Kennywood is offering an exciting opportunity to see The Legacy of Arrow Development, an American Coaster Enthusiasts documentary on the big screen in the park’s 4-D Theater! There will be three screenings at 11:00, 1:00 and 3:00 on Saturday, April 16th.
Click here to check out Kennywood’s website for FREE tickets to this event! Seating is limited, so don’t miss this unique chance!
As per tradition, we return with our 2016 iteration of our off-season photo tour! This year, we take a look at the Noah’s Ark project, the Potato Patch remodel, the new Volcano, and other things around the park. Click the link to jump to our Facebook page and check it out. Special thanks to Nick Paradise for making this visit possible!
Click here to join the discussion on our forums!
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The 2015 season has finally come to a close, and the relatively short wait for Opening Day 2016 has begun! Our yearly tradition of providing an Opening Day countdown clock continues this year… see below!
Kennywood opens Saturday, May 7th at 10:30 am!
[ujicountdown id=”Kennywood Opening Day” expire=”2016/05/07 10:30″ hide=”false” url=”” subscr=”” recurring=”” rectype=”second” repeats=””]
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Noah’s Ark opened in 1936, and is the last remaining attraction of its kind in the world. Despite winning the Amusement Today Golden Ticket Award for “Best Funhouse/Walk-Through Attraction” for the sixth year in a row in 2015, many long-time fans of the ride haven’t been completely happy with the state of the Ark since it was renovated back in 1996. In the ’96 renovation, the classic funhouse feel to the attraction seemed to be lost with the addition of newer, higher-tech props.
Fortunately, Kennywood has heard the concerns of the Ark’s diehard fans and is undertaking a major refurb project for the 2016 season and the Ark’s 80th birthday! One of the most missed features of the classic Ark was the whale’s mouth entrance to the ride, and you’ll be happy to know that it will in fact be returning!
The whale’s mouth as seen on the Ark before the 1996 renovation
The whale’s mouth had been replaced by the “Elevator of Doom” where riders felt as if they were in an elevator which fell to the bottom of an abandoned mineshaft. The elevator has already been removed to make way for the whale mouth (as seen below).
View as of 12/20/2015 with the Elevator of Doom removed
The park is still developing final plans for the whale mouth entrance. “We are trying to be as faithful as possible to the original entrance, while also meeting the ADA accessibility requirements that have changed greatly since the whale was first installed in 1969,” says Nick Paradise, Director of Public Relations & Social Media for Kennywood. The original whale had a squishy tongue entrance floor.
The former “skeleton pit” room has already undergone a good deal of work. Photo courtesy of Nick Paradise.
Various other elements from the classic Ark such as surprise air blasts will also be making a return; however, the details of what all that will entail have not yet been released. The park hopes to have Noah’s Ark ready for 2016 Opening Day! Check back here and join the discussion on our forums to keep up to date on the 2016 Noah’s Ark refurb project!
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Kennywood’s Black Friday discounts are live on www.kennywood.com. Discounts are available on season passes, FunDay passes, and games credits. Hurry while the deals last!
