originally posted on 10/27/2025
Photo: Garrett Sauers. View full-sized image.
Anyone who has attended a KennyKon knows that this flagship ACE Western Pennsylvania event at Kennywood (West Mifflin, Pennsylvania) has many traditions. One unwelcome tradition is rain — sometimes a little drizzle, sometimes a downpour. Happily, rain took a holiday from KennyKon XXXVI on August 2, and the 289 attendees from 18 states were blessed with sunny skies and temperatures in the 70s all day.
KennyKon volunteer Ron Mazur reviews the contents of the registration envelope with attendees.
Photo: Austin Krieger. View full-sized image.
During registration, which began at 8:30, attendees picked up their name badges, wrist bands, KennyKon XXXVI collector’s buttons and a mystery ticket. Why a mystery ticket? August 2 was the first day of Kennywood’s annual Fall Fantasy parades, celebrating 75 years in 2025, and the ticket could be entered in a drawing for a seat on the Kennywood trolley. ACE would serve as the grand marshal of the first parade, and 26 lucky attendees would be chosen as trolley riders.
A view of three of Kennywood’s coasters: Jack Rabbit, Racer and The Steel Curtain.
Photo: Sue Yekel. View full-sized image.
Jack Rabbit.
Photo: Austin Krieger. View full-sized image.
The park opened at 11, but scheduled activities began even earlier. At 9:30 attendees lined up for ERT on two classic rides: the ACE Coaster Classic and ACE Roller Coaster Landmark Jack Rabbit, celebrating 105 years at Kennywood, and Kangaroo, the only flying coaster (flat ride) still operating in North America.
Attendees having fun in a Log Jammer boat.
Photo: Jillian Novicki. View full-sized image.
Reminders of events and rides from the past could be found along the Olde Kennywood Railroad tracks.
Photo: Michele Klingensmith. View full-sized image.
Also during ERT, attendees could participate in a behind-the-scenes experience at the back loop of the Olde Kennywood Railroad. There they could walk around the tracks and see up-close reminders of rides and other attractions that were part of Kennywood’s past — a Log Jammer boat, a Turnpike car and the Monkey House, among others.
A last-minute activity in Steelers Country was added to the schedule, during which attendees could participate in a dunk tank fundraiser to benefit Give Kids The World, the charity that provides free visits for children with life-threatening diseases to its village and the theme parks in Orlando. And who was getting dunked? None other than Geno Chamboredon, a maintenance foreman at Kennywood who is well known for his appearance in Rick Sebak's classic documentary “Kennywood Memories.”
The Steel Curtain.
Photo: Sue Yekel. View full-sized image.
Very popular was an hour of ERT on The Steel Curtain, the S&S steel monster with nine inversions, which had been closed all of 2024 for structural maintenance. Shortly after the end of ERT, a group photo was taken in front of the entrance to Steelers Country.
Attendees were free to explore the park and find their favorite rides, but the schedule also included informal takeover times (ITOTs) on various rides. For ITOTs, attendees all meet at the ride’s entrance at a specified time and board the ride as a group. The first one was on the Olde Kennywood Railroad, celebrating 80 years at the park. The Gimbels Flyer engine, beautifully restored, needed two trips to accommodate all the KennyKon attendees. Other ITOTs were on the last-of-its-kind Auto Race, a 95-year-old miniature car ride from Traver Engineering, and Raging Rapids, a rapids ride marking 40 years at the park. Good luck staying dry on this wild ride, but no one cared because it was a sunny day!
Thunderbolt.
Photo: Jenn Fortney. View full-sized image.
Exterminator..
Photo: Sue Yekel collection. View full-sized image.
Coasters not on the ITOT schedule (but not to be missed) were Thunderbolt, the John Miller/Andy Vettel wood Coaster Landmark celebrating 101 years at Kennywood. Lines are always long for The Exterminator, the indoor Reverchon spinning mouse that features crazy rides in the dark. In Kiddieland, Lil’ Phantom, a spunky Molina & Sons steel coaster, welcomed adult riders too.
