Kennywood, Sandcastle And Idlewild Announce Opening Date Of July 11
WEST MIFFLIN (KDKA) - Kennywood announced Wednesday morning that they will be opening to the public on July 11.
Once open, the park will be limited to 50 percent capacity and those in attendance over 3 years old will be required to wear masks at all times. Guests will not have to wear masks during swimming activities.
It's the news you've been waiting for: Kennywood will open to the public on Saturday, July 11!
The health and safety of our Guests & Team Members continues to be our top priority. Read all about our new measures and plans for this summer: https://t.co/u401CN2Ajr pic.twitter.com/Aox0rMSv2s
— Kennywood Park (@Kenny_Kangaroo) June 10, 2020
Every guest will have their temperature checked upon entrance and those with a temperature of 100.4 or above will denied entry.
"Anyone with a temperature of 100.4 or higher, they won't be able to visit that day, along with the rest of their party. We will work with them to find a day when they can return when they are well," Kennywood Director of Public Relations Nick Paradise said.
Reservations must be made on Kennywood's website and those reservations will begin on June 17.
For more information on the 2020 season at Kennywood, head to their website.
Idlewild and SoakZone will also be opening its gates on July 11.
It's the news you've been waiting for, Idlewild and SoakZone will open to the public on Saturday, July 11! The health and safety of our Guests and Team Members continues to be our top priority. Read all about our new measures and plans for this summer. https://t.co/VwCNzBQXbW pic.twitter.com/1Hc2mJtMfE
— Idlewild & SoakZone (@idlewildpark) June 10, 2020
In addition, Sandcastle will also open on July 11.
For more on their health and safety guidelines and ticketing policies, visit this link.
Sandcastle Waterpark will open to the public on Saturday, July 11!
The health and safety of our Guests & Team Members continues to be our top priority. Read all about our new measures and plans for this summer: https://t.co/ksfDSRGh2K pic.twitter.com/wAu7w7sqAc
— Sandcastle Waterpark (@Sandcastlepgh) June 10, 2020
Both parks will also have limiting capacity, social distancing and touch-free payment, like Kennywood.
There will be no walking up to the park's gates and buying a ticket this year. In order to control capacity, all three parks are using their websites to have parties sign up in advance.
Paradise says social distancing will be everywhere, "that will extend to the rides, the restaurants and inside other buildings as well."
So expect to see empty seats on rides for social distancing. And as for the length of lines?
"There will be most likely fewer people in line in some instances. But the actual length will be longer because we have that 6 feet social distance between travel parties," Paradise said.
Also, expect the empty and reloading times for each ride to be just a little longer because "We're going to do a cleaning between every cycle of the high-touch areas. And every two hours, each ride will be shut down for a deeper cleaning," Paradise said.
With less than a month before opening day, the crews – who have been idled by coronavirus restrictions for the past couple months – are hurrying to try and get everything ready.
Paradise says the goal is to have all the rides operating on opening day. Paradise says they call it "phase one."
"There are some rides that might be at a later point as we focus on just getting the park to an operational standpoint. Most rides and attractions, we are looking at phase one," Paradise said.
But some attractions that involve a lot of touching will not be opening at all.
"That's the 4D theater, the Skycoaster, the soft play area inside Thomas Town, and the Steelers Experience building, so those won't open at all this year," Paradise said.
All three parks will have a Friends & Family Day on July 6, and Season Passholder Previews from July 7-10 before opening to the general public the next day.
Kennywood is also extending season passes through the entire summer season of 2021.
