Kennywood Amusement Park

The Kennywood Amusement Park Story

Kennywood Amusement Park is a national historic landmark in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, approximately twelve miles from downtown Pittsburg. The park has deep roots in history, first founded in 1898 as a small trolley park. The park’s beauty still encapsulates that history: two buildings from its original days -- a carousel pavilion and a restaurant – are still in use.

The park had a long battle to fight to remain open. First, the railway that started it up wanted to get out of the business just four years after the park opened. Instead of shutting the park down, they looked for companies they could lease the park out to. Between 1910 and 1930, the park prospered, opening several new rides and a swimming pool.

During the Great Depression, the park refrained from expending much income on frivolous things like new rides and grand entertainment. Instead, Kennywood hosted several dances between the 1930s and 1950s that kept the park alive and didn't cost as much. The dances kept going even after the Depression had passed and new rides began to open again.

In the 1950s, the park opened itself up to quite a few school picnics. That inspired them to work on Kiddieland, focusing new additions to that area of the park. Then, by the 1960s, park management saw the need for heavy investments to keep up with the competition in order to stay in business. They added and redesigned several roller coasters in order to stay afloat and keep some of their fame.

The 1980s brought new additions and twists, as well as National Historic Landmark status. Since then, the park has still continued to preserve the old and add the new to create a unique amusement park feel.

The Rides and More

Kennywood amusement park has rides of all types, so even guests who prefer water rides to roller coasters will find something to do. The park also offers shows as well as beautiful landscaping and an unparalleled nostalgic ambiance everyone can enjoy. Some of the attractions the park has to offer include:

• The Exterminator turns guests into sewer rats. It's a roller coaster—in the dark. The seats twist, too, as riders scurry through the unknown.
• Phantom's Revenge is unique in that the biggest drop is not the first one. After the ride is well underway, it drops from the tallest peak (235 feet), and speeds reach 85 miles per hour.
• Raging Rapids is like a beautiful white water rafting trip designed to get the riders wet, making it a great way to cool off on hot summer days.
• The Skycoaster is a thrill ride that costs a little extra once you get into the park, but it's like no other ride in the park. “Flyers” are launched from a tower 180 feet above the ground in a nylon harness. Freefalling speeds reach about 75 miles per hour in a unique skydiving and hang gliding combination.
• The Merry-Go-Round is just what guests need after so much excitement. The handcrafted carousel is both a joy to ride and a treasure for the eyes.

Kiddieland rides are available for young children so that they, too, can enjoy the park, and many other rides allow parents to accompany young riders for family fun.

Visiting Kennywood

Admission tickets can be ordered online for $32 per guest, $19 for children under 46 inches tall, or $15 for senior citizens. Lower prices are available for evening tickets after 5 p.m. There are group discounts for parties of 20 or more can be arranged with advanced reservations.

Contact Information

For more information about Kennywood amusement park, prospective guests can visit the official website, call (412) 461-0500, or write:

Kennywood
4800 Kennywood Blvd.
West Mifflin, PA 15122