originally posted on 8/19/2024
Photo: Garrett Sauers. View full-sized image.
KennyKon is ACE Western Pennsylvania’s signature event, celebrated annually at historic Kennywood. It’s an opportunity to recognize both the strength of the region and the many treasures to be found in this historic park — one of two parks in the United States granted National Historic Landmark status (the other being Playland in Rye, New York).
KennyKon is big on celebrating anniversaries – both its own and those of rides in the park. KennyKon XXXV celebrated 35 years of KennyKons, which called for the creation of an anniversary T-shirt. Many traditions are associated with KennyKon, most of them anticipated with pleasure but one of them not — rain! We’ll get to that later.
Attendees checked in and picked up their KennyKon XXXV anniversary T-shirts.
Photo: Garrett Sauers. View full-sized image.
It was an overcast, muggy August 3 as 206 attendees checked in at the front gate of the West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, park Coincidentally, August 3 was also the first day of Kennywood’s 74th annual Fall Fantasy parades, during which local bands play and floats are created to represent the theme of the parade, which in 2024 was “Kenny Kangaroo’s 50th Birthday Bash.” Twenty-seven lucky attendees would win a raffle to ride in the Kennywood trolley, representing ACE as grand marshal for the parade.
ACE Western Pennsylvania was the grand marshal of the Fall Fantasy Parade, and 27 attendees rode the Kennywood trolley and represented the region.
Photo: Dave Hahner. View full-sized image.
Kennywood mascots Kenny Kangaroo and Parker celebrate Kenny’s 50th birthday in the parade.
Photo: Bill Linkenheimer III. View full-sized image.
Morning ERT began at 9:30 on Thunderbolt, The Exterminator and Turtle. Speaking of anniversaries, 2024 is Thunderbolt/Pippin’s 100th year at the park. Pippin, designed by John Miller in 1924, was transformed by Andy Vettel into Thunderbolt in 1968 and was made famous by Robert Cartmell’s designation of it in a 1974 New York Times article as the “king of coasters.” Thunderbolt, along with Jack Rabbit and Racer (also designed by John Miller), are ACE Roller Coaster Landmarks. (Kennywood is the only park with three ACE Roller Coaster Landmarks.)
Thunderbolt.
Photo: Garrett Sauers. View full-sized image.
A new mural was created in honor of the 100th anniversary of the ACE Roller Coaster Landmark Thunderbolt.
Photo: Lee Ann Draud. View full-sized image.
Attendees enjoy ERT on Turtle, the last operating tumble bug ride in the world.
Photo: Dan Zunko. View full-sized image.
The Exterminator, with its theme of a factory overrun by mice being chased by an exterminator, is celebrating 25 years at the park. This indoor Reverchon spinning coaster benefited from the queue video being restored in 2024. Attendees were happy to see the return of Turtle, which closed in August 2023 for a preservation project. A group photo in front of Thunderbolt followed the end of ERT.
April Kanai and Joel Brewton Riling ready to ride Exterminator.
Photo: Garrett Sauers. View full-sized image.
Kennywood modified the Racer sign to highlight “ACE.”
Photo: Millie D’Auria. View full-sized image.
Kennywood’s general manager, Ricky Spicuzza, points out the features of an Old Mill boat being constructed in the maintenance shop.
Photo: Tina Napotnik Sepcic. View full-sized image.
A behind-the-scenes experience was scheduled for the area between Racer and The Steel Curtain (not operating in 2024), but because of ongoing construction, it had to be modified to a tour of the maintenance area and carpentry shop. Marie Ruby, Kennywood’s director of ride operations, welcomed everyone and introduced Ricky Spicuzza, Kennywood’s recently appointed general manager. She alerted attendees to a surprise photo opportunity that would occur later when the lights in Racer’s sign would be modified to spell out “ACE.”
Jack Rabbit.
Photo: Millie D’Auria. View full-sized image.
Informal takeover times (ITOTs) were scheduled during the afternoon on the walkthrough dark ride Noah’s Ark, the last operating Noah’s Ark in the world, and the Merry-Go-Round, built in 1926 by William Dentzel and sent to Kennywood in 1927. Despite the gloomy forecast of rain all day, drops didn’t appear until right before the scheduled ITOT on Jack Rabbit, when there was a brief shower. No matter. Attendees jumped in line as soon as the rain stopped.
New members to ACE met in Pavilion 17 before dinner with the ACE Western Pennsylvania regional rep team.
Photo: Millie D’Auria. View full-sized image.
A new-member meetup was held in Pavilion 17 before dinner, where new ACEers were given an overview of what the organization offers and had the opportunity to ask questions of the regional rep team. At the same time, attendees could relax with complimentary soft drinks before dinner.
Regional Rep Bill Linkenheimer greets attendees during dinner.
Photo: Garrett Sauers. View full-sized image.
Kenny Kangaroo, wearing his “50th birthday” suit, greeted attendees during dinner, which consisted of pulled pork, chicken tenders, pasta, fresh fruit and more. Regional Rep Bill Linkenheimer III welcomed everyone and recognized key volunteers and his regional rep team. He also presented Ruby, Spicuzza and other Kennywood officials each with a KennyKon XXXV T-shirt and reminded attendees that Ruby is responsible for arranging all ERT and tours during ACE events in the park. Linkenheimer announced upcoming ACE Western Pennsylvania regional events and sent the 27 trolley winners on their way to get ready for the parade.
A late downpour closed the park early but didn’t interfere with ACE’s scheduled ERT.
Photo: Garrett Sauers. View full-sized image.
After the Fall Fantasy parade, a young adult meetup took place in the new Jeeter’s Pub, which formerly was a gift shop. Evening ITOTs were scheduled on Premier Rides’ Sky Rocket, Racer and Wave Swinger, but the weather decided to intervene big time. First, the threat of lightning closed all the outdoor rides and then the rain returned with a vengeance. An announcement was made that the park would close at 9:15 instead of 10 as scheduled, but the good news was that an hour of ERT on the Potato Smash bumper cars was still on and that ERT for The Phantom’s Revenge would be too once the lightning stopped.
Fortunately the Potato Smash bumper cars were under cover during the rainy portion of ERT.
Photo: Garrett Sauers. View full-sized image.
Attendees headed for the new Potato Smash bumper cars, which were under cover and which featured new vehicles themed to Kennywood’s Potato Patch fries. The rain slowed as riders rode and re-rode, all the while listening for the sound of the Phantom testing. As soon as they heard the distinctive hollow metal sound of the Phantom ascending the lift hill, almost everyone made a beeline through the drizzle and lined up for the indescribable thrill of night rides on this Arrow/Morgan terrain coaster with its 228-foot second drop into the ravine at 85 mph. Both trains full of smiling, clapping riders ran throughout ERT. The ride operators were as enthusiastic as the riders!
The rain came and went, but it would take more than rain to dampen the spirits of attendees at this event that celebrates such a great traditional park. Attendees were grateful to the regional rep team and the staff at Kennywood who went above and beyond to ensure a great day.
— Lee Ann Draud, ACE Publications Director
#ACENews