What is your favorite Kennywood ride of all time? From the past to the present, or even long gone, which ride made you the happiest?
For me top fave is the Bayern Kurve.
Log Jammer
Magic Carpet
Noah's Ark
Updated: Gold Rusher, cannot believe I forgot about this one.
I have memories of riding the Kangaroo with my dad and yelling "Cowabunga!" when we went over the bump (Ninja Turtles were popular at the time). It's my favorite ride because of that.
I love your comment. My auntie passed 9 years ago and one of my fave Kenny wood memories is she and all my cousins riding the kangaroo over and over and just giggling our butts off
I loved the kangaroo!
Same with my dad and the swings. Could see the years melt off his face and he'd laugh and laugh. Every time I ride it I can picture him and hear him a little more than when I could on the ground.
It’s impossible to go on that ride and not laugh. And it’s such a simple tame ride.
Reading this has reminded me of a very similar time riding with my mom. She never really liked rides so it was rare for her to get on one but she always loved the kangaroo. I remember hearing her laugh in a way that I had never heard before, a giddy childlike laughter.
I'm sorry for your loss.
I always rode the Kangaroo with my grandma 😭 she passed in 2010
I really love this comment
I share a very similar fond memory with my mom on the kangaroo as well. She passed away 12 years ago. I'm sorry for your loss.
Thunderbolt for sure
The thunderbolt before they had to change it. When it came roaring into the station, perfection.
Forgive my ignorance but how's it been changed? Haven't been to kennywood since 2006.
I want to say it probably was already changed to the new version by 06... I'm thinking it was the late 90s early 2000s: if I have the story correct this is when they still used human operated hand brakes. Originally when one train finished it flew basically full speed Into the station and hit a hard stop with the brakes. At the same time the next train was leaving or had just left the station.
Either way due to human error the front train didn't leave the station on time and the back train wasn't braked properly and it slammed into the front train injuring like a bunch of people 20-30.
Now the train does the hard stop at the top of the last hill and then slowly crawls around the bend into the station.
Obviously safety is the priority here, but half the reason it was even called.the thunderbolt was from how much it shook and rumbled the station as it flew in for its stop.
It won several best coaster awards and continued to be rated as the best wooden coaster in the US up to the change.
I can't remember the thunderbolt ever running full speed into the station. I'm not a coaster enthusiast and there was a long stretch of time that I didn't go to Kennywood at all but I remember one time in the 90s being on the thunderbolt, being stopped before pulling into the station because someone had a heart attack in line or something but initially it didn't seem unusual - stopping didn't seem strange, but then we were stopped for a very long time. THAT part was strange.
The incident you are referring to happened in July 1999. An article from July 11 says the train is designed to come to a stop at the top of the final hill before coming into the station, but that it's the operator's job to override this and simply slow it way down before it rounds the bend into the station. If I'm interpreting this correctly... it never thundered into the station at full speed, but it didn't have to come to a full stop, either. Now it stops before rounding the bend (and everyone gets to sit and stare at that roof with all the hair ties on it) but I don't think it makes a huge difference in terms of how you finish off the ride.
I think I have better memories of the logjammer and turnpike from my childhood, but yeah, it's gotta be the thunderbolt.
If your answer is anything but the thunderbolt, you're lying to yourself. The thunderbolt is unique in the world of roller coasters that can not be replicated due to the terrain that it's built upon.
so true. I once did a rough rebuild in roller coaster tycoon and it was impossible to accurately build without the requisite terrain. My favorite roller coaster by far.
I know two people who broke bones (clavicle, ribs, arm) on the Thunderbolt but I never stopped riding it.
This is the answer
Probably the Racer. Le Cachot was always fun. Also very fond of the Whip.
Oh wow, I do miss Le Cachot, especially the spinny part. :(
Eerrrrgghhnh eerrrrggh errggggghhhhnn
This was buried so deep in my mind omg 😭😂😂😂
Racer is a great ride that gets overshadowed by everything else at the park.
I'm in my early 30s, and I have no recollection of what Le Cachot is.
