Penn Hills Potpourri

Kennywood Park

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Click on the Kennywood sign to go to Kennywood Park.

Some of my fondest memories as a youth included the excitement and anticipation of the Kennywood picnic. We who went to Penn Hills schools in those days, still remember carrying our money in envelopes to school to buy our picnic tickets. Then on picnic day, we rode school buses to the park. We would meet up with our families at the covered picnic grounds, leave our food filled baskets on the tables (no one would consider stealing anything), and ride until our tickets ran out. I wish for my children such wonderful and heartfelt memories. I will forever hold those memories as priceless treasures...   

Sent in by Vince Capezzuto
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Marla Michaux enjoying an eventful day at Kennywood!

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My Husband Danny finally after 8 years of asking brought me and my older sister to Kennywood for my 48th BD.  It was a blast.  What a relaxing park environment.  I have never been to an amusement park that had so much shade, family excitement and still have the serenity of family and fun. It is an amazing park and I want to return again in a year whenever i can enjoy all the rides.  I only rode the Merry go round due to having to have major surgery in September so we plan on returning and I enjoying the rides with my hubby and sister.  Here is a pic of me and my hubby. Thanks for an enjoyable amusement park wih such nostalga and class. Brenda Meyers

Here are 4 "oldie but goodie" pictures of Kennywood in the 50's and early to mid 60's. The couple is my Mom and Dad, both deceased now, but I'm sure will be happy that their photos are on this site! We grew up in Belle Vernon and I remember going to Kennywood at least every July for "Community Picnic Day", where all the towns got together. I would save up for a month and buy a new outfit to wear. loved Kennywood and have great memories,but didn't realize how much I forgot until recently viewing this site. Thank you,
Monica Stancato Kimbler of Summerville, SC

Albert, Debbi, Monica, and Abbie Stancato
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Monica and Abbie on the Swan, Debbi and Mom aside
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Monica Stancato on the Turtle
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Dorothy and Albert Stancato, 1951
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From left to right: Bill Biernacki, his sister Patty Biernacki, from Brackenridge, Pa and and their cousin Richard Gouttiere, from Natrona, Pa.. Bill was about 12, Patty and Richard were 9. Photo was taken on Polish Day or PPG Day. You had to climb a big hill after departing from the train. Boy, those were the days!

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Syndi and Jannie circa 1962

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Dave Wempa's first horsey ride

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Georgie Condron at Kennywood Park, circa 1915 Courtesy of PHHS Class of 1969

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I found this ticket while remodeling my old house near Swissvale, Pa. The ticket was inside a wall and in like new condition. It is from 1933. Mark Stefanides '76
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Here is a 1990 ticket. Notice the differences, and yet many similarities! Mark Stefanides '76

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Here's the Trbovich Family from Tilford Road in Penn Hills at Kennywood in 1922.  My grandmother Mary Trbovich Sabock is the girl with the coats over her arm.  Looks like it might be near the Jack Rabbit or Racers or near the Merry-Go-Round pavilion. Donna Binkley '70

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Postcard of The Kennywood pool at night, circa 1920.

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Noah's Ark was built in 1936 and remodeled in 1996. (Ever since the gorilla scared my daughter Sarah at 4 years old, she never goes in there. She's 12 now!)

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This is the entrance area to Kennywood. Note the LAFF IN THE DARK which was removed from the park in the late 60's to make room for the new, and ultra modern, Turnpike ride. Mark Stefanides '76

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Remember this? This was a very famous Kennywood "dark ride" during the mid to late 60's...  In the early part of the 1975 season, The Ghost Ship burned to the ground due to some faulty wiring. Fire dept's from Munhall and West Mifflin pumped the water from the Kennywood lake to extinguish the fire.  The Ghost Ship stood next to the entrance to kiddieland..  Mark Stefanides '76
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The Rockets circled above the row boats...

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This was the SAFARI ride at Kennywood Park. This ride was changed to LaCachot (The Dungeon) in the late 60's. The 20 ft. tall animated Jungle Warrior standing on the overhang of the ride used to bend over at the waist and say " OOOOON GOWA "  It was GREAT !!! Mark Stefanides '76

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This was the Swan ride at Kiddie Land (Kennywood). Mother Goose in the background was the Kiddies restroom. Mark Stefanides '76

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Everybody loves The Potato Patch fries! Courtesy Kennywood Connection

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The Turnpike opened in 1966 near the Old Mill. It replaced the Laff in the Dark.
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The Turtle

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Photographer: Will Johannson

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"This is a shot I took during a 1996 visit to Kennywood. Kenny  Kangaroo is trying to "keep his head" during his ride on the Thunderbolt!" Mark Stefanides '76

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When you get to this sign, you know you are entering the middle of the park. The water's right in front of you, skee ball is behind you, the merry-go-round on your left, and the shooting gallery and roller coasters are on your right. Childhood was simply magical.

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The Merry-go-Round at night. Courtesy of Kennywood Connection

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This is the front and back view of a pack of matches from the park (circa 1946). Note "Dance to the Nation's Best Bands".  In it's day Kennywood had a dance hall (which burned down in the 50's). Big name bands would play there regularly (Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey etc).  Servicemen during WWII would be given free passes to the park on weekends, and the Dance hall was the "hot spot" to spend the time.
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This is an Eat-n-Park placemat highlighting Kennywood's famous rollercoaster "dips".
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Courtesy Kennywood Connection

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The Racer was built in 1927.
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Photo of the Racers courtesy of Mike's Historic Amusement Parks

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The Jackrabbit was built in 1920 by John Miller for $50,000

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The Jackrabbit

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Here's the dip on the Thunderbolt that swoops right past the crowd. Photo courtesy of Kennywood Connection.

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Cowboy Joe makes another friend!

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The bridge over the paddle boats "lake" near the Midway circa mid 1960's Mark Stefanides '76


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Photographer: Joe Cernelli

The Raging Rapids
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Photographer: Joe Cernelli

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The new face of Kennywood

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The front gate.

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Boy watching at the fountain.

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The Merry-Go-Round gets a face lift.

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The Merry-Go-Round never looked better.

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Since 1898....Oh I love this place!

Shot from the Kennywood Mall Parking lot,
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in mid February, '99; 9' with a -20 windchill

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Sweet dreams are made of these....

Click here to take the Kennywood Quiz!

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 us at PennHillsPa@yahoo.com with any pictures of Kennywood, old or new, that you would like to contribute, and we will add them to this page. Thanks! Webmaster

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