originally posted on 11/18/2024
The Phantom’s Revenge.
Photo: Lee Ann Draud. View full-sized image.
Although the focus during ACE Western Pennsylvania’s annual ACE Phantom Fright Night has always been on the after-dark thrills and chills, who could turn down an opportunity for early ERT on The Phantom’s Revenge? Kennywood (West Mifflin, Pennsylvania) generously offered attendees an opportunity to join the German group Coasterfriends during its East Coaster Tour III for an hour of ERT from 11 a.m. to noon. Early attendees at the October 12 event picked up wristbands by 11 a.m. at the gate on this sunny, warm October 12 and rode and re-rode the Arrow-Morgan Phantom and classic one-of-a-kind Turtle while making new friends as a bonus.
Several years ago, Kennywood changed Phantom Fright Nights, which debuted in 2002 and used to be an evening-only event, to Phantom Fall Fest, which began in 2021 and is meant to appeal to all ages by day and become more frightful at night. From noon to 6 p.m. the focus is family fun, with rides that appeal to everyone and no scary stuff. After 6, however, the Phantom and his ghoulish friends take over the park, spread the fog and ominous music and roam the park at will, especially in the haunts. Fright Nights have remained popular over the years because Kennywood, like the creatures of the night, wants to surprise. Haunts with the same name will not be exactly the same from year to year.
Even Kennywood’s classic 1926 Grand Carousel — usually a friendly, colorful sight — becomes more ominous during the Halloween season.
Photo: Lee Ann Draud. View full-sized image.
The park officially opened at noon, and some daytime event activities included informal takeover times (ITOTs) on The Exterminator (Reverchon spinning mouse) and Old Mill, a float-in-a-boat dark ride and the oldest ride in the park (1901).
The real action began at 4:15, when the remainder of the 110 attendees checked in at the Old Mill to get their wristbands. It being a Saturday and a beautiful weather day, the park was crowded and lines were already long. ACE Phantom Fright Night is not a formal event, so no advance registration was required, but wristbands were a must to participate in the perks arranged for the event. Online discounts for tickets were available for those who didn’t have season passes.
ACE members and current and former Kennywood employees are recognized in the Kennyville Cemetery.
Photo: April Lucas. View full-sized image.
The first afternoon extra for attendees was a daytime tour of the Kennyville Cemetery, led by ACE member and Kennywood employee Garrett Sauers. Some of the grave markers in the cemetery paid tribute to former Kennywood employees and even ACE members Sauers and the late Vic Kleman, who used to be the greeter at the cemetery. Creepy as it is, the cemetery is much easier to deal with in the daytime than in the dark and fog.
Dan Swartz adds emphasis to Marie Ruby’s tour of Villa of the Vampires.
Photos: Lee Ann Draud. View full-sized image.
Ron Mazur found one of the hiding places of the creatures in Villa of the Vampires.
View full-sized image.
Next was a lights-on tour of Villa of the Vampires, the existing oldest Fright Night haunt, which used to be called Creeper’s Crypt. Leading the tour was Kennywood’s director of operations, Marie Ruby and Scott Sypien, who supervises all of the haunts. Both Ruby and Sypien have been instrumental in the park’s haunts since the first event 22 years ago, so they were able to point out several of the hiding places for the creatures and the hidden doors, as well as answer a lot of questions about what it takes to convert the park for the fright season. The Villa is much easier to navigate without the darkness and the fog (and the monsters), but after the lights-on tour, attendees were treated to first-in-line access when it officially opened.
Dark Shadows is one of the haunts that doesn’t open until after dark, and attendees had first-in-line privileges when it did. The fog and “dark shadows” in the haunt are extremely disorienting, and this author always feels lucky to make it through without getting lost.
Ryan Lucas trading stories with a clown in Fear Fest.
Photo: April Lucas. View full-sized image.
The park graciously provided each attendee with a one-time-use front-of-the-line pass that could be used on one of the other haunts, such as Alice in Wonderland Unleashed (think before you venture through the looking glass), Voodoo Bayou (beware of what’s hidden in the swamp) or Shady Grove Memorial Hospital (where you never want to be a patient). Also not to be missed were four scare zones: Hellbilly Hollow (what’s behind those cornstalks?), Fear Fest (full of demented clowns), Deadlight District (a hangout for crazed zombies) and The Welcoming/Departing (will you make it through the Kennywood entrance/exit tunnel?).
The Open Body Buffet was not misnamed!
Photo: April Lucas. View full-sized image.
An evening ITOT was scheduled on Jack Rabbit, an ACE Coaster Classic and ACE Roller Coaster Landmark. The other wood Landmark Coasters, Racer and Thunderbolt, were open as was Sky Rocket (Premier Rides) at the front of the park. Also scheduled was an optional dinner meetup at the all-you-can-eat Open Body Buffet in the End Zone Cafe in Steelers Country. It may sound creepy, but the food was good, and the break allowed everyone to refuel, relax and recharge.
It was a warm Saturday night, and crowds were heavy.
Photo: April Lucas. View full-sized image.
Photo: April Lucas. View full-sized image.
The last ITOT of the evening was — no surprise — The Phantom’s Revenge. Most attendees didn’t wait until the ITOT time to line up because of the crowds; no one wanted to miss a night ride on the take-no-prisoners ravine coaster that inspired this event. The Phantom was flying through the dark and fog and reminded everyone why this event is appropriately named.
Attendees were grateful to the ACE Western Pennsylvania regional rep team who planned the event and to Ruby and all the Kennywood staff for their generosity.
— Lee Ann Draud, ACE News Managing Editor
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