KENNYWOOD PARK

Kennywood is an amusement park located in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh. The park first opened in 1898 as a "trolley park" at the end of the Monogahela Street Railway. The park was purchased in 1906 by F.W. Henninger and Andrew McSwigan and thus began the Kennywood Entertainment company that has remained a closely held family business for over 100 years. This traditional amusement park still has structures and rides dating back to its opening and the early 1900s. Along with Rye Playland Park, it is one of only two amusement parks listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
I tok this first part off the internet to show just how old kennywood is -PPG glass Co would hold a yearly company picnic there and supposedly our family went but I remember it not, just the trips by the school crossing guard kids and sometimes the boy scouts.  Then as a dad, I took my own family there except Ariana, who wasn't with us yet.  As a kid, all the roller coasters were made of wood framing and it was not till the 1990's that steel rail coasters appeared(now 3).  They still have the original merry go round and Noah's Ark which perched up high with mechanical animal heads bobbing from windows.  The ride sucked, but it still was a landmark,  Another neat thing was the placement of the Ferris wheel: as you got to the top you could see a giant clock with the day and date above-made entirely out of flowers except the clock hands.  The flowers were re dug everyday to change the date and day.
There was no easy way to get there from Brackenridge, but to go through a bunch of small towns and crossing 2 of Pittsburgh;s 3 rivers.  But, all along the way through the small towns were yellow arrows with black "Kenneywood Park" written on them, pointing the way.  Now, as you began crossing the Monongahela river, you first view is the steep incline and almost vertical descent of the park's first steely, the Phantom.  First drop over 85mph! I have never been on a steely-I love the creaking noises of the wooden coasters.  Besides, on a steely, you cannot see the tract either in front or on your sides.  On one trip to the Park, a lady was so scared, when the Phantom ride ended they had to break her fingers to get them off the holding bar.
One ride looked almost like a Ferris wheel on it''s side.  Everyone took their place inside the big circle ride.  It had a loose leather belt going across your midriff, which really offered no safety.  As it started going around, it went faster and gradually you were almost going around vertically. Centrifugal force was what held you in place.  Right before one of the patrol boys got on, he had 2 hot dogs and a bottle of chocolate soda pop.  I remember because he got sick on the ride and threw up.  his big problem: centrifugal force made his vomit come right back to his face-until the ride lowered and went slower, it ran down the front of him. It was really gross, but still kind of funny.
Anyway, the entire park has a family slow life to it, making it a relaxing fun day.The worst moment: taking Alex with me on the Thunderbolt, a woody. I told him it wasn't that bad.  well it was a lot faster and shakier than I remembered and Alex screamed at me from the first drop until the end.  Don't blame him.  At least it wasn't the Jackrabbit which has a double dip hill and you fly out of your seat about a foot.  real good idea to use the seat belt. The park has a center lake and a scaled down train that goes completely around the park, along with picnic shelters-bring your own lunch because even an empty glass for water cost the same as if it was a drink of lemonade-cups are counted and employees are accountable for their numbers.  Bottom line-i would never go to the Pittsburgh area and not visit Kennywood Park(during the season).  Next: Pig Island in the middle of the Allegheny River, about 7 miles from downtown Pittsburgh and home of Irish Brand Hams and bacon.  Along with Iron City Beer, Irish Brand is no more.