thrillrider Posted May 7, 2013 Share Posted May 7, 2013 I had the chance to visit Kennywood this weekend for opening day. The park was in great shape, and looked like it was in mid season form. Operations started out slow in the morning, and really sped up as the day went on. The weather was perfect, and we had a blast in the park. I always have liked Kennywood park, as it has a certain charm to it. I was able to get into the park for a tour before it opened up to the public. An interesting fact that I learned was that during an average operating day, the potato patch fry stand burns thru two thousand pounds of potatoes. Enjoy the pictures..... Happy opening day to Kennywood. The park was looking good. Here is the front gate area. I love how they have a tunnel under the road to get into the park. Ever wonder what the park looks like before the crowds arrive? Here are a few pictures of the midways empty. Crews were hard at work getting the park ready. This guy was checking out the bungee tower to make sure it was safe. You could not pay me enough to climb up there. Yep....it's still there. More like just a nightmare of a ride. Here is the waterball. I miss the waterball at cedarpoint. Thunderbolt. Thunderbolt had some new wood, and was running great. The potato patch goes thru almost a ton of potatoes every day. Old school meets modern thrill rides. The entrance to lost Kennywood. I don't really understand this part of the park. It is supposed to have a classic feel to it, but there are only 2 real classic type rides in the area. The million dollar tiger. Whats that you say? You want to see a behind the scenes look at the racer? Ok, here we go. Old school at it's best. The fan style woodwork. Here are a few shots of the racer up close. My daughter taking a break. Me Ahhhh!!!!!!!!!There is a train comming!!!! One last check of the trains Drool..... This log flume ride is one of the better ones in my book. Looks like large sections of flume were replaced over the winter. I love the bunny hop part of the ride. This is the original building that held the whip ride years ago. It's now a picinic shelter. This years park map. Black widow is huge. I think it's bigger than maxair. One of the best looking entrances to a ride. Inside the cave entrance. Mouse time!!! I noticed a sign just like this at six flags last year. I like the idea of this. Some of the theming in the line. This ride is the whip. Love and marrage..... The turtle is a classic and very rare ride. There are only 2 left. See....old If you have seen the movie "adventureland", you may have seen this ride. Kennywood is home to several classic rides. This is one of them. Bumper cars. Bring back the old mill... My favorate ride in the park. Yep....it's a biggie. Geek shot. Tall lift hill. Great all around ride. Except for the doubledown part near the end of the ride....ouch. Too wet for me. My daughter and Kenny the kangaroo. The jack rabbit. The jack rabbit is a classic...... With new school tech. Another classic ride. And a modern style ride. The parks kiddie coaster. Crappy picture, but you get the idea. I will kill you...muwahahahaha I totaly forgot to get shots of sky rocket. This is one of the only pictures I got. My 2nd favorate coaster in the park. Goodnight from kennywood. Hope you enjoyed my opening day report. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DenDen Posted May 7, 2013 Share Posted May 7, 2013 Thanks for sharing the great photos. Love the Racer backstage tour, I don't think I've ever seen that before. So much has changed since I've been there last. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geauga Dog Posted May 7, 2013 Share Posted May 7, 2013 Thanks for sharing. Some very unique photos of Racer and any photo of the Bayern Kurve is a win. They did a nice job on the Black Widow cave entrance since that was not built when I was at the park last year. It definitely would creep out someone with arachnophobia. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firewalk13 Posted May 7, 2013 Share Posted May 7, 2013 Really great trip report! Having lived only a couple hours away I'm ashamed to say I've never made it there before. No longer! This summer I'll be there... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarnes84 Posted May 7, 2013 Share Posted May 7, 2013 Really great trip report! Having lived only a couple hours away I'm ashamed to say I've never made it there before. No longer! This summer I'll be there... How dare you not visit this fine park sir! Brought back loads of happy memories, thanks for posting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IrishBuckeye Posted May 7, 2013 Share Posted May 7, 2013 I was there too! Although I didn't get nearly the great pictures as you got. Great TR. The Racer behind the scenes tour was a lot of fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smallpox Posted May 7, 2013 Share Posted May 7, 2013 man, i haven't been to Kennywood since Steel Phantom's opening year (still have the t-shirt!). what a wonderful park. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thrillrider Posted May 7, 2013 Author Share Posted May 7, 2013 Another interesting fact that was brought up was why the water ride does not open until after an hour after the rest of the park. The reason is because of the power consuption of the pumps. Its a big load on the power grid to fire everything up at the same time. I can't wait to see what the park has up it's sleeves in the next few years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CMK Posted May 8, 2013 Share Posted May 8, 2013 "Lost Kennywood" was a lot more "Lost" when in it opened in 1995. It moved some of the classic rides like Bavarian Wave Swinger and the Whip in the new area, adding them to "old" new rides like the Phantom Phlyers (Flying Scooter), Roll-O-Plane, and the Pittsburgh Plunge (Shoot-the-Chute). I imagine due to space constraints because of Kennywood's location and the low rider capacity of these some of these rides, they were phased out over the years for new/moved attractions. The first and only move was Wipeout in 1996, which sort of fell into "Lost Kennywood" by default when it became the Bavarian Wave Swinger's neighbor in an open space between the Wave Swinger and the Musik Express. The Pitt Fall was the first new ride to arrive in 1997 on the Phantom Phlyers site, followed by the Exterminator in 1999. The Roll-O-Plane was removed in 2003, Wipeout was moved again in 2006 to add Swingshot, and in 2011 the Pitt Fall was sold to add Black Widow in 2012. So I guess you could you say "Lost Kennywood" was only really "Lost" for 1995 and possibly 1996, if you could draw an imaginary line between the Bavarian Wave Swinger and Wipeout. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IrishBuckeye Posted May 8, 2013 Share Posted May 8, 2013 David, your TR has gotten props from Kennywood on their facebook page. man, i haven't been to Kennywood since Steel Phantom's opening year (still have the t-shirt!). what a wonderful park. You need to go back and ride Phantom's Revenge. Insanely great ride with the airtime. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CPmillenia94 Posted May 8, 2013 Share Posted May 8, 2013 Is the double down really that painful? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rai Fox Posted May 8, 2013 Share Posted May 8, 2013 Is the double down really that painful? I've never found any part of Phantom's Revenge painful at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coasterkid21 Posted May 8, 2013 Share Posted May 8, 2013 I think the double down is pretty fun, but then again, I find the entire ride fun. It's kind of obvious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CorkscrewFoley Posted May 9, 2013 Share Posted May 9, 2013 I found the double down painful on my first ride, and that was from my hands hitting the grab part (I want to say grab bar, but there really isn't any), but after that, it was cool. I need to get back myself...it's been 8 years since I got some Phantom love... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thrillrider Posted May 11, 2013 Author Share Posted May 11, 2013 I heard a few people refer yo that part of the ride as the "backbreaker". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
palmerleeberry Posted May 16, 2013 Share Posted May 16, 2013 Great Trip Report! My friend and I cannot wait to visit Kennywood until mid July. On the Behind the Scenes tour of the Racer, that must have been awesome. To be in a place that would be off-limits to visitors during the time the park is open would be exciting. I have rode many coasters, but I have never gotten a tour behind the scenes and take a walk along the track. One of these days . . . As for the Black Widow, I couldn't believe how big it was. My friend wants to ride a ride like that, but after seeing the size and scope of the Black Widow, methinks he might recant his decision. As for me, "BRING IT ON!!!" "I'm not perfect; I just love to ride" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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