Kennywood (KW) Discussion Thread

[PennStater]

Black Widow has been open every day for PFF, but usually not until a little later in the day due to staffing and it being a lower priority in the morning part of the event.

[CenturyFlyer]

Racer and Jack Rabbit will get a coat of paint, meaning that along with Phantom, all three wooden coasters will hopefully look their best next year.

For next season, I'm pretty sure Kennywood will get the treatment Lake Compounce received this year. As long as they don't "update" the logo...

[swfan1988]

Surprised this didn't make it on here, but Kennywood put this on their socials yesterday...

Hearing some rumors that it is Six Flags buying the park...which to me sounds like something straight out of theme park hell! I know Palace/Parques Reunidos gets a bad rap but come on...they got to be better than Six Flags?!?!?! Right....? (Also, why can't Six Flags try and buy parks that they could actually benefit...like Wild Waves!!)

I'll leave the Steel Curtain and Batman joke too someone else...but other than that I haven't seen any hard evidence, so we'll have to wait and see. If it is true...I'm hoping Six Flags at least learned something from Geauga Lake...I would hate to see Kennywood come even remotely close to that fate.

Personally I'd rather have the original family owners reacquire the park, or of all the parks that I'd want to see Herschend buy Kennywood was probably near the top of my list. Really hoping this ones a dud, but thought I'd put some foam on the runway just in case...

Heard mixed things on if the rumored sale includes any of the other Palace parks, so for me all bets are off there.

[AmyUD06]

As much as I rag on Parques Reunidos, I agree they're better than Six Flags.  I can only imagine the fate of their three woodies (You get a seatbelt, and you get a seatbelt, and you get a seat belt!) and Noah's Ark.

[CenturyFlyer]

99% sure it involves the return of the Kangaroo (though I'm sure they'll find some way to screw it up), probably something else too... Volcano replacement likely

[coasterbill]

3 hours ago, swfan1988 said:

I know Palace/Parques Reunidos gets a bad rap but come on...they got to be better than Six Flags?!?!?! Right....? 

Nah…

That said, I don’t buy that for a second. They’re probably just teasing the removal of like 5 more rides or something (or announcing what six days Steel Curtain will operate next season).

[KPfan]

Maybe we'll get the Six Flags Roomba security patrol. 

[Taylor Finn]

Kennywood has announced on Pittsburgh Today Live that the Kangaroo flat ride will be returning for the 2022 season after an extensive refurbishment!

 

https://www.kennywood.com/plan-your-visit/experiences/what-s-new

https://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2021/11/19/kennywood-kangaroo-new-attraction-announcement/

A Kennywood Classic Returns

A true Kennywood classic will rejoin the park’s world-class collection of rides in 2022.The iconic Kangaroo will return fully refurbished and ready to thrill riders with its unique ride experience – a rite of passage for younger guests seeking bigger thrills. 

More than a ride, Kangaroo is a timeless Kennywood tradition. Riders have looked forward to the feeling of weightlessness aboard the attraction for generations. Now, the ride that served as the inspiration for Kennywood’s mascot will make its triumphant return 60 years after its initial debut. 

In partnership with Premier Rides – one of the amusement industry’s leading ride manufacturers and innovators – Kennywood has begun a total refurbishment of Kangaroo. This work will enhance the experience with an all-new LED lighting package, vibrant new colors, and state of the art operating systems while still providing the classic “Flying Coaster” feel.

Choose the Roo's New Look

We heard you, and now that Kangaroo is bouncing back, we want you to choose the ride's new logo and theming. Vote now between two design options: Classic or Vintage. You can vote once per day through Sunday, Nov. 21 at 11:59 p.m.

[pryonisys]

"extensive refurbishment" = we took it out, people got angry so we cleaned it up are going to put new logos on the side and put it back

[Shavethewhales2]

That's fantastic news though! They listened to guests and made a great choice. Interesting to hear Premier is behind the refurbishment. Looking forward to riding during my first KW visit in 2022!

Now what else can we get them to bring back?

