Myself

We Like To Party In My Pants Everybody Have Fun Tonight In My Pants I Knew I Loved You In My Pants

Each year ACE holds the KennyKon event at Kennywood. Here is the flyer for this year's event, which will take place on July 19: http://www.aceonline.org/fliers/KennyKon2009.pdf If you don't want to download it, there is a promiment statement that may be related to the "big new ride" mentioned in the Post-Gazette article I posted earlier in the thread: July 19th can't come soon enough...

It must be obvious, but Kennywood is only a ten minute drive away. I visit it very often, not including the five days a week I go to work there. I also visit Idlewild (and Waldameer, at least since last year) at least once a year as well.

Great TR! I've always wanted to go to Indiana Beach, but I don't see that happening any time soon.

If you've been to Waldameer, Ravine Flyer 3 is a Miler coaster. I don't know where exactly you have or haven't been, but as far as PA goes, that's currently the only Miler coaster in the state.

That's what I've always noticed: Kennywood uses relatively short queues, but for the most part we never need more than what's there. Take the Jack Rabbit, for example. From the station back to the front of the line, the queue basically follows the track out of the station until the first drop, then it comes back up to meet the midway. That's it. On the busiest days, I have seen the line overflow past the beginning and wrap around to the station again, but that does not always happen. Somehow Kennywood is always able to keep its lines moving quickly. The longest line is usually the Exterminator, which is understandable given it's a crazy mouse, and has limited seating. Another example is last year's new dark ride, Ghostwood Estate. Last year, the queue was almost always filled to its maximum capacity when I went to ride it (it has a weird layout you'd have to see to really understand), probably because it was new. This year I work on the ride. While Ghostwood is still very popular, we have not yet had a line long enough to use the entire queue (as it has a bunch of those shortcut gates or whatever you want to call them). If only the line for the Whacky Shack at Waldameer moved faster... (again, that one is understandable) Unlike parks like Alton Towers, where people living nearby complain each time a new ride is added, we really love and cherish our parks. Also, almost all of them seem to acknowledge their history in one way or another, and try to blend the old with the new (even in Dorney's case). It's a winning combination, really.

Kennywood will be adding a "big new ride" either next year or 2011, as stated in this article from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09134/969833-55.stm?cmpid=news.xml It may seem obvious but I am told this addition will come at the cost of at least one other thing in the park. I am not certain what will be removed or if what must be removed is even a ride, but let the rumors fly. Could this possibly be one of the mystery B&Ms?

^Indeed there is. The Devil's Den at Conneaut Lake Park is not a coaster, but it should count as a credit because it has a chain lift, is powered by gravity, and has a drop at the beginning. This also applies to the Haunted House at Camden Park, being the other remaining gravity dark ride.

The test run video was shot right before they let the guests on, around 10:45ish. I have been told that the train scenery has not been completed yet. I do not know all that will be added, but the crossing sign that used to be by Kiddieland will be returning. The entrance tunnel also is not yet complete. Also, you may notice that almost every reference to Garfield has been removed from the park save for Garfield's Nightmare and the Pounce Bounce. IMO, I really think the Old Mill will be getting rethemed again next year, due to their apparent phasing out of Garfield. I have heard absolutely no talk on this so far; it's a guess on my part. Author Jim Futrell was also at the park.

Unless you saw my RVII shirt, are you sure it was me? They seemed to do that a couple of times yesterday... Interesting... IDK what you looked like but it's still cool.

Also I got the front seat on the Racer, and when the ride was over they accidentally stopped my train with the first two rows beyond the platform so I got to ride the other side as well!

I've got three vids on Youtube I filmed today: I sadly haven't had the chance to ride the re-tracked Phantom yet, but when I first saw the train go over that hill on a test run, I thought, "That banking looks abrupt and painful..." Both going into and coming out of it...

Same with me; you'll see me with my Ravine Flyer II shirt and two cameras (not on-ride of course!). According to the local station I watch there is not supposed to be rain on Saturday, with a high of 66. But then I have to leave early and come back because my shift starts at 6.

Indeed, but sadly that one hasn't aged quite as well! A few small things: The tent over the Bumper Boat ride also came from Kennywood (we put it over a Cuddle-Up in the early 80s). We also had an Imax-style attraction in a geodesic dome called Cinema 180 that was sold to Knoebels, though I can't seem to find any confirmation as to whether it is still being (or ever was) used there.

As heard on the bus this morning... "Hey, did you hear they're (Kennywood) bringing the Bayern Kurve back?" "Cool! Which one was that again?" "I think it's the one with the tarp that comes over." There are not many GP I can think of that would mess up the Bayern Kurve and the Caterpillar, especially in the Kennywood/Idlewild area where most everyone complained about removing the Kurve (after 2004 so they are definitely old enough to remember it) and the Caterpillar is nearby at Idlewild (Kennywood hasn't had one since the end of 1982!).

The Flyers also came from Kennywood. They still have the exact same paunt scheme too!

They can't bring the Rotor back because they are currently operating it at Lake Compunce in Connecticut. THe paths are not still there but the concrete platform is.

In the background of your horse and buggy ride picture is the Racer, not the Dipper. Today, this would be around the Log Jammer loading station. The Daffy Klub was a funhouse that was removed after the 1955 season. Its building was used for the Pastime game until it was demolished for a newer larger building in the same location built in 1990 (the same year the original Racer facade was restored). This photo is taken from the Rockets (Traver Circle Swing) loading platform. They were replaced in 1979 by the Monongahela Monster (Eyerly Monster), which was replaced by the Swing Around in 1989. After 2005 the ride was removed and so this view is no longer possible.

Well the stage/dive/lumberjack show are has been cleared, and they took down the old Skycoaster/Paddle Boat ticket building. A bigger one is being built to also include the new Jack Rabbit on-ride photos.

Amusement park wise, I've met Jim Futrell and Rick Knoebel while working. Actual celebs? Nada.

It's a shame the Blue Streak probably won't be ready this year, but without a doubt I will try to make a visit this year.

Here in Pittsburgh WQED, our PBS station, has a rather interesting show called Dave and Dave's Excellent Adventures. Basically, the two Daves show us random stuff around Pittsburgh. They've done a few Kennywood shows, one of which involved the filming of this movie. Also, here's a local news segment on the filming:

Now the whole first drop is gone. Wouldn't it be cool if they cut up the old track and sold parts on eBay...

Note the 'dragon coaster' model that looks a whole HECK of a lot like a tumble bug. And all those other rides ripped off from other manufacturers.

I took that photo of the track! Seeing someone else use it makes me feel...famous.