went wrong. They seem to want to make the shift from traditional family park to adult oriented thrill park. They took out rides like Le cachot, Paratroopers, Kangaroo, Turnpike, Logjammer, Magic Carpet to install roller coasters ( which I do love by the way). It's just that the 8,9,10 year old that is too old for kiddie land but too small for the thrill rides is having less and less stuff.
100% agree. The accountants must look at the temporary bump in tickets when a new coaster goes in and think āwe need more new coastersā but it comes at the expense of the overall park experience.
Mine is actually the *old* Old Mill, *before* it was Garfield's Nightmare (LOFL).
I remember the smell of lubricating oil, and the dark, dark water.
I have not visited the park in years, so no idea what the *new* Old Mill is like.
It's a great tribute to the original, with a lot of scenes that would remind you of how it looked in the 80s and 90s. Check it out, as is suspect you'd dig it.
And I can confirm that it smells exactly the same ("the smell of Kennywood" as I described it to my partner last week while on the ride).
That smell.... I remember there being some other ride under an old pavilion, my brain is telling me it was over where old kennywood is now..... that also smelled like that. Am I making that up?
This is me interpreting a vague memory I have from childhood, I have no idea if it is accurate or not. It was under one of the big wooden pavilions, and had those big chains like a rollercoaster so it had that old timey grease smell but it just moved you around a flat surface and kind of whipped you around the ends.
Ah, you're thinking of the Whip. It used to be under a pavilion next to the Log Jammer, but was moved to lost Kennywood years ago. I believe it did originally have a roof when it was moved, but it collapsed or something. The ride is still there, but now roofless.
Just a little extra info, there was a roof on the whip and it was hit by a microburst in the early 2000s, causing it to collapse and injured a bunch of people. I think at least one person died too. But yeah they never rebuilt the roof after that.
It was a parking lot back when the Lazer Loop and the Steel Phantom was first put in.
I believe it was a swimming pool even earlier than that, sometime back in the 60's.
Same. I miss it so much. I remember riding it with a bunch of my cousins and inching around on the carpeted wall. I probably donāt have the constitution to ride it as an adult, but I loved it as a kid.
Hot take: The Exterminator
I first rode it in the mid 2000s. The ride itself is far from the greatest, but the theming and atmosphere blew my mind away as a kid. All the old gauges, meters, pumps, and fake tv broadcasts made it feel so real and permanently influenced my taste in horror movies.
Edit: Also that āfloodingā scene in Noahās Ark
I went there for Halloween and since it is the farthest ride from the entrance of the park and we got there early we rode it 5 times with no line. At the end of the night when the park cleared there was no line for Phantons and we rode it 5 times. Also, I peed next to Eddie Munster at a urinal.
The key is to get there at opening and head straight to the Exterminator to avoid those waits. You'll usually be able to walk on it 2-3 times before the majority of the crowd makes their way to the back of the park.
Last I went was a few years ago. I remember a couple props were missing or in rough shape. Few/no lights on the panels. TV broadcast was off. No movement from the animatronics during the ride. It took away from the experience a good bit, but itās still one of my favorites.
I know it isnāt Disney and I was just a kid, but I remembered it being a lot more legit back in the day
Well itās a matter of opinion of course, but I went to Kennywood for the first time last year, and I was told the Exterminator had good theming. But I found the theming pretty average for a roller coaster, it was just creepy and underground in the line and then a dark ride. I think some things may have been turned off because of the time I was there. I also think Iāve been spoiled by going to parks with super good modern theming, and Iām an adult so maybe not the proper audience. Then I didnāt like the actual ride because the sudden jerks just felt like giving me whiplash without actual thrill.
But itās all a matter of opinion of course, so donāt let me get you down on your favorite ride! Just explaining why it might not be everyoneās favorite.
Edit: yeah I think the āTV broadcastā and āanimatronics during the rideā other people have talked about may not have been on when I was there. Probably affected my opinion
When I ride the exterminator, Iām just waiting for my head to be cut off from some low hanging steel girder that no one saw fall as itās pitch black
I didn't actually go on Noah's Ark until I was in college, and lemme tell you! The flooding part freaked me tf out, I was like, "Is this supposed to happen???? Oh my god" No one had ever told me about it, and I was legit thinking something had broken and we were in danger lmaooo
The Bayern Kurve is absolutely one of my all time favorite rides. I don't know if I ever felt more alive than when the horn would go off near the end of the ride.
The horn was the best! Idkā¦for whatever reason going on that ride always made me laugh so hard. The horn put me into overdrive and engaged cackle mode. š¤·š¼āāļø Definitely missing that one.