It was a dark ride, located next to Potato Patch. It’s a lemonade stand these days. Was a great ride, with the most distinct, loud sound ever. It would have been around during your life, but I think they took it when you were a kid.
All the props for the La Cachit are sitting in a warehouse. I'd love to have the skeleton knights on the motorcycles.
https://www.laffinthedark.com/articles/lecachot/lecachot1.htm
An old pretzel dark ride with cheesey stunts. They're hard to find anymore so it's super sad that Kennywood took it out.
there is one in waldameer up in Erie - at least there was 5 years ago or so. Waldameer is nice in that you can go in and walk around for free and just pay to do a couple rides if you like, so if you want to check out just that ride, you can.
I went to Waldameer and rode this today! It's called The Wacky Shack, and it very much gave me the vibes that Le Cachot did as a child. My partner and I had a lot of fun riding it. I hadn't been there in probably over 25 years, and she had never been. I wasn't sure I had ever ridden it, but certain things in it sparked deep down memories I didn't know I had.
There's also a walk-through funhouse called The Pirate's Cove that has similar hokey things in it. We loved them both, especially how kinda cheap and old timey they seemed. It really added to the charm.
There's a dark ride that's very similar to waldameer's dark ride on Rehoboth beach boardwalk. I think they were made by the same man many years ago
LMAO cachet was like the mutual "Yeah we wanna make out" ride.
I was too young to really "get" Le Cachot, but loved it anyway because I thought the strobe light room was an absolute hoot.
Steel Phantom — was so violent when it originally opened that some people were getting injured. It was complete mayhem and fantastic.
Also I kind of loved the turnpike. A friend and I managed to run a car off the track once. We coasted pretty far down a bit of a hill and they shut down the ride for the rest of the day.
And the funny part is they left that crotch wrecking double dip right before entering the start again.
Omg yes - head banging back and forth against the restraint. I forget if they required you to remove earrings or just strongly encouraged it .. glad I did!
I remember the secret....press your head back at the bottom of the big hill or you got head banged....
I had just gotten my ears pierced and went on The Steel Phantom for the first time…that shit was HECTIC! 😳
In all my years when I evaluate the coaster that's new to me, the first thing is how smooth is the ride on a scale of one to steal phantom.
I was in 2nd grade when the Phantom opened and noped out of it until 6th grade. The video I saw on the news of a guy in a neck brace after riding it scared me off.
I always thought The Exterminator was so creative. Never laughed so hard on a ride as the first time on that.
The exterminator during fright nights with the lights off is so much fun
When it was new I have fond memories of riding it a bunch with my family. When we were getting off once, someone was shouting and asking where all the rats were on the ride.
The ride operator looked bewildered for half a second before he shouted back, "You are the rat, baby!"
It's been a solid family quote for decades now.
This rocks
YES. The Exterminator and the spinning swings are all I need to have a perfect time at Kennywood.
Well over a decade ago my wife, sister, and I rode it with my younger brother. On one of the jarring turns, he shouted in a loud, whiny voice "This isn't how I remember this at all!"
We mock him for that to this day.
This is probably my answer. It looks so innocuous and small but man is it fun as hell. When you catch a spin at the right time on a downhill it's so much fun.
I really miss the Rotor.
ditto i too just commented then saw your post i loved the rotor
to quote pittsburgh dad, the ride home. but i also love the turtle. i make sure to always go on it once every time i visit kennywood.
I still have fond memories of riding home past Page's (before it was the attraction it is now). Warm humid night, listening to moths be zapped by the lights, and eyeing that rainbow sprinkle cone coming through the pass like it was being passed down from on high.
Lmao do you have a link to where he said that? As a parent, it’s so true.
it's an oldie but a goldie. https://youtu.be/DoRmFszjLxs?si=GEE7YdvizZCp5yiX
Got a handjob back in 1997 on the old mill so that ride made me the happiest.
Lmfaoooooo.
🫡
Living the life we all hoped for. You’re a god damned local hero, sir.
Right. That was the ultimate achievement. I think that dude must be Barney Stinson because that's legendary to 13 yo to 15 yos...
