Kennywood to retire 4 rides, including Kangaroo
When Kennywood opens next spring, four rides will be gone.
The West Mifflin park announced Tuesday the Kangaroo, Paratrooper, Bayern Kurve and the Volcano are being retired.
“Any time you are making decisions like this, it is very difficult,” said park spokesman Nick Paradise. “But with what the industry is facing in this day and age, we are looking closely at everything.”
He said the biggest challenge is getting parts for the attractions as well as the day-to-day maintenance of older rides.
“We have to balance history and tradition with economics and realities, and the reality is the parks have to make some hard decisions right now, like so many other businesses and families,” Paradise said.
He said the Kangaroo is the last of its kind in operation. That has made that decision even more difficult. It was introduced in 1962. The Paratrooper was added in 1976, and the Volcano in 1978. The Bayern Kurve has come and gone several times. It was operating from 1994-2004 and then removed and brought back in 2009.
“It had a lengthy rehabilitation,” Paradise said.
Even in a National Historic Landmark, change is a constant at Kennywood. In the past three years, we've invested more in new attractions than at any previous point in the park's storied history. pic.twitter.com/2YlT4H6c1U
— Kennywood Park (@Kenny_Kangaroo) November 3, 2020
The empty areas will be temporarily used for additional seating and green space. Kennywood plans to add more attractions eventually, but park officials will wait until the pandemic is over, Paradise said.
He said Idlewild & SoakZone and Sandcastle waterpark in Homestead are in similar situations. Idlewild will retire certain attractions.
There are no longer definite plans for the Bombs Away waterslide at Sandcastle. It was supposed to open this past summer, but it’s now on hold.
Paradise said he fully expects the Steel Curtain roller coaster to reopen at some point. The Steelers Experience is still on hold because it was supposed to be an interactive, touchable attraction, so social distancing could present a problem, he said.
“We continue to work through these tough times,” he said. “There are high hopes for the park for next season and to get through all of this. This is an unprecedented time. Everything we do has been done with creating a positive park experience in mind for our visitors.”
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region’s diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of “A Daughter’s Promise.” She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
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