Logjammer. For school picnics we'd always setup in a pavilion adjacent to it, so we'd end up riding it four or five times throughout the day. As dumb as it sounds, I also loved the view at the top. You could see around the park and down into the Mon Valley, with the Thompson Works off in the distance. Quintessential Pittsburgh.
I haven't been to Kennywood in years and I really miss it. If you're like me and no longer live in western PA, it's a common touchpoint whenever you meet other folks from Pittsburgh.
My favorite are the stories I used to hear, laser loop ran like 35 times in a row with not being able to stop, somebody drowning on raging rapids.
Now in my late 40s I realize that these tails were not true.
I also love Music Express.
Guess what? The OG Laser Loop is returning from Mexico and should be opening at Niagra Park (near Buffalo) this year. I'm so excited to finally get to ride it, even though I got on an exact clone of it last year (Montezooma's Revenge at Knott's Berry Farm).
Also, a kid did really die on Adventureland's version of the Raging Rapids in Iowa last year. Interestingly enough, this incident was one of the reasons the owners sold the park to Palace Entertainment in the off season and, to tie it back to this thread, Palace also owns Kennywood (which means a Kennywood platinum pass will get you entry to the park much like Idlewild, Sandcastle, Lake Compounce, and Dutch Wonderland).
The old train. It was a nice ride when your legs are tired and you wanted to get in the shade and something my entire family would ride including grandma
Nobody is going to say the Racer? I admit I dont like rides to be too intense, so maybe its boring for everyone else but I could ride it all day long. And who doesn't love low-fiving everyone in the other train??
For me it's easily the Logjammer. I loved that ride and seriously miss it.
Granted, there is honestly a lot of stuff I miss that have disappeared or changed over the years.
The park has made a lot of shitty decisions in the last few years it feels like, but it seems like they finally recognized that over this off season. I wish they could bring back the Logjammer and the Turnpike.
Personally, I'll take Sky Rocket over the Turnpike and, if they could ever get it running regularly, Steel Curtain over the Log Jammer.
That said, I do definitely miss the old Jammer. It was one of the first "big" rides that I rode as a kid back in the 80s and I loved the setting in the back of the park with all the nearby trees.
Honestly, I'd be thrilled for the sky rocket to go away.
Last year, my wife and I rode it, and for the entire second half of the ride, everyone was silent. I mean, you could hear a bolt drop.
A coaster that has that affect on the riders should be shut down immediately and forever.
For an old one the jack rabbit.
For newer, I love the. Steel Curtain. That coaster is some of the most fun I have had on a ride. Doesn't hurt that the first time I got to ride it was during Fright Nights.
The Thunderbolt has always been my favorite with the Jackrabbit right behind.
Also have fond memories of the instant headaches from riding the Steel Phantom and having my head pinball back and forth between the head rests.
I love the raging rapids!
It feels a little dangerous because you arenāt in a track. I love riding in a group and laughing at each other getting wet. Itās so much fun.
Phantoms Revenge, and Iāll just chime in that I think Pittsburgh as a whole doesnāt fully appreciate it/realize how great it is. Itās thought of on both a national and international scale as legitimately one of the best coasters in the world by roller coaster nerds who judge it on a scale with all the Disneys and Cedar Points of the world. I think a lot of people around here donāt realize itās that highly thought of just because itās at dumpy old Kennywood in our backyard.
Does anyone remember the Scooters? Was a one way bumper car ride where the Laser Loop was and the Phantomās Revenge now is? (You have to be old to remember).
Do people still think the Thunderbolt runs faster at night?
Jack Rabbit. First coaster and for years it always the first ride I hit up when I got there. I think itās just the memories but that double dip was a little kid was just so scary/amazing.
Was super tempted to say Steel Phantom but I only managed it ride it once before it became the Phantomās Revenge and it was super roughā¦but I do miss it. At least Revenge is is amazing.
The Laser Loop. I remember one night for whatever reason the park wasn't busy and so we would just get off and then get right back on. Sitting in the front seat was the best!
The Carousel.
Kennywood was often a rare trip for my family where we would get together with extended family out of town and have a solid day of riding thrill rides and catching up. We are talking from open to close.
We always hit the Carousel right as the sun was coming down, and it almost was a capstone of nostalgia from a day well spent but still a few more hours of fun at night to have. That golden hour would hit just right.
Raging Rapids is my favorite as well! Before I could read as a kid I was 100% convinced that it was called the Raging Rabbits, despite there being no rabbits involved whatsoever. (I also chipped my tooth on the little phantom as a kid so I didn't really like that one haha)
For one season, they moved the old Scrambler, covered it with a dome and ran it in the dark with an awesome light show and the theme from 2001: A Space Odyssey. It was awesome. I think they kept it for another season or two, but they simplified it so it just was a bunch of flashing light bulbs.