You said you’d never tell!
Oops! It was so long ago I forgot our promise. My bad.
They have cameras now! Can only imagine what that kid sees ..
They used to station workers inside the old mill
I worked at the park for the last 3 years, and while I wasn't on the ride crew, I wound up spending a lot of time there because my ride was the Curtain, and we all know how reliable it is, especially if you skimp on the laborers.
I can't say I've seen much of anything beyond someone finding and flashing the camera, honestly. Just lots of people putting their hands in the water and the like.
I guess seeing the camera room on the way in curtails lewd behavior - lucky you/thanks for the insider story!! 😁
Had my first grab of boob (consentually) on Garfield's Nightmare. Lady standing on the side of the ride scolded me while laughing.
man it just doesnt sound right when you say its on garfields revenge lmaooo
(mine was on the gold rush)
I appreciate it more. Speaks to how crazy we all acted at that age, that I was on that neon mess and it was all I could think about.
Ah. A good old fashioned.
didn’t everyone back then? 😂
At the very least it was a happy ending.
I think every guy got a handjob there. That’s why Kennywood started putting guards on the sides to watch all the riders.
The Log Jammer, the Jackrabbit (double dip hill!), and the Raging Rapids. Nothing was better after marching in a long Fall Fantasy parade than getting to ride the Rapids before getting on the bus to go back home.
When I was little that double dip made me slide out of the seat with my legs going out the cart a bit. My aunt grabbed me and pulled me back up, but my god that was a bit terrifying
Double dip always made kid me feel weightless.
We usually did the log jammer so we didn't have to walk across the park. But, yeah it was nice to cool off. But the ride home wound up being kind of soggy and uncomfortable!
Oh the fall fantasy parades... They were so sweaty, but so fun.
The Bayern Kurve and the Volcano are up there and I was sad to see both of them go. Not sure they would top the list though. I think I’d have to give that honor to the Phantom’s Revenge
They removed the BK?? 😭 but also, I haven't been there in a decade lol.
Oh… yeah, sorry to be the bearer of bad news :(
Really though, I think I’m saddest about the sound. The sound the Bayern Kurve made was just incredible. I miss it so much.
Right now there are just a few carnival games (edit: lockers) in its place, I believe.
Yes the horn blaring absolutely made that ride 😭
Oh well, I'll live haha.
Sometimes I watch a video on YouTube to get my fill. Maybe one day I’ll find another iteration of the ride at another park
They're building one at Knoebels right now (about 4 hrs away)
Ooh good to know
When I read the Volcano it took me a min to realize you meant the Enterprise.
It'll always be the Enterprise in my heart.
Loved the Enterprise, especially at night!
The Bayern Kurve and the Volcano
I was sad to see both of them go
Haven't been to Kennywood in about a decade. All that I can say is that my disappointment is immeasurable and my day is ruined.
Kangaroo, The Whip, Logjammer.
The Potato Patch.
Of ALL time? Those little hand-carts in KiddieLand.
They might still be at Idelwild, but the ones where you sit and use your hands to pedal around the track. End of list.
Idlewild just took them out this year 😭
They still have the kiddie ones but the grownup/child ones are gone
I was only ever a fan of the child-only version.
Being dragged around by your parents all day and having to sit next to them on rides or next to your cousin or whatever.
But those? THOSE?!? That was sweet unbridled Kennywood FREEDOM and I’ve never been happier lol
They have some at Waldameer.
Laser Loop
I once rode it 4 times in a row at closing time with my sister in law. Hardly anyone left in the park, we would get off and get right back on.
It really made me dizzy!!!
The Rotor or the Turnpike with the gas-powered cars.
The turnpike. Lots of memories riding that with my pap as a kid.
Magic carpet as a kid. Thunderbolt as a teen+
Gold Rusher (predecessor to Ghostwood Estates), mostly because it was the ride I worked at (around 1985) and I had a great time jumping out at people in unexpected places, with the flashlight under my chin. Best part was, as workers, our eyes would be adjusted to the dark, and people would come in from the bright sunshine and not be able to see. There was a large spider in the ceiling at one point that dropped down, but before that, they had hung rows of fishing line from the ceiling and watching people freak out in the dark because they didn’t know what was touching them was hilarious!
