As a graduation gift, Matt took me to Kennywood for a day of fun. My niece Emily was excited about the idea of coming to Pittsburgh to go to Kennywood with us. So Nathan and Carol (my brother-in-law and sister-in-law) drove 6 hours from Newtown Pennsylvania to Pittsburgh. It became a family reunion. When it comes to Matt’s family, it’s a long and complicated story that I am often stressed out about. Nevertheless, I cherish and am grateful for all his family because it’s a different experience that a person needs to go through in order to be really mature and responsible. Out of ashes, we are getting stronger after all. Over time, we found out that Nathan, Carole, and Emily are those we want and could include in our life for happy memories. I was glad they came and we had a great time.
This was my second time in 25 years playing at an amusement park, or first time at a real world-class traditional amusement park if not counting the temporary one I went with my parents and sister in 2006 during my senior year of high school. So I was especially happy and excited.
Nathan is a great Father. He pretended not to be scared or didn’t care to be childish so that Emily could have all the fun she wanted with her Daddy. Matt and Carol were kinda Party Poopers. They didn’t play that many programs, but knowing they were there and they were still part of the experience was a great homey feeling. Emily and I loved the Log Jammer and rode about 10 times in a roll. We eventually got pulled over by three pairs of eyes full of love but more of questioning and unbelief at that time.
Actually before this Kennywood trip, my friend Chuck from CMU had lent me several videos about Pittsburgh to watch. Those were series productions that were developed by Rick Sebak from WQED. One of the most memorable was the one about Kennywood. Family wandering and chatting, kids playing, crying, laughing, screaming, eating, resting, and shopping. Kennywood has been a destination for many families during summer for over 100 years.The last sound I can recall in that video was kids’ crying because the park was about to be closed and all the lights started to be turned off, and they just didn’t want to leave……
Beer winning trivia @ Kennywood, Rick Sebak
1. The park first opened in 1898 as a "trolley park" attraction at the end of the Mellon Family’s Monongahela Street Railway. After it was owned and run by the trolley company for about a decade, the park was purchased in 1906 by partner Frederick. W. Henninger and standing manager Andrew McSwigan and thus began the Kennywood Entertainment company that has remained a closely held family business for over 100 years. Since 2007, Kennywood Entertainment has been operated by California-based Palace Entertainment, a subsidiary of Parques Reunidos, an international amusement park company based in Madrid, Spain. Parque Reunidos is in turn a subsidiary of Candover Investments, an investment fund based in the UK. Kennywood was designated a U.S. National Historic Landmarks in 1987. Along with Rye Playland Park in New York, it is one of only two amusement parks listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
2. If you want to understand Pittsburgh as it appears from the outside, Rick Sebak’s documentary films are highly recommended. He has put together eighteen individual special programs that make up what’s called the Pittsburgh History Series, including the very popular 1988 program titled “Kennywood Memories” about this wonderful old amusement park, 8 miles away from downtown Pittsburgh, locating in suburb west Mifflin, a show called “Pittsburgh A to Z, one titled “North Side Story”, and “Things that Aren’t There Anymore”.
Your ID @ Kennywood
1. What’s the operating season for Kennywood? Is it May-October or April-September?
2. How many acres of land does Kennywood sit on? How many rides in total in the park? How many roller coasters? and How many water rides?
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