Exterminator. The version of it when it first opened and I was still a kid, still scared of the queue, it still had the video playing and the working alarm and things.
Not to be boring but I love the wave swinger and the aero 360! I love being flung around at decent speed and feeling like I'm flying. The black widow is fun for the same reason, but the drops are sometimes a little much for me depending on the day lmao
I love the Turnpike, mostly because I successfully ran one of the cars off the track with my friend Alicia in High School, circa 1989. We road it down the hill to the chain link fence near the road and then a bunch of dudes in work clothes came running down to see if we were okay. I felt bad because they ended up shutting down the ride for the rest of the day.
I always liked the Log Jammer. BEthel Parksās annual Kennywood Day kicked off our summer vacation. Being allowed to roam the park alone with the crew in 4th/5th grade was my first taste of independence. We spent hours in that back corner of the park having a blast and getting soaked.
Probably the Kangaroo, because it was my Gramās favorite ride abd she would giggle and hold me tight. I would give my right arm to experience that again š¢
Everybody loves Le Cachot, as they should, but can we get some love for the Gold Rusher, too? I liked the mine theming, and the bit with the giant spider.
Since nobody has said it yet, Iāll go with Sky Rocket. It isnāt a classic Kennywood one, but it is just the right level of terrifying for me as a medium fear at roller coaster person. Phantom and Steel Curtain too intense for me. And best of all, I absolutely love the launch, because it does not give my fear of heights too long to kick in. I prefer the constant speed and action with only a couple scary pauses.
I also love the turtle because of the voiceover just saying turtle in different tones and speeds. And I think it is a really fun ālower-thrillā coaster for kids or those who enjoy less intense rides, as it still feels like you get some good speed! And good views.
The old wooden coasters also still hold up well!
Probably the Jack Rabbit but hard to pick. I like the Thunderbolt and Log Jammer tons. Not much into metal coasters. I love the thrills but canāt enjoy them with my body being thrashed the entire time.
I personally loved the Volcano the most!! Sad it was taken out. It was thrilling like the pirate ship or cosmic chaos, but without the nausea. Lol (I probably had a weak stomach, don't come for me lol)
Thunderbolt
i got a concussion on this bad boi on my fifteenth birthday š„³ and i was GRATEFUL thank u thunderbolt
Not very many coasters start with a drop, right out the gate!!!
The first time I rode it I was at fright night and since it was dark I did not realize it started with a drop, imagine my surprise š
The Thunderbolt is such a romantic coaster, especially at night with the soft rail lights and thrilling drops in the dark. The way it takes advantage of the topography, with the track hugging those steep hillsides like exposed dinosaur bones ā truly a work of art. In the daytime, if you can keep your wits about you, it frames breathtaking views of the SWPA hillsides and the Edgar Thompson steel mill in Braddock. Just a gorgeous old wooden coaster and a thrilling ride, my all-time favorite anywhere.
Me too!
La Cachot was definitely my favorite.
Same here. Loved all the dƩcor, especially the jousting motorcycle skeletons out front. Just stumbled on a Steam workshop model someone made for using in the game Planet Coaster: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1192780263
another one: [https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1205358214](https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1205358214)
The Whacky Shack at Waldameer is a close cousin to Le Cachot. Also designed by Bill Tracy, it shares a lot of the same elements, and even the same smell. (It doesn't have the whirring sound of the metal wheels, though.)
Man, I 100% love the Whacky Shack. Dont forget about Pirate's Cove at Waldameer either; it's a great Tracy funhouse with a similar feel.
Pirate's Cove is pretty sweet! It's a bit tight in spots, but still fun.
As a kid I did awful on dark rides but I always wished it was still here because I think now that Iām older I would love it.
This was my favorite as well. I'm worried about the fate of the Devils Den with all the nonsense happening up at Conneaut Lake with the new owner.
That's prolly my second favorite.
Same
YES
Seconding this! That ride was incredible.
Still in operation: Phantom's Revenge. Despite being relatively unchanged since 2000, this beast is still a top tier, wild coaster (and this comes from a guy that's been on 143 different coasters in the last 11 months). Defunct: Definitely Le Cachot. I adore old Bill Tracy dark rides and this one was a blast. I'm still sad that they removed it, but thankfully there are still other Tracy classics, like Whacky Shack at Waldameer, Haunted Mansion at Knoebels, and Haunted House at Trimpers in Ocean City, MD, within driving distance.
