Black Widow Opens! — June 8th, 2012

Kennywood Connection was fortunate enough to be at the Grand Opening of Black Widow yesterday! We were among the very first to ride, along with members of American Coaster Enthusiasts and various Pittsburgh media. The ride seems to be a huge hit! Everyone came off with a huge smile on their face, and everyone had something positive to say about the experience! Black Widow is sure to be one of Kennywood’s most popular rides for years to come.

We have a photo album and some video footage of the ride. Be sure to check it out!

Pitt Fall’s Last Day at Kennywood is Sunday, September 18th

We had a pretty good feeling this was coming, but now we know for sure. 2011 was the last season for Kennywood’s famous drop-tower, Pitt Fall. The last day it will be operating, also Kennywood’s last regular-season operating day for 2011, is Sunday, September 18th. Pitt Fall opened in 1997, and at the time it was the world’s tallest drop-tower at 251 feet… towering over Steel Phantom and Skycoaster. Riders often felt even higher, as the tower sits on the edge of the Monongahela River ravine. Riders could overlook United States Steel’s Edgar Thompson plant, as well as views of the Westinghouse Bridge, Rankin Bridge, or even Kennywood itself, depending on which site you sat on. The tower could also be seen from far away with its blinking white light at the top. The tower was also turned into a huge Christmas tree which could be seen as far away as McKeesport! The iconic ride will surely be missed by many, but we look forward to what will replace it in 2012! That’s right, it has also been confirmed that a new ride will replace Pitt Fall for next season. There has been much speculation as to what the new ride might be, and an official announcement is expected very soon. We’ll be sure to let you know once that happens. Stay tuned!