[coasterbill]

“Hey we’re removing 3 classic rides and closing another one for a year” - Everyone hates Kennywood

“Hey, we’re removing 4 classic rides… oh, just kidding we’re only removing 3 classic rides and closing one for a year”
- Yay, we love you Kennywood

It’s impressive PR, and I’m probably being more biased than I should be because I don’t like that company but I’m really not giving them a cookie for this.

[bert425]

as I said on FB: 

we can ride a Paratrooper, an Enterprise, and a Bayurn Kurve elsewhere (hopefully at Knoebels within a year).. but the Kangaroo was/is the last of it's kind.

so yeah. . I'll give them a cookie here.  

Even if it's clearly because they bowed to pressure/anger from Theme Park fans.

[swfan1988]

I'm so happy to be wrong about that rumor! "I will not spread unfounded rumors on TPR, I will not spread unfounded rumors on TPR, I will not spread unfounded rumors on TPR, I will not spread unfounded rumors on TPR..."

Also, really glad that Kennywood listened to their fans and is moving to bring back a classic for the park. Hope that trend continues!

I wonder if Premier can now partner with someone (or I guess go it alone if they wanted to) to make Kangaroo rides for other parks? I think I could get behind having a Kangaroo at every Six Flags park!

[pryonisys]

I'm going to have to get to Kennywood before they do something silly like remove it again.
We had the "Flying Coaster" at Waldameer when I was really young, but I was never tall enough to ride it before it was removed, so it would be nice to get on one of those.

[larrygator]

Great move, I have no desire to overanalyze why.

[CenturyFlyer]

11 hours ago, bert425 said:

  Even if it's clearly because they bowed to pressure/anger from Theme Park fans.

Not just theme park fans... a lot of people in Pittsburgh REALLY care about what Kennywood does. I heard multiple people talking about this at school today.

Also they're bringing back a decorative backdrop in the spirit of the one it had years ago.

Hopefully they don't butcher the restraints.

This is a good centerpiece for the park's rebranding and "new look" next year!

 

[cfc]

I'm not a flat-ride fan, but I like the Kangaroo. Glad to hear it's coming back.

[Nrthwnd]

Very cool to read about The Bounce. My only time riding one of those, was in 1962, at age 9! It was at the Seattle 1962 World's Fair, and the ride was located right beside a Calypso. It's neat to read about the ride having a longer life span, than expected. Good for Kennywood on that decision.

There it is, between Calypso and the Go Kart track.

[CenturyFlyer]

Holiday Lights is pretty fun this year! They're open for seven hours, and you can even ride the Jack Rabbits several times in a row if you come early. They're also running both trains on the miniature train most nights.

[Taylor Finn]

Yup. We had a nice time. Didn't get to do Noah's Ark. Ghostwood Estate holiday overlay was good fun. Potato Patch employee was skimping hard on fries so that bummed us out a lot.

[swfan1988]

So I guess I was kinda right...(still sorry about that...)...there really are big changes coming to Kennywood next year!

Park's website page with more info: https://www.kennywood.com/content/knw/en/discover-the-park/plan-your-visit/experiences/what-s-new.html

(Photos courtesy of Reddit, because that was the easiest place to get them)

Looks like they are really committed to rejuvenating the park, and honoring the park's history! Seems like a step in the right direction to me!

They say that more will be announced in the coming months, so looks like the 125th at Kennywood is gonna be a big one!

[robbalvey]

Take a ride on The Phantom's Revenge!  This may be the final look at that green paint!

 

[boldikus]

Great footage! Such a great ride. Stoked for the new purple paint (because the world needs more purple coasters) and can't wait to ride this again!

[KPfan]

The park is looking fantastic this year.  Looking forward to seeing feedback from TPR members who make it to the park this season!

Things are looking UP for 2023 as well…

[jarmor]

Went to the park last week.  Unfortunately, too fat for Steel curtain.  Couldn't get a green light on the test seats.  Are the seats tighter than most or am I really that fat lol.