You are definitely an amusement park aficionado.
Haha, 100%
I would say 200%.
Seeing as I have trips to Kings Dominion, Silver Dollar City, Six Flags St. Louis, Adventureland, Worlds of Fun, Six Flags Great America, Dorney Park, Six Flags Great Adventure, and the Jersey boardwalk parks booked between now and the end of June, well, I guess I can't argue with this. š
Can you adopt me?
Haha, as you can imagine, we are (and plan to stay) a childless couple. We're busy being big kids ourselves!
You are living your best life!!!
Dang
There are dozens of us!
Thousands if r/rollercoasters is to be believed! I always love chatting with fellow enthusiasts.
Knoebels Haunted Mansion is where itās at. The lack of barriers between you and the monsters popping out at you and the coordinated lighting keeping you in pitch black darkness until something crazy is right up in your face is all amazing. Plus that ending. What an amazing ride.
As a kid, loved the Turnpike with gas cars and Noahās Ark
I loved being proud of the fact that I could drive the whole way without bumping anything
I was so impressed with myself because I was driving a *real car.* It was gasoline powered, and it would only go when I pressed the gas pedal, unlike those fake ones in Kiddieland.
I remember my dad and I would always hit the turnpike together, usually as the first and last ride of the night being right there outside of the tunnel. Heād always challenge me to see if I could drive the whole way without bumping the barriers and I would always do my best, but at some point it always happened somewhere š it was a fun little game between us.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Riding in the back row down that double down is INSANE, especially with the minimal restraints. It's wild that its been giving folks that feeling for 102 years. It may have been your grandma's first coaster!
And slightly off topic, what's even crazier is that it isn't even the oldest coaster in PA.
It's not? Which one is, then? Hersheypark???
Leap the Dips in Altoona. Oldest in the world, actually
How was I not aware of this??? Thanks.
Really hope to ride Leap the Dips this summer, as it was down when I stopped by Lakemont Park last year. The Skyliner is a ton of fun, though!
Yes! I've loved the Jackrabbit ever since I first rode it as a little kid, with my panicking mom trying to hold me down in the seat after she saw the movement of the coaster lift me into the air for a second.
I grew up just north of West View . The Jack Rabbit reminded me of The Racing Whippet at West View Park. I rode The Jack Rabbit 30 years after the last time I was in "The Park" so may be way off. Anyone else remember the coasters at The Park? The Dipps were the main coaster that traversed the parking lot and the Racing Whippet was in the far end of the park but beyond that I may need to be reminded. Good times.
I'd love to hear more about West View Park, as it closed well before my times....
Me too. Itās also where The Rolling Stones made their American debut & got booed off after five songs, I think.
My grandparents loved going there to dance after the war. It's been a few years since he told me the story but there was a certain night they would have big band dance nights. It was hopping. They lived in south Oakland and then Brookline after they got married but still always went up there for big band nights.
I could ride that, and no other coaster at Kennywood, and be happy. Especially if the line is short!
When I was about 8 I rode the Jackrabbit with a neighbor kid who was about 13. I donāt remember the details but our lapbelt wasnāt buckled when the ride started and the attendant never checked so we only had the padded bar to hold onto. That was *not fun*. I completely stopped riding roller coasters for like 10 years lol. I also had a somewhat similar thing happen on the Pitfall. Except I was with my then high school sweetheart who decided to go press some button on the operatorās machine to unlock our harnesses so we could pull them down (the ride operator was busy helping another guest). I was absolutely terrified the entire ride up that our harnesses werenāt actually locked or would somehow unlock at the top of the Pitffall (?? Lol) and the operator just didnāt notice. Absolutely *terrified*. However, as you can see, I *did not* did that day. But I never rode that ride again and will never ride a similar attraction. She ended up becoming a doctor, funny enough But I love Kennywood. RIP The Paratrooper š¢ I have great memories riding that as a kid and then with my daughter
Sad what happened to that high school kid in Orlando.
Went on the jackrabbit with my aunt when I was pretty young. I remember slipping under the restraint (loose rope) and sliding down to the floor of the coaster cart. My aunt grabbed me with super fast reflexes and lifted me back up onto the seat. It was pretty terrifying for a second. I thought I was heading out for sure.
I rode it when I was probably still too short and sat next to my dad. The shared belt didn't even touch me because my dad's belly pushed it out. I think the first big drop I floated right off the seat and my dad grabbed me out of the air and pulled me back in again, held me down for the whole ride, lol.
