In 1898, the Monongahela Street railway Company leased a rustic picnic grove known as Kenny's Grove.  Kenny's Grove was originally opened as something to increase business on the trolly lines by offering rides, games, band concerts, food, and a picnic grove.  These trolly parks also offered a getaway from the daily life of guest.  Their investment was a great success!

      As Kennywood grew, so did it's rides.  In 1921, the Jack Rabbit with it's famous "Double Dip" was created by John A. Miller.  The Jack rabbit is the only remaining coaster anywhere to have a double dip, or "camle back", as it was known in the vernacular of ride engineers in that day.  The configuration has been left unchanged for 85 years!  It is one of the best coasters in the entire park.    

      Later, in 1924, the Pippin was built by John A. Miller.  This high-speed wooden roller coaster was the predecessor of the Thunderbolt.  The Thunderbolt is the coaster that replaced the Pippin, but still kept the fantastic ravine structure.  The changes made to the Pippin included several circles around the front section of the entrance, and a few added hills.  The Thunderbolt was completed on March 27, 1968.

      Kennywood's first steel coaster was added in 1980 and called the Laser Loop.  The Laser Loop's Shuttle Launch System blasted riders out of the station at 54 miles per hour in 3.8 seconds.  It then shot into a huge loop and finally climbed a 139 foot hill, and then did the whole ride again, but in reverse!  The Laser Loop's constant maintanance and long lines forced the park to close it in 1990.  It was then sold to La Feria Chapultepec Magico, a park in Mexco City.  It re-opened in 1994.

      In 1993, construction began on Kennywood's new project, Lost Kennywood. This new addition to the park would have a centerpiece ride called the Pittsburgh Plunge. This water ride would take riders up a hill of 50 feet, and then drop their boat down a hill into a pool of water where they got soaked. This addition to the park would also consist of many more attractions such as the whip, wave swinger, and the Roll-O-Plane. Lost Kennywood opened in 1995 and was an instant success. The landscaping and rides are amazing. In fact, they continued to add onto Lost Kennywood with more rides.

      On May 10, 1991 Kennywood Park opened the Steel Phantom. This $4.5 million dollar roller coaster would take 28 passengers per car rushing towards the Thunderbolt at speeds of 80 miles per hour. Its highest drop is 225 feet, which is the second hill, not the first because the second hill drops into a ravine. Although this ride had two enormous hills, this scream machine blended nicely into the park. Everyone, including the management of the park were extremely happy with the Steel Phantom. It was more reliable than the Laser Loop and also had quicker lines.