Kennywood history

In 1900, the Monongahela Street Railway Company and the Pittsburgh Street Railway Company merged and began to add additional attractions to the park, including a small artificial lake, another dance pavilion, and more picnic groves.

The new century began with the addition of the Old Mill in 1901, Kennywood's oldest surviving ride.

Luna Park opened in 1905 on the corner of Craig Street and Center Avenue.

West View Park was founded by Thomas M. (T.M.) Harton and opened on May 23, 1906.

The city of Allegheny became part of Pittsburgh in 1907, only a few years after the land purchase.

Ingersoll struggled to keep up with the expenses of maintaining the parks and first filed for bankruptcy in 1908.

The Pittsburg* Plunge (spelled correctly) was the centerpiece, with the Wave Swinger and Whip also added to the new area. It was themed to an area you'd only find in Kennywood, presenting rides and architecture of days gone by - inspired by Pittsburgh's Luna Park, which closed in 1909.

The Racer was first built in 1910 and featured twin tracks that gave riders the sensation that they were racing against the cars on the opposite path.

Riverview Park is also home to the Allegheny Observatory, which is located atop a hill in the park where it has operated since 1912.

The Roaring 20s kicked off in dramatic fashion at Kennywood with the addition of the Jack Rabbit in 1920, our oldest surviving coaster.

In 1924, the Pippin, another rollercoaster featuring a double dip, was built at the opposite end of the park.

In 1927, the original Racer was demolished in order to make way for Kiddieland, a special section of the park devoted to children’s rides.

1930-35: Kennywood survives the Great Depression by bringing in local and national “swing” bands and sponsoring school picnics.

Kennywood celebrated the end of the Great Depression in 1936 with the opening of Noah's Ark, now the last operating ride of its kind in the world.

Used in the 1939 World’s Fair, this calm and enjoyable ride chugs along through those parts of Kennywood that overlook the Monongahela River, one of the two large rivers that intersect in Pittsburgh to create the Ohio River.

In 1945, the group was able to purchase 100 acres in Salem Township (near Delmont) for family reunions, church picnics, and more.

The park closed in 1989 when it was bought by PennDOT to make room for a rerouting of PA 60. It opened in 1955 with seven rides.

Bobby Vinton competed in a Battle of the Bands at Danceland in 1960.

The Rolling Stones played to a measly crowd of 400 on June 17, 1964, during their first American tour.

To remain viable, Kennywood added a variety of new rides, including the Turnpike in 1966.

In 1967, Kennywood’s management made an extremely bold and unpredictable decision regarding the construction of the now-legendary Thunderbolt by closing their most popular coaster at the time, Pippin, to erect the exciting new wooden coaster in its place.

In 1968, the Andy Vettel created the legendary Thunderbolt rollercoaster by altering the old Pippin.

Danceland burned in 1973 due to an electrical fire.

Kennywood managed to keep visitors cool during the hot summer months by installing a series of water rides, starting with the Log Jammer, the park’s first million-dollar ride, in 1975.

West View Park closed on September 5, 1977.

Growth accelerated in the 1980s - literally! The shuttle-loop coaster called the Laser Loop opened in 1980, Kennywood's first steel rollercoaster.

1981: Kennywood for the first time surpasses the 1 million visitors mark.

1987: Kennywood is designated a National Historic Landmark by the Department of the Interior, one of two amusements parks nationwide included in the National Register of Historic Places.

The park closed in 1989 when it was bought by PennDOT to make room for a rerouting of PA 60.

He was inducted into the International Association of Amusement Parks (IAAPA) Hall of Fame in 1992 for his contributions to the amusement park industry.

The Oak Park Shopping Center was built on the location in 1994.

When it was first constructed, it held world records for the longest drop (225 feet) and the fastest speed (80 mph). In 1995, the park’s final water ride was added, the Pittsburg Plunge.

1999: The indoor roller coaster, the Exterminator, is added.

2000-01: The Steel Phantom is demolished to make room for the Phantom’s Revenge.

In 2001, the Steel Phantom was redesigned as the Phantom’s Revenge, which featured a 288-foot drop and speeds of 82 miles per hour.

Although the basic premise of the ride has remained unchanged, in 2004 its interior scenery was updated and The Old Mill was renamed Garfield’s Nightmare.

2005: Kennywood’s owners reveal they’ve acquired about 50 acres, increasing the park’s size to about 140 acres.

2007: Kennywood Entertainment announces agreement to sell its amusement park holdings, including Idlewild & SoakZone in Ligonier and Sandcastle Waterpark in West Homestead, to Parques Reunidos of Madrid.

One of only two amusement parks to be designated as a National Historic Landmark, Kennywood Park donated more than 140 boxes of their corporate archives to the History Center in 2016.

In 2018, Thomas Town opened, the second-largest Thomas & Friends attraction in North America.