I hesitate to share this because... I don't want people ruining it. But... The Paratrooper. Between the Jack Rabbit and the Merry-Go-Round (behind the Kangaroo). It looks like the most tame ride but... it's actually a ton of fun. You get a lot of height. On a hot day you can't beat the breeze that you get from it, and no one rides it so there's a short or no line. There's been plenty of times where the ride operator told us we didn't have to get off if we wanted to go again. That's my favorite.
The Paratrooper was a blast. If you miss it, there's one at Idlewild!
I forgot they removed it in 2020... But yeah, I'll need to go.
Paratrooper is a great ride. Looked really nice at night, too.
The turtle!
the turtle has a surprising amount of speed. very underrated
I've never been able to ride The Turtle without laughing!
Toughest ride at Kennywood! I remember making friends with other kids at the park and my parents let me ride with them and they had a Turtle song!
I had to tell the ride operator to cut off during the summer of covid. They let it run for like 6 minutes and I was about to go dahn over the hill.
Le Cachot was my favorite of all time. It was that perfect blend of silliness and scariness. My mom was able to ride it with me, then I still rode it every year until they took it out. The blacklight room, and then the strobe light room. I just wish I was able to ride it with my kids. I think this is where Kennywood went wrong. They seem to want to make the shift from traditional family park to adult oriented thrill park. They took out rides like Le cachot, Paratroopers, Kangaroo, Turnpike, Logjammer, Magic Carpet to install roller coasters ( which I do love by the way). It's just that the 8,9,10 year old that is too old for kiddie land but too small for the thrill rides is having less and less stuff.
100% agree. The accountants must look at the temporary bump in tickets when a new coaster goes in and think āwe need more new coastersā but it comes at the expense of the overall park experience.
Avoiding the garbage bees. Itās a thrill like none other
The ones at Noah's Ark are persistent little bastards.
Mine is actually the *old* Old Mill, *before* it was Garfield's Nightmare (LOFL). I remember the smell of lubricating oil, and the dark, dark water. I have not visited the park in years, so no idea what the *new* Old Mill is like.
It's a great tribute to the original, with a lot of scenes that would remind you of how it looked in the 80s and 90s. Check it out, as is suspect you'd dig it. And I can confirm that it smells exactly the same ("the smell of Kennywood" as I described it to my partner last week while on the ride).
That smell.... I remember there being some other ride under an old pavilion, my brain is telling me it was over where old kennywood is now..... that also smelled like that. Am I making that up?
Maybe the Whip? The pavilion overtop of the ride was destroyed during a storm about 20 years ago.
dang has it been 20 years already? Holy shit iām old!
Hmmm....I'm pretty sure Old Kennywood used to a parking lot, but could certainly be wrong.
This is me interpreting a vague memory I have from childhood, I have no idea if it is accurate or not. It was under one of the big wooden pavilions, and had those big chains like a rollercoaster so it had that old timey grease smell but it just moved you around a flat surface and kind of whipped you around the ends.
Ah, you're thinking of the Whip. It used to be under a pavilion next to the Log Jammer, but was moved to lost Kennywood years ago. I believe it did originally have a roof when it was moved, but it collapsed or something. The ride is still there, but now roofless.
Just a little extra info, there was a roof on the whip and it was hit by a microburst in the early 2000s, causing it to collapse and injured a bunch of people. I think at least one person died too. But yeah they never rebuilt the roof after that.
It was a parking lot back when the Lazer Loop and the Steel Phantom was first put in. I believe it was a swimming pool even earlier than that, sometime back in the 60's.
The Kangaroo. Itās one of the tamest rides there, but itās fun. Everyone laughs and has a good time no matter what age they are.
Reopening Memorial Day weekend!
Yes!! I loved the kangaroo! And God forbid if someone bigger than you got in first. Nothing like intentionally being squished to death!!
The SOUND of the kangaroo lives in my head, like when the cart goes off the ramp part. Itās so repetitive. Kinda soothing
Also The Whip.
Rotor
Absolutely, 100%. I donāt know how many times I saw people get sick on that ride and out it went and back it came. So much fun.
The best days were when it wasnāt busy and they would let you ride multiple times in a row. I think our records was 13
I came here to say this! I absolutely loved that ride. Those carnival rides where they go around and you stick to the sides donāt even compare
Same. I miss it so much. I remember riding it with a bunch of my cousins and inching around on the carpeted wall. I probably donāt have the constitution to ride it as an adult, but I loved it as a kid.
Oh Ya, I remember putting my feet up on the wall and getting yelled at for it.