I forgot about the Gold Rusher!!! The giant spider used to scare the shit out of me!
I wish they’d rebuild the le cachot
Noah's ark
That nightmare pit can get fucked (Jk kinda)
Still love the old wooden coasters the best!
I really enjoyed the Le Cachot. As cheesy as it was I really enjoyed all the noises it made haha. I can’t still hear them in my mind. Such a fun ride.
Enterprise
The Phantom's Revenge. Sure, I have memories of many of the other rides, but this ride will always be the King of Kennywood to me. That iconic clink clink clink sound of an Arrow chain lift is music to my ears. 😌
Monongahela Monster.
Thunderbolt. Though the Racer is one I have the most memories of.
Surprised no one said the Pittfall. It was a short ride, but my God did the pit drop out of my stomach. Plus, it was usually a very short line. You could do it a few times in a row before you would have gotten to the front of the phantom
the beautiful view of nasty brown west mifflin water
I can't believe how far I had to scroll to see the PittFall!! Was my favorite as a kid, my friends and I would ride it over and ver.
My sister peed her pants on that & I've never let her forget it 😭 she was like 17 & I would have been 10ish
My favorite is a tie between the Jack Rabbit and The Phantom’s Revenge.
I love/hate the air time on the jackrabbit
Jack Rabbit used to be better before the locking bar. Remember the belt across your lap? You could jam your feet under the seat in front so when you hit the double dip your butt would come off the seat. Classic stuff…
When I was finally tall enough to ride it ( remember those years praying you were finally tall enough to ride certain rides 😂) I was sitting with a much larger person. There’s just that strap that went across both people. We hit that hump and I almost flew completely out of it! She had to grab me and pull me back in 😂🤣 I didn’t care, I LOVED IT! Still do💖
The exact same thing happened to me! I have very fond memories of my mom freaking out and pulling me back into the seat
Caterpillar #2 (1969-1982).
Phantoms Revenge and it’s not really close
Jack Rabbit. It’s where my husband and I officially became boyfriend/girlfriend 20ish years ago.
Magic Carpet was one of my favorites. It would always be the first ride we would do when we entered the park.
I love the paratrooper ride and the swings. I’m the opposite of an adrenaline junkie so the less exciting rides were my favorite. Honorable mention: the Pittsburgh plunge.
1) Old Mill
2) Pitt Fall
Not seeing much love for these two here?
Any body remember the Salt & Pepper Shakers?
The Enterprise, log jammer, racer, thunderbolt, turnpike, le cachet, Noah's ark, kangaroo, turtle. So many good rides in the 70s, 80s, my childhood, school picnics with friends.
For a slow ride, I was quite disappointed when I heard they removed the turnpike.
Not a ride but Laughing Sal.
Terrifying as a child.
Nostalgic as an adult.
My mother law loved Laughing Sal! She wasn't a very happy person but Laughing Sal always made her smile.
They just put her outside old mill!
The steel curtain is the best roller coaster I’ve been on. Last time I was there I rode it 3 times in the first hour
All three classic wooden rollercoasters. I would get a ticket just to hit those three rides.
Do enjoy other unique rides to the park - the whip, Noah’s ark, kangaroo, the turtle. Have great memories of all of those. But the three classics are unlike any other coasters I have ridden.
Kennywood was a major part of my childhood. I grew up in the 80’s and 90’s. That trip to Kennywood was one of the best days of every year.
I loved riding the Log Jammer with my dad! The Parachutes were probably my next favorite ride. I remember wanting any car except the gold or green lol.
Then there were the school trips-who was going on the Old Mill with who was a big deal-so the Old Mill also holds a special place in my heart.
When the Exterminator opened I remember how much I laughed and laughed at squishing whichever boyfriend I was with 😂😂 except for the time we got the configuration wrong and I got squished.
I miss those 1990’s and early 2000’s Kennywood summers. It’s not the same anymore.
none of the above the ROTOR!