Regional Rep Bill Linkenheimer III begins the drawing for the trolley seats.
Photo: Austin Krieger. View full-sized image.
A meetup was scheduled at 4 p.m. in Pavilion 8, during which Regional Rep Bill Linkenheimer III and members of the Western Pennsylvania rep team answered questions for new members and for those who were new to ACE events. Attendees began to gather at Pavilions 8 and 9 during this time because complimentary soft drinks were offered, plus they could sit and review the day with friends. The drawing was held for trolley seats, and 26 winners were chosen.
Kennywood mascots Jeeters and Kenny Kangaroo welcomed attendees and posed for photos.
Photo: Connor McCann. View full-sized image.
A picnic dinner began at 5, which consisted of fried chicken, sausages, pasta, mac and cheese and lots of extras, including ice cream for dessert. Wandering through the pavilions were Kennywood mascots Kenny Kangaroo and Jeeters, who enthusiastically posed for photos with attendees. Also present to answer questions were Kennywood staff, including General Manager Ricky Spicuzza, Director of Operations Marie Ruby, Regional Sales Manager Chris Johnson and Regional Content Manager Mark Frazee. Kennywood management has always appreciated ACE’s support and, in turn, is happy to support the region.
Kennywood’s general manager, Ricky Spicuzza, thanked attendees for visiting Kennywood.
Photo: Austin Krieger. View full-sized image.
Linkenheimer welcomed everyone to KennyKon and recognized his regional rep team, ACE and event volunteers and Kennywood officials. He introduced Spicuzza, who thanked attendees for coming and extended a special thanks to Ruby, who was responsible for all the ERT. As for possible changes to the park because of the recent change in ownership from Palace Entertainment to Herschend Family Entertainment, Spicuzza had no definite changes to report. Linkenheimer reminded attendees of the upcoming ACE Western Pennsylvania events and encouraged them to follow the region on social media.
Sky Rocket.
Photo: Dana Doyon. View full-sized image.
Conveniently located near the picnic area was the first evening ITOT on Sky Rocket, from Premier Rides, which first opened for attendees during Coaster Con XXXIII in 2010.
Winners of the KennyKon ticket raffle led the parade in the Kennywood trolley.
Photo: Mark Fluharty. View full-sized image.
Kenny Kangaroo is always present to welcome everyone to the Fall Fantasy parade.
Photo: Dave Hahner. View full-sized image.
It was close to parade time, and because of the great weather and large number of Fall Fantasy Parade band members and their supporters, the park had been crowded all day. People began to gather on the parade route, and attendees made their way to the viewing area in front of Steelers Country to see the bands, floats and Santa waving at the end.
Photo: James Hammer. View full-sized image.
As it grew dark, the park became transformed by thousands of lights on rides and park signs. And speaking of lights, riders on the Racer ITOT noticed that only three letters in Kennywood’s third Coaster Landmark’s name were lit and flashing: ACE!
The Phantom’s Revenge.
Photo: Dana Doyon. View full-sized image.
The Phantom’s Revenge.
Photo: Sue Yekel. View full-sized image.
Because of the crowds, the park closed a little later than the scheduled 10 p.m., but attendees got a full hour of ERT on The Phantom’s Revenge and Turtle. Talk about a study in contrasts! The Phantom, the Arrow/Morgan extreme terrain coaster that is awesome anytime but beyond description at night, flies down the second 228-foot drop at 85 mph, whereas the Turtle’s six turtle-shaped cars travel slowly around a hilly circular track to the sound of “turtle, turtle.” This Traver Engineering tumble bug ride, the last of its kind in the world, has been at Kennywood since 1927 and was refurbished in 2024. Combining these two seriously different rides for ERT demonstrated Kennywood’s appeal as a National Historic Landmark — home to both classic and modern thrill rides.
Photo: Connor McCann. View full-sized image.
KennyKon attendees left the park grateful to the ACE Western Pennsylvania regional rep team and volunteers and to Kennywood for a happy day at the park — and to Mother Nature for the lack of rain.
— Lee Ann Draud, ACE News Editor
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