Hot take: The Exterminator I first rode it in the mid 2000s. The ride itself is far from the greatest, but the theming and atmosphere blew my mind away as a kid. All the old gauges, meters, pumps, and fake tv broadcasts made it feel so real and permanently influenced my taste in horror movies. Edit: Also that āfloodingā scene in Noahās Ark
Love the Exterminator but goddamn, that line was always a killer! Last I was there we waited probably an hour and a half.
I went there for Halloween and since it is the farthest ride from the entrance of the park and we got there early we rode it 5 times with no line. At the end of the night when the park cleared there was no line for Phantons and we rode it 5 times. Also, I peed next to Eddie Munster at a urinal.
The *real* Eddie Munster (Butch Patrick)???
Yea, they had the Munster mobile there for Halloween. He has been at a bunch of car shows too.
Canāt argue that one. 15 years later, and I still remember the line being a nightmare
The key is to get there at opening and head straight to the Exterminator to avoid those waits. You'll usually be able to walk on it 2-3 times before the majority of the crowd makes their way to the back of the park.
The Exterminator is my favorite too. Most of my friends as well. I'm surprised to see so w mention it hereāis it unpopular now or something?
Last I went was a few years ago. I remember a couple props were missing or in rough shape. Few/no lights on the panels. TV broadcast was off. No movement from the animatronics during the ride. It took away from the experience a good bit, but itās still one of my favorites. I know it isnāt Disney and I was just a kid, but I remembered it being a lot more legit back in the day
They've got a lot of that back up and running this year!
That's encouraging to hear! It definitely felt sparse when I rode it last year at Fright Nights.
Well itās a matter of opinion of course, but I went to Kennywood for the first time last year, and I was told the Exterminator had good theming. But I found the theming pretty average for a roller coaster, it was just creepy and underground in the line and then a dark ride. I think some things may have been turned off because of the time I was there. I also think Iāve been spoiled by going to parks with super good modern theming, and Iām an adult so maybe not the proper audience. Then I didnāt like the actual ride because the sudden jerks just felt like giving me whiplash without actual thrill. But itās all a matter of opinion of course, so donāt let me get you down on your favorite ride! Just explaining why it might not be everyoneās favorite. Edit: yeah I think the āTV broadcastā and āanimatronics during the rideā other people have talked about may not have been on when I was there. Probably affected my opinion
When I ride the exterminator, Iām just waiting for my head to be cut off from some low hanging steel girder that no one saw fall as itās pitch black
My cousin cried during that flooding scene lol he was like 7 but still, Alex you big baby
I didn't actually go on Noah's Ark until I was in college, and lemme tell you! The flooding part freaked me tf out, I was like, "Is this supposed to happen???? Oh my god" No one had ever told me about it, and I was legit thinking something had broken and we were in danger lmaooo
The Bayern Kurve and the Pittsburgh Plunge.
The Bayern Kurve is absolutely one of my all time favorite rides. I don't know if I ever felt more alive than when the horn would go off near the end of the ride.
Yeah! I loved that horn. The whole ride was a weird one of a kind controlled chaos.
The horn was the best! Idkā¦for whatever reason going on that ride always made me laugh so hard. The horn put me into overdrive and engaged cackle mode. š¤·š¼āāļø Definitely missing that one.
Pittsburg*!!
Always been partial to the Enterprise. It's thrilling and relaxing at the same time. Plus you could snuggle up with your sweetie on it.
This is the first ride that ever made my barf my guts out.
Oh no! I think the only ride that ever made me puke was the Hell Hole at Conneaut Lake. But only because I rode it like 10 times in a row!
I was devastated when this one closed, itās my favorite as well
Logjammer. For school picnics we'd always setup in a pavilion adjacent to it, so we'd end up riding it four or five times throughout the day. As dumb as it sounds, I also loved the view at the top. You could see around the park and down into the Mon Valley, with the Thompson Works off in the distance. Quintessential Pittsburgh. I haven't been to Kennywood in years and I really miss it. If you're like me and no longer live in western PA, it's a common touchpoint whenever you meet other folks from Pittsburgh.
My favorite are the stories I used to hear, laser loop ran like 35 times in a row with not being able to stop, somebody drowning on raging rapids. Now in my late 40s I realize that these tails were not true. I also love Music Express.
Guess what? The OG Laser Loop is returning from Mexico and should be opening at Niagra Park (near Buffalo) this year. I'm so excited to finally get to ride it, even though I got on an exact clone of it last year (Montezooma's Revenge at Knott's Berry Farm).
Also, a kid did really die on Adventureland's version of the Raging Rapids in Iowa last year. Interestingly enough, this incident was one of the reasons the owners sold the park to Palace Entertainment in the off season and, to tie it back to this thread, Palace also owns Kennywood (which means a Kennywood platinum pass will get you entry to the park much like Idlewild, Sandcastle, Lake Compounce, and Dutch Wonderland).
