The Interpreter Posted December 10, 2007 Share Posted December 10, 2007 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Kennywood Amusement Park Announces Ghostwood Estate New Dark Ride for 2008! West Mifflin, PA – Kennywood began its gift giving on Saturday, December 8, by announcing specifics of its new ride for 2008, a state-of-the-art dark ride named Ghostwood Estate, to attendees at the Great Ohio Coaster Club holiday party in Columbus, Ohio. Though the coaster fans were the first to hear the official announcement, rumors of the ride were already finding a home in cyber space and beyond. The eight room haunted house replaces the Gold Rusher, which was retired this past August. "Ghostwood Estate is clearly an indication of Kennywood's commitment to dark rides," explains Jerome Gibas, Kennywood General Manager. "It combines the newest technology available – a trackless conveyance system with cars programmed and monitored by a computer and includes over 200 interactive targets and numerous CGIs (Computer Generated Images)." Guests will be armed with blasters, developed by LaserStar, Florida. The blasters provide guests the opportunity to compete with others in the vehicle by targeting haunted characters throughout the estate. Each vehicle is also equipped with four individual scoreboards. Designing all haunted effects is Halloween Productions Inc. (HPI) of St. Louis, MO. Kennywood first became accounted with Larry Kirchner, HPI president, in 2001 when it purchased three walk-through Halloween mazes as a base for its now hugely successful Phantom Fright Nights. Jeff Checcio, Director of Maintenance Administration, says of Kirchner, "He's extremely talented and knowledgeable – certainly one of the founding fathers of today's Halloween industries." The $2 million project is expected to be complete for Kennywood's opening in May of 2008. # # # ADDITIONAL INFORMATION See http://gocc.coasternewsnetwork.com for further information about the Great Ohio Coaster Club. Members of the Darkride And Funhouse Enthusiasts (a.k.a. DAFE) have voted Kennywood their favorite Dark Attraction Park for the past six years. DAFE members were invited to a wake and one last ride on the Gold Rusher, a 25 year old dark ride removed from the park at close of the 2007 season. ETF Ride Systems, Holland, created the ride's trackless system. Sensors are located in the floor to guide each vehicle. The blasters are from LaserStar, Florida. Pittsburgh based Design Alliance designed the massive four-sided haunted façade for Ghostwood Estate. ABOUT KENNYWOOD Kennywood first opened in 1898 as a "trolley park" at the end of the Monongahela Street Railway. Today it is family owned and operated by Kennywood Entertainment, western Pennsylvania's largest provider of summer fun. Often regarded as America's finest traditional amusement park, Kennywood is internationally known among thrill seekers and amusement park enthusiasts for its collection of classic rides, state-of-the-art thrill rides, and world-class roller coasters and a wide variety of food, games, gardens, and live entertainment. For more information please call 412.461.0500 or visit http://www.kennywood.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoddaH1994 Posted December 11, 2007 Share Posted December 11, 2007 Yep... Kennywood's on my "to do" list this coming year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hauntguy Posted December 11, 2007 Share Posted December 11, 2007 I told you! HAHA! I'm really excited about this too... this is the same company the rethemed the flume to Garfields Nightmare. I'll have to give Larry a call, see if I can't come and "paint" a little... hahaha. -Hauntguy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flightoffear1996 Posted December 11, 2007 Share Posted December 11, 2007 This sounds like a cheap version of M.I.B. and an expensive version of Scooby Doo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoastersRZ Posted December 11, 2007 Share Posted December 11, 2007 Well, considering that Kennywood is a much smaller operation then what Kings Island is, and their dark ride will be more elaborate than Kings Island`s says something. That is part of the reason everyone bemoans the fact that we lost Phantom Theater to cardboard cutouts that comprise the majority of the scenes in Scooby Doo and the Haunted Castle. I`ve never made it to Kennywood. It seems like a fantastic park. Hopefully I will get there soon. Although not sure if it will happen in 2008. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoddaH1994 Posted December 11, 2007 Share Posted December 11, 2007 I told you! HAHA! I'm really excited about this too... this is the same company the rethemed the flume to Garfields Nightmare. I'll have to give Larry a call, see if I can't come and "paint" a little... hahaha. -Hauntguy Yeah... if anyone makes it out there, don't waste your time with Garfield. It's like Scooby Doo and the Haunted Castle... but bad... really bad.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ragerunner Posted December 11, 2007 Share Posted December 11, 2007 quick question and a OT. Does Kennywood sell Season passes to the park? I was not able to find any information on their website. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoddaH1994 Posted December 11, 2007 Share Posted December 11, 2007 Kennywood doesn't... and for good reason too. Let's just say that West Miff isn't exactly the best of neighborhoods.. However, Mary Lou Rosemery did allude to the fact that they're looking into it at the GOCC event. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoastersRZ Posted December 11, 2007 Share Posted December 11, 2007 And of course since Kennywood is being sold, who knows whether or not the new owners will begin to offer season passes or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flightoffear1996 Posted December 11, 2007 Share Posted December 11, 2007 ^ That may be the downfall of Kennywood. I thought it was free to get in there and you had to pay per ride. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoastersRZ Posted December 11, 2007 Share Posted December 11, 2007 That does not necessarily mean the downfall of Kennywood. At Coney Island, it is free to walk around the grounds of the park. (You must, however, pay to enter the pool area). Season pass holders where lanyards when on the dry side of the park. We, as ride ops, then had to check the picture on the passes before the guests entered the ride area to make sure they were not swapping passes. We were also given the authority to confiscate passes if the person using the pass was not the person pictured on the pass. The pass could then be collected the following day at guest relations. If a pass was misused three times, the pass in question would be forfeited without refund to the guest. All in all, the system seems to work fairly well at Coney. They might try a similar system at Kennywood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flightoffear1996 Posted December 11, 2007 Share Posted December 11, 2007 Yees but would loading the guest take extra time if you had to check season pass holders. Then I am sure you got people that have it in there pocket and need to dig it out ect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoastersRZ Posted December 11, 2007 Share Posted December 11, 2007 Yes, there are those guests that try to get on without showing us their season passes, and they have to dig for them in their bag or purse. Then there are those that try and say that so and so over there has there pass. Bottom line is, we have to see the picture on their pass in order to let them ride. Yes, there might be a slight delay at times loading, but overall, most people wear their passes on lanyards, so they are always in plain site. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoddaH1994 Posted December 11, 2007 Share Posted December 11, 2007 Kennywood's admission is like $15 during the week and $20 on weekends and you can get an all day ride pass for like $5. It's been like that for about 10 years when they started charging $.50 for admission. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest faceoff Posted December 12, 2007 Share Posted December 12, 2007 Kennywood's admission prices are- Funday ticket $32.00 Jr. funday ticket $19.00 Senior ticket- $15.00. Night rider ticket (after 5pm) is $19.00. Parking is $6.00 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hauntguy Posted December 14, 2007 Share Posted December 14, 2007 Here is a pic that Larry (owner of Halloween Productions/Dark Rider Inc.) sent to me of the new facade for the dark ride. It's the companies computer rendering but it still looks pretty cool! As soon as he sends more I'll post them here. I'm excited about this new ride. -Hauntguy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted December 14, 2007 Author Share Posted December 14, 2007 Kennywood's admission prices are- Funday ticket $32.00 Jr. funday ticket $19.00 Senior ticket- $15.00. Night rider ticket (after 5pm) is $19.00. Parking is $6.00 Actually, virtually ALL the parking is free. One need only pay for parking if one wants to park VERY close to the gate. Or at least that's the way it has been until the forthcoming sale . . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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