Grand Prix
The Ghost Ship was so cool
The Turnpike Jack Rabbit
Aside from coasters, The Flying Carpet was my favorite.
Skycoaster. When I was just barely old enough to ride my dad took me on it. I had asked if I could pull the cord, and my dad had doubts about it, and was set up for him to pull.
We got to the top, the guy said “3-2-1 FLY!” And my dad pulled his cord and nothing happened. The guy repeated himself. He pulled it again, and again nothing. This time the guy said “… uh guys… 321 fly…?” My dad said to pull mine. I did, and whoosh. Coolest thing ever to pull the cord on that ride.
To this day, I don’t know if my dad planned it that way or if it was just some attendant mixing it up. My dad remains mum.
It’s always been a neat memory for me.
Leo the lion. Throwing garbage in his mouth all day as a kid.
Le Cachot. It was my grandma's favorite ride at kennywood.
It’s not a ride but I just need a place to bitch about them taking out the Shooting Gallery :((( I loved it so much.
I think the Bayern Kurve bruised my spleen one year.
I'll go with the Kangaroo as my favorite.
The Thunderbolt, The Jack Rabbit and The Racer. In that order.
I could spend the rest of my life on those three coasters.
Raging Rapids. With the taco stand that’s next to the Racers at a close second
The kangaroo
I moved to Pittsburgh as an adult, so I missed out on a lot of the classic rides. But I absolutely love barreling down the hill into the ravine on Phantom’s Revenge. I also love the charm of Jack Rabbit and Racer.
Active:
Thunderbolt ⚡
Phantom's Revenge
Jackrabbit
Musik Express
Racer
Steel Curtain
Defunct:
Bayern Kurve
Steel Phantom
Pitt Fall
Flying Carpet
Log Jammers
Dipper
King Kahuna and Thunderbolt
I think Le Cachot has to be my top answer because I just miss it SO MUCH. And I can never get it out of my head anytime I think of Kennywood. Last week, as I passed the Cat Rack, I stared longingly at it's old space to the left.
ROTOR Bayern Kurve (the horn was the best thing ever) Log Jammer Flying Carpet The little kid 4x4 trucks. 1989 era Noah's Ark ...and The battle tank things with the tennis ball cannons that left the year that I WAS FINALLY TALL ENOUGH TO EXPERIENCE THEM!! AAARRRGGGHHHH!! (Though I know that was technically a separate, paid attraction.)
I feel like Steel Curtain could be preemptively added to this list.
I cant say any specific rides were my favorite, but i have facprote memories of certain rides: I have fond memories of riding the Whip with my great-aunt! It was the only thing she would ride, and I was the only one ofnthe cousins who would ride with her! She was a little mentally challenged, and wouldnlolaugh her crazy laugh the whole ride! I also remember riding the laser loop the first time I was tall enough to ride, with my dad! My grandma loved the Jack Rabbit and she had to ride it multiple times in a row with all the cousins! I also have memories of arguing with my cousins over who was smallest and biggest when riding the Music Express (I always ended up in the middle being neither small nor big so I got the joy of squishing, usually my brother and cousin and being squished by our youngest cousin).
Turtle Kangaroo Whip Noah’s Ark Old Mill
Up until it made me nauseous, the Merry-go-Round was on that list too.
I can still feel the Turnpike in my bones, by which I mean the movement, not the shaking. I didn’t appreciate it when I was a kid. I miss it.
I still can’t do fast rides. The Turtle and Kangaroo were almost too fast for me, but I did love them.
Kangaroo! My sons laughed so hard on that ride with me. Great memories!
Laser loop
1 Thunderbolt
2 Original Steel Phantom
3 Raging Rapids
Nostalgia for me: Noah's Ark The Whip Musik Express Thunderbolt
No love for Laugh In The Dark? F**k I’m old. I loved old horror movies as a little kid and this ride was cheesy/scary.
Man I miss the gold rush! My fave is the Jack rabbit.
I was partial to the Laser Loop myself.