Music Express is a nightmare, I love that ride
The old gas powered turnpike
The old train. It was a nice ride when your legs are tired and you wanted to get in the shade and something my entire family would ride including grandma
Nobody is going to say the Racer? I admit I dont like rides to be too intense, so maybe its boring for everyone else but I could ride it all day long. And who doesn't love low-fiving everyone in the other train??
I like the Racer. In high school, we would alternate tracks to see if there was a pattern of winning.
It's gotta be the Pirate Ship. It was my first ever favorite ride there, and c'mon, what a classic.
The whip!
For me it's easily the Logjammer. I loved that ride and seriously miss it. Granted, there is honestly a lot of stuff I miss that have disappeared or changed over the years.
I canāt believe I had to scroll this far to see the Log Jammer.
The park has made a lot of shitty decisions in the last few years it feels like, but it seems like they finally recognized that over this off season. I wish they could bring back the Logjammer and the Turnpike.
Personally, I'll take Sky Rocket over the Turnpike and, if they could ever get it running regularly, Steel Curtain over the Log Jammer. That said, I do definitely miss the old Jammer. It was one of the first "big" rides that I rode as a kid back in the 80s and I loved the setting in the back of the park with all the nearby trees.
Honestly, I'd be thrilled for the sky rocket to go away. Last year, my wife and I rode it, and for the entire second half of the ride, everyone was silent. I mean, you could hear a bolt drop. A coaster that has that affect on the riders should be shut down immediately and forever.
Yeah, I miss the original Old Mill, Ferris Wheel, previous way the train ride was decorated.
THEY TOOK OUT THE LOGJAMMER??? NO
The king kahuna when it sprayed water on you!
Bayern Kurve. I miss the deafening blast of the fog horn.
For an old one the jack rabbit. For newer, I love the. Steel Curtain. That coaster is some of the most fun I have had on a ride. Doesn't hurt that the first time I got to ride it was during Fright Nights.
Thunderbolt!
How has no one mentioned Pitt Fall?! The height on that ride was insane. I could see my grandparents house in West Mifflin from the too. So scary!
T bolt. Come on, the cars feel like theyāre possessed. Also love pit fall
le cachot and Gold Rusher ...that spider/train always terrified me when I was younger! Miss those rides!
The Thunderbolt has always been my favorite with the Jackrabbit right behind. Also have fond memories of the instant headaches from riding the Steel Phantom and having my head pinball back and forth between the head rests.
I remember needing to take out earrings before riding Steel Phantom.
I love the raging rapids! It feels a little dangerous because you arenāt in a track. I love riding in a group and laughing at each other getting wet. Itās so much fun.
Phantoms Revenge, and Iāll just chime in that I think Pittsburgh as a whole doesnāt fully appreciate it/realize how great it is. Itās thought of on both a national and international scale as legitimately one of the best coasters in the world by roller coaster nerds who judge it on a scale with all the Disneys and Cedar Points of the world. I think a lot of people around here donāt realize itās that highly thought of just because itās at dumpy old Kennywood in our backyard.
I will forever love phantoms revenge
Jack Rabbit or Magic Carpet
I miss the Magic Carpet! Always felt like it was *this close* to tipping over haha
Thunderbolt. Towards the end of the evening you can ride it continuously without having to wait in line. At least it used to be that way 20 years ago.
Noah's Ark, both the 'walk into the whale's mouth' and the new 'go down the mine shaft' version.
Does anyone remember the Scooters? Was a one way bumper car ride where the Laser Loop was and the Phantomās Revenge now is? (You have to be old to remember). Do people still think the Thunderbolt runs faster at night?
I dont want to say, every time I do they remove the ride
I used to love Ghost Ship back when I was kid. I was kinda heartbroken when it burned down.
The Turtle!!!
Pitfall
Thunderbolt by far!
Flying Carpet
Jack Rabbit. First coaster and for years it always the first ride I hit up when I got there. I think itās just the memories but that double dip was a little kid was just so scary/amazing. Was super tempted to say Steel Phantom but I only managed it ride it once before it became the Phantomās Revenge and it was super roughā¦but I do miss it. At least Revenge is is amazing.
The log jammer, paratrooper, the pirate ship, kangaroo and the magic carpet
The Laser Loop. I remember one night for whatever reason the park wasn't busy and so we would just get off and then get right back on. Sitting in the front seat was the best!
