Kennywood Park

In 1818, the original track of ground was purchased by Charles K. Kenny.  He purchased it for five pounds, ten shillings, six pence, and a barrel of whiskey.  In the 1860s, this land became a popular picnic spot for local residents.  Kenny's Grove was situated twelve miles from Pittsburgh.

At the turn of the century, trolley parks became very popular.  In 1898, the Monongahela Street Railroad Company built a trolley park at Kenny's Grove.  "Kennywood" was the name for this trolley park, chosen by Andrew Mellon.  Kennywood's first structures were the Dance Pavilion, Casino, and the Merry-Go-Round building.

Kennywood Park is very historical.  In July of 1775, General Braddock and four hundred fifty-six soldiers stopped by what is now the Jack Rabbit before entering Fort Duquesne.  Braddock was killed and most of his troops died in a French and Indian battle.  In the 1960s, a historical marker was placed on Kennywood Boulevard.

Kennywood's first ride was a beautiful, hand carved-three row merry-go-round.  All of the animals were stationary because "jumping mechanisms" hadn't been invented.  There were winged chariots and a brass ring machine.  Sixteen large standing animals were on the outside row.  G.A. Dentzel's son, William, manufactured a four row merry-go-round that is still used today.

Kennywood's Old Mill was built in 1901.  It had an old-fashion mill wheel which propelled small boats through dark, mysterious tunnels.  The Old Mill was renamed and rethemed many times until it was completed in the 1920s.

The Pippin was built in the late 1920s and was completed in 1924.  It was the third high-speed roller coaster built by Kennywood Park, and it was designed by John Miller.  It was renamed to the Thunderbolt and is called by that today.  The track is three thousand, two hundred fifty feet long and the train reaches a speed of 33 miles per hour.  The final drop is 95 feet long.

The Steel Phantom was a high-speed looping coaster with the longest drop of 225 feet.  It took riders through a vertical loop, a boomerang, and a corkscrew.  In 2002, the Steel Phantom was rebuilt and renamed to the Phantom's Revenge. 

Kennywood is a beautifully landscaped amusement park.  It is known as  "America's Finest Traditional Amusement Park."  This park has also been a designated and state historical landmark.