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Kennywood Amusement Park

Kennywood Park
Kennywood

Hometowne Designs &  Cat's Meow Village Customs

PG45  Carousel

K609  Cotton Candy Wagon

K605  Kiddieland Entrance

  252  Lion Circus Wagon

K613  Midway

K608  Mushroom Water Fountain

 

K601  Kennywood Park Sign,  (sold out)

K603  Racer Roller Coaster,  (sold out)

K604  Carousel,  (sold out)

K606  Ferris Wheel in Kiddieland,  (sold out)

K607  Jack Rabbit Roller Coaster,  (sold out)

K610  Railroad Station,  (sold out)

K611  Cowboy Joe,  (sold out)

K612  Parkside Terrace Cafeteria,  (sold out)

Price each + S&H
Prices subject to change without notice

Free shipping when order over
to one address

Information & history on rear of plaques:

K602 Noah's Ark at Kennywood Park
One of three in the world.
Erected 1936 year of the great Pittsburgh flood.
West Mifflin, Pennsylvania

K603 Racer,  built in 1927 and designed by John Miller,  who also did the Jack Rabbit,  the Racer is one of world's unique roller coasters.   It gives the illusion of two separate tracks,  but in reality it has one continuous track.   Thus the train that begins on the right finishes on the left,  and visa versa.   Only two other continuous track racing coasters were built in the Twenties.   They are in Blackpool,  England and Mexico City.   Children must be 46 inches tall to ride.

K604 Grand Carousel,  hand crafted in 1925 by the artisans of William Dentzel Co.,  this merry-go-round was intended for the Philadelphia Sesqui-Centenial Exposition.   But it was finished late and purchased by Kennywood in 1926.   A new structure was provided,  but the Wurlitzer Band Organ from the previous carousel was retained and still entertains with the same quaint music.

K605 Kiddieland,  consists of 14 rides especially designed for young children.   It has been in its present location since 1927.

K607 Jack Rabbit Designed by one of the all-time great coaster builders,  John A. Miller,  the "Rabbit" opened in 1927.   It is a classic wooden roller coaster and the only remaining coaster anywhere to have a double dip,  a drop of 70 feet at a 45 degree angle,  or "camel back" as it is known in the vernacular of ride engineers in that day.   The configuration is virtually unchanged in 75 years.   Children must be 36 inches tall to ride.

K610 Olde Kennywood Miniature Railroad,  although the cars have changed in appearance,  the engines of the trains are gasoline-powered and look much like they did at the New York World's Fair of 1939-1940.   The train known there as the Gimbals Flyer,  and was brought to Kennywood at the end of World War II in 1945.   It has had many themes and names and at present shows themes of Western Pennsylvania History.

K611 Cowboy Joe  A favorite photo spot.   A 1950 addition - original script - "Swapin Yarns with Cowboy Joe."

K612 Parkside Terrace,  A favorite dining and meeting point erected in 1899,  "The Casino" as it was known at the time,  is the oldest park structure.

K613 Turn of the Century Midway,  Erected in 1998,  marking "100 years of fun" and featuring an old-fashioned side show atmosphere.

The above information was gleaned from the
Cat's Meow Village, F.J. Designs

History

Founded in 1898 as a small trolley park near Pittsburgh,  Kennywood was begun by the Monongahela Street Railway Company,  which was controlled by Andrew Mellon.   Today's Kennywood still contains two major buildings dating from 1898 - a carousel pavilion and a restaurant (originally the casino).

Many changes occurred between 1900 and 1930.   The Great Depression from 1930 to 1935 was especially hard on the park.   Dancing helped keep the park in business during this period as great dance bands played in the park from 1930 to 1950.   Kennywood prospered in the second half of 1930's as new rides including Noah's Ark (1936) were added.

During the Second World War period,  the park couldn't add new rides,  but it did buy a used ferris wheel and a,  still operating,  miniature train.

In the 1950's school picnics grew by leaps and bounds.   With the 1960's and 1970's came competition from "Disneyland" and other theme parks.   Led by Carl Henninger,  Kennywood decided to spend the money necessary to remain competitive.   In 1968 the Thunderbolt was built,  which was redesigned from the Pippin by resident coaster whiz,  Andy Vittel.   With the Thunderbolt came the designation "The Roller coaster capital of the World."

The 1980's put Kennywood into national prominence with its designation as a National Historic Landmark in 1987.   To keep on track with coasters,  the Laser Loop was added in 1980.

As Kennywood nears the close of the 20th Century,  a balance of change and preservation of tradition continue to be important to its survival.   Keeping the pace as the "coaster capital,"  the Laser Loop was replaced by the new Steel Phantom coaster with the fastest speed of 80 MPH and the longest drop of 225 feet.   Lost Kennywood,  the parks largest expansion ever,  not only added 25% more midway but increased ride capacity considerably.   Kennywood remains,  "America's finist traditional amusement park."

The above information was gleaned from the
Kennywood Park Website