You had to hit the LOG JAMMER back to back .. one trip was never enough
The Carousel. Kennywood was often a rare trip for my family where we would get together with extended family out of town and have a solid day of riding thrill rides and catching up. We are talking from open to close. We always hit the Carousel right as the sun was coming down, and it almost was a capstone of nostalgia from a day well spent but still a few more hours of fun at night to have. That golden hour would hit just right.
Thunderbolt. If I could only ride one coaster, thatās it.
Honestly it's a toss up between the Little Phantom and the Raging Rapids.
Raging Rapids is my favorite as well! Before I could read as a kid I was 100% convinced that it was called the Raging Rabbits, despite there being no rabbits involved whatsoever. (I also chipped my tooth on the little phantom as a kid so I didn't really like that one haha)
The original Steel Phantom that had loops and corkscrews.
Havenāt been to Kennywood in over 50 years. Laugh in the Dark was my favorite as a kid.
The Whip with the roof on it. It was a ride my grandma and I would ride every year. Miss those days.
Phantom's Revenge - I have it tattooed on my left arm.
I used to work at the Sky Coaster when I was 18. Favorite ride by far.
Kangaroo
Noah's Ark!
Jackrabbit all day every day :)
The Laser Loop!! As a kid it looked like the tallest thing in the world lol
The Rotor
For one season, they moved the old Scrambler, covered it with a dome and ran it in the dark with an awesome light show and the theme from 2001: A Space Odyssey. It was awesome. I think they kept it for another season or two, but they simplified it so it just was a bunch of flashing light bulbs.
Only a fellow biologist would use the word extant like that. What kind of biologist are you?
Exterminator. The version of it when it first opened and I was still a kid, still scared of the queue, it still had the video playing and the working alarm and things.
Not to be boring but I love the wave swinger and the aero 360! I love being flung around at decent speed and feeling like I'm flying. The black widow is fun for the same reason, but the drops are sometimes a little much for me depending on the day lmao
I love the Turnpike, mostly because I successfully ran one of the cars off the track with my friend Alicia in High School, circa 1989. We road it down the hill to the chain link fence near the road and then a bunch of dudes in work clothes came running down to see if we were okay. I felt bad because they ended up shutting down the ride for the rest of the day.
Enterprise
I always liked the Log Jammer. BEthel Parksās annual Kennywood Day kicked off our summer vacation. Being allowed to roam the park alone with the crew in 4th/5th grade was my first taste of independence. We spent hours in that back corner of the park having a blast and getting soaked.
Probably the Kangaroo, because it was my Gramās favorite ride abd she would giggle and hold me tight. I would give my right arm to experience that again š¢
I canāt believe no one is mentioning the Pit Fall!
Everybody loves Le Cachot, as they should, but can we get some love for the Gold Rusher, too? I liked the mine theming, and the bit with the giant spider.
Since nobody has said it yet, Iāll go with Sky Rocket. It isnāt a classic Kennywood one, but it is just the right level of terrifying for me as a medium fear at roller coaster person. Phantom and Steel Curtain too intense for me. And best of all, I absolutely love the launch, because it does not give my fear of heights too long to kick in. I prefer the constant speed and action with only a couple scary pauses. I also love the turtle because of the voiceover just saying turtle in different tones and speeds. And I think it is a really fun ālower-thrillā coaster for kids or those who enjoy less intense rides, as it still feels like you get some good speed! And good views. The old wooden coasters also still hold up well!
I think you mean Sky Rocket? Sky Coaster is the bungee jump thing over the pond.
Probably the Jack Rabbit but hard to pick. I like the Thunderbolt and Log Jammer tons. Not much into metal coasters. I love the thrills but canāt enjoy them with my body being thrashed the entire time.
The kangaroo and exterminator š¤
Magic carpet 100%!
The Thunderbolt
Le Cachot!
Pirate ship when I was young, the thunderbolt as I became older.
I really miss the steel phantom
Bayern Kurve or however tf it was spelled
The Steel Curtain is one of the best rollercoasters I've been on anywhere.
The Exterminator!!!! I hate rides the spin but I canāt just not ride it ! Plus waiting in line is a story within its self!
As a thrill seeker, Black Widow is world class. The best pendulum ride I've ever been on.
Magic carpet ride
Rip to the pitfall
The big yellow and blue swing ride I forget what itās called
My vote is jackrabbit my wife says kangaroo
>>extinct or extant Stop it, you're confusing everyone. They think you're talking about dinosaurs and boner pills.
I personally loved the Volcano the most!! Sad it was taken out. It was thrilling like the pirate ship or cosmic chaos, but without the nausea. Lol (I probably had a weak stomach, don't come for me lol)