Not to detract from the sweet video posted earlier today (stop reading this, go watch Bart's video!), but I couldn't wait to gush about our weekend trip to Kennywood. On Saturday, I got an email from my undergrad saying he wouldn't be in Monday, his family had planned their annual trip to Kennywood. And it sounded like such a good idea, we decided to go Sunday.
Kennywood is a historic amusement park, minutes away from our apartment. They've got old classic rides like the Whip, and a Grand Carousel, some new fast thrill rides and coasters, and some old wooden coasters. I've heard people use this as a selling point, but I find "Historic Wooden Roller Coaster" lacks a certain appeal. There are actually several places in the park on the National Historic Registry, which gives the place a classic feel.
I cannot lie, I spent a good chunk of the day thinking "this is like at Silverwood, but smaller." True of the whole park, the log ride, the paratrooper, the ice cream, the lagoon... It probably isn't though- I should probably just never go back to Silverwood and ruin my otherwise perfect memories of summers with Nana and Papa in that park.
But it isn't all reminiscing- two of the fast roller coasters are built to descend down a steep cliff at the edge of the park. They send you hurtling at a thousand miles an hour off what looks like the point of no return only to slam your brains and stomach in ultra G force turns. I laughed and screamed so much I was hoarse today. Matt mostly just laughed - he is too stoic for screaming.
We got there shortly after opening, started riding- enjoyed greasy handcut fries and hand-dipped (ie greasy) corn-dogs -followed by a period of low G forces to get our tummies in-line- and rode until almost 10, when the ride we waited so patiently to get to the front of was closed because of the lightening.
We are so good at having fun.
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Oh man, Silverwood. I've been on more looping, twisting, crazy, backwards, flying, no-seat roller coasters than I could count in my adult life, but I never went on the corkscrew. As much as I'd like to think the corkscrew will forever remain a symbol of the unmet challenge, I think that if I ever went back there, I would go on that ride pretty easily. Look, I grew up!
Also, 'historical coasters' are not great. There's a couple of those at 6 flags in LA that are *punishing*. The turns are all jerky and feel designed to cause damage. It makes me wonder if they have just not aged well or if prehistoric coaster designers viewed the riders as 'the enemy'.
-N
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