Here's what's new at Kennywood for the 2024 season
WEST MIFFLIN, Pa. (KDKA) -- With Kennywood set to open for its 126th season on April 20, the park is giving a preview of what guests can expect this year.
Highlights include the new Potato Smash bumper cars, a new bar, a new restaurant and a restored Turtle ride.
The park's classic bumper car ride got a fun upgrade for the new, with 20 new cars modeled after the beloved Potato Patch fries. After a guest vote, the ride has been renamed Potato Smash.
Rick Spicuzza, assistant general manager of Kennywood, said the Potato Smash cars are still making their way from the ride builder in Italy and will be arriving in the next few weeks. But he says the park is very excited for the new take on this old classic.
"We could have easily said, 'Let's put some bumper cars on here and upgrade the bumper cars.' But we are Kennywood," Spicuzza said. "So, we wanted it to be quirky. We wanted it to be cheesy and use that legacy brand of the Potato Patch that we have here, that everybody loves and craves."
The Turtle closed early last season for a little TLC, but when the park reopens, the ride will be back in business. At nearly a century old, the Turtle is the last operating ride of its kind in the world, the park says. The park rebuilt the ride's foundation and gave these metal reptiles a new glow.
"All of the turtles got a brand-new shell," said Spicuzza. "They look really shiny and a new paint job, and new brown leather seats inside just to make it really pop. So, really excited to restore this classic ride at Kennywood."
Other updates to rides include a fresh coat of paint on the Aero 360 seats along with an updated control system and a reimagined Wacky Wheel carousel in Kiddieland.
Guests will have a few new food options this season. The park is partnering with Penn Brewery for Jeeter's Pub, a hometown bar themed around Kennywood's mascot from the 1970s. There will be eight draft beers from Penn Brewery along with charcuterie boards, wings and other pub snacks.
But if you're more interested in food rather than drinks, you may want to check out Carousel Burger Co., the all-new American restaurant in the park's historic Merry-Go-Round pavilion. This eatery features Angus beef burgers and wild and crazy Carousel Shakes.
Kennywood also has a lot of entertainment and events planned for this year. The fan-favorite Bites and Pints Food & Drink Festival returns on Memorial Day weekend and runs every Friday, Saturday and Sunday throughout June. Then in July, the all-new Celebrate Pittsburgh event will take place every Saturday and Sunday, and Kennywood's first-ever drone show will occur on July 20.
When does Kennywood open?
Kennywood will open on April 20 and will be open on Saturdays and Sundays until daily summer operation begins on Memorial Day weekend.
Favorites like Bites and Pints, Celebrate America and Fall Fantasy Parades will return this year, and the season will end with Phantom Fall Fest and Holiday Lights. There will also be a new event for all things yinzer. The park says the Celebrate Pittsburgh event in July will highlight the city's arts, sports, heritage and more.
Kennywood's sister parks Idlewild and SoakZone and Sandcastle will open on May 18 and May 25, respectively. This season will be Sandcastle Waterpark's 35th.