This thread is simple! Rather than having a million little threads about everything that goes on at Kennywood Park, this thread is designed to consolidate it all into one user-friendly thread. Feel free to use it to post updates, trip reports, questions, comments, and of course, general discussion. For pictures and videos of the park as well as past updates, see TPR's Park Index Page.
Below are some links to past updates from the park, you may be interested in. Enjoy!
--Robb
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2005
July 6th, 2005 - Kennywood acquires additional 23 acres - SEE BELOW!
2006
December 20th, 2006 - Two Zamperla rides coming in 2007: Disk-O and Rockin Tug
2007
December 11th, 2007 - sale of Kennywood to Parques Reunidos announced
2008
October 19th, 2008 - Parts of Phantom's Revenge track to be replaced
December 9th, 2008 - Kennywood is bringing back Bayern Kurve
2009
Aug. 12th, 2009 - Kennywood announces new coaster for 2010 season
Dec. 9th, 2009 - Kennywood announces name of new coaster: Sky Rocket
2010
Jan. 18th, 2010 - Kennywood to introduce Season Pass in 2010 for $89.99
Feb. 9th, 2010 - Tons of Sky Rocket Track arrives
April 30th, 2010 - Sky Rocket opening pushed back to June
July 28th, 2010 - Sky Rocket guidelines adjusted for taller riders
2011
June 30th, 2011 - Pit Fall up for sale, park looking into replacement
July 6th, 2011 - Kennywood announces "Holiday Lights" Winter event
December 10th, 2011 - Crews begin to dismantle Pitt Fall
December 15th, 2011 - 'Black Widow' Zamperla Giant Discovery announced!
2012
April 12th, 2012 - Kennywood closer to selling beer
September 17th, 2012 - Park officially begins selling beer
2013
January 8th, 2013 - Park founder & ex-CEO Carl Hughes passes away
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http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_350453.html
Kennywood may double its attractions
By Michael Yeomans, TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Wednesday, July 6, 2005
Kennywood Entertainment Co. officials will unveil major expansion plans today that could double the attractions at historic Kennywood Park, with the acquisition of 23 brownfield acres in neighboring Duquesne.
The purchase is the third piece of its growth plan. Over the last decade, the company has stitched together a patchwork of residential parcels in West Mifflin, and last month acquired a shopping plaza anchored by a Kmart that closed two years ago adjacent to Kennywood parking lots. Taken together, the additions will nearly double the size of the century-old park.
The park property is bisected by Route 837 -- Kennywood Boulevard -- with the 40-acre park on the Monongahela River side of the road and another roughly 40 acres of parking lots on the opposite side, connected by a tunnel under the road.
Kennywood spokeswoman Mary Lou Rosemeyer said the company has long wanted to expand but was concerned about access to the park. She said that problem will be eased by the completion of a section of the $2.5 billion Mon-Fayette Expressway linking Interstate 376 in Monroeville to Route 51 in Jefferson Hills and including a junction with Route 837. The highway is about half complete but is missing critical links in the Monongahela Valley to serve struggling former mill towns such as Duquesne, Braddock and Turtle Creek.
The company hired the Downtown consulting firm of Tripp Umbach to do an economic impact study of its three Western Pennsylvania theme parks, which also include the Sandcastle water park in West Homestead and Idlewild Park in Ligonier, Westmoreland County.
Without giving details, Rosemeyer said the study will show that Kennywood Entertainment's three properties have the largest economic impact of any entertainment provider in the region.
"We can be a real destination, if we can get the people in here," she said.
Rosemeyer would not disclose the seller of the 23 acres in Duquesne, or whether the parcel is on the river, or on the east side or west side of Kennywood Boulevard.
She said the company would not wait for the highway's completion before beginning the park expansion, which she said would include additional attractions and parking. She declined to provide details.
Kennywood President Pete McAneny is to be joined by Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato and Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission representative Tom Fox today in unveiling the economic study and expansion plan.
Brooks Robinson Jr., marketing director of the Regional Industrial Development Corp. of Western Pennsylvania, said it has not sold land to Kennywood. RIDC operates the Riverplace City Center of Duquesne industrial park, which is separated from Kennywood by a wide gully.
The Union Railroad also owns a flat parcel of land along the river across the same gully.
Turnpike Commission spokesman Joe Agnello said the design and right of way acquisition for the 24-mile leg of the expressway will take another four years. Depending on whether funding is available, construction could begin by 2010. "Kennywood adds another powerful voice for the project to move forward," he said.
Looks like great news! A modern wooden coaster would be great for the park, but I'm just happy they migh tbe getting something new.
