(Image via Kennywood.)

 

Kennywood opened today for the 2016 season. The starring attraction is once again Noah's Ark – now 80 years old and the only Noah's Ark walkthrough "dark ride" left of the dozens built in the early 1900s. The large-scale redesign removed some of the more frightening Indiana-Jones-esque elements from a 1990 renovation, including a "crashing" elevator intro, jumping over pits of skeletons, and a flooding bathysphere.

 

The attraction now once again sports classic animal scenes, old time special effects, and (most importantly to locals) the whale mouth entrance, where entering guests step down the length of his spongey tongue to begin their climb up to the ark.

 

 

Very cool for Kennywood, its fans, and dark ride enthusiasts. Let's just hope The Old Mill Garfield's Nightmare is next!

http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2016/05/03/kennywood-visitors-in-for-a-whale-of-a-time-this-summer/

 

http://www.cleveland.com/travel/index.ssf/2016/05/kennywood_restores_popular_noa.html

 

 

If I had time I'd consider swinging by Kennywood while I'm up in PA in July, but my plans to see the Lake Erie islands pretty much eliminate that option unless I add another day to the trip which I'd rather not do.

I love it. Kennywood knows better than anyone how to operate as both a modern, and historical amusement park.

I'm so excited to check out Noah's Ark again! In the past few years I made sure that I went through the attraction, I loved it as it formerly was and I'm sure I'm going to continue to love it as it is now!

Awesome

So Awesome