Got to be the jack rabbit. My dad took me on when I barely qualified to ride. I was 5-6. I remember almost flying out of the seat and my dad putting his hand on my leg. I’m sure my butt was on the seat but it just felt like I was floating for a second. As soon as it ended I said “can I do it again!!!” That was 50+ years ago and it’s still a vivid memory.
The swings from the old upper parking lot (now a shopping center) to the bottom. Loved it.
Phantom, best coaster ever!! I also do like the kangaroo, and love the classic carousel. I miss the paratroopers.
Safari
I like the views you get with the Black Widow and The Phantom. I took my boyfriend (he has never done a roller coaster before) out to Kennywood like last year on mother’s day after not going for years and the first ride we did was Phantom. I was chill about it until we got up to the high point and then we were both so scared. I lost my voice that day shrieking like a donkey. Good memories
The Log Jammer for sure, I rode that multiple times each time. The Turnpike, Pirate Ship, Magic Carpet, and Thunderbolt were always a treat. My mom used to tell me the coasters always ran faster in the evenings. The train was a treat because we could look over the side into the river. The opening of Lost Kennywood with the former Pittfall and Plunge were cool. The Old Mill BEFORE it became Garfields Nightmare and the former LaCachot!
Gotta go Log Jammer as my #1.
kangaroo, thunderbolt, carousel
Le Cachot!
Le Cachot. I was so upset when they got rid of it
The Turtles have not one, not two, but ZERO three-sixty loops.
Used to love the Calypso at night, when it lit up red then white. Of the coasters, gotta be the Thunderbolt. Many fond memories of riding that with my dad.
Phantoms revenge
Thunderbolt, totally. First roller coaster of my life!
Turnpike
No mention of Wipeout anywhere. I forgot about a lot of these rides. Magic carpet was a great flat. I'd take that over the UFO spin thing that took its spot
Wanted to mention the Swingshot because I haven't seen it mentioned and I love that ride for some reason!
The Turtle, Bayern Kurve, and Le Cachot. Shout out to this thread for reminding me of Le Cachot, it closed when I was a kid but I always loved that ride.
Le Cachot! I had forgotten all about it!
OP GREAT POST!
Kangaroo, Turtles, Umbrellas, or Magic Carpet.
I need to think about this more.
Log Jammer, the OG haunted mill, le cachot (idk how it's spelled), magic carpet, the gold rusher, the merry go round, the enterprise, Noah's ark, and the kangaroo. The new rides are terrible and I can't stand how nasty the area is behind Noah's ark/where the enterprise was. It used to be so cool. Now it's ho hum.
I’m just here to say I straight up miss the log jammer and the paratrooper
Merry Go Round and Logjammer.
Favorite coaster: Thunderbolt Favorite thrill ride: Black Widow Honorable mention: Sky Coaster. First ride I went on with the girl that I eventually asked to marry me. I asked her to marry me at the top just before pulling the cord. Now the ride is gone and she told me she wants a divorce a couple weeks ago.
Mine was some trashy girl from West Mifflin you hooked up with after meeting in line at The Old Mill.
As a kid I remember really loving the round-up and La Cachot. Damn I miss La Cachot.
My favorite thing now might be Ghostwood. We got stuck on Ghostwood once and I was having such a good time racking up points I didn't even realize it until someone came to help us lol. (There is a part where you kind of go into a corner, the ride pauses, and then it backs out again... well it didn't back up again so I just kept shooting things and I was like man this is awesome!)
The Potato Patch
Turtle turtle turtle
The walk under the tunnel when leaving
Not a ride but remember the person that would guess your weight. If they were within 5lbs they won and if they weren't you won. It was neat the potato patch fries and around the corner from thunderbolt from what I recall.
The line for potato patch fries.
The Exterminator. So exciting not knowing wtf is going on. If I could see, I’d probably be sick. Hahaha
When I was a kid, it was the whip. Nowadays, it's the Thunderbolt. It's a classic you just can't beat.
The Kangaroo made my mother laugh so hard the entire circle, just for the ramp to get her started again. It’s been 6 yrs since she passed and I still hear that specific laugh every time I think of her. For that, it is the greatest ride ever made.