Kennywood

Kennywood
Location4800 Kennywood Boulevard, West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, U.S.
StatusOperating
OpenedMay 30, 1898; 126 years ago (May 30, 1898)[1][2]
OwnerPalace Entertainment
(Parques Reunidos)
Slogan"America's finest traditional amusement park!"
Operating seasonApril to December
Area80 acres (32.4 ha)
Attractions
Total45
Roller coasters8
Water rides2
Websitewww.kennywood.com
Kennywood Park
Kennywood is located in Pennsylvania
Kennywood
Kennywood is located in the United States
Kennywood
LocationWest Mifflin, Pennsylvania
Coordinates40°23′15″N 79°51′48″W / 40.38750°N 79.86333°W / 40.38750; -79.86333
Area80 acres (32.4 ha)
Built1899
ArchitectGeorge S. Davidson
NRHP reference No.87000824
Significant dates
Added to NRHPFebruary 27, 1987[4]
Designated NHLDOctober 9, 1960[5]
Designated PHMCAugust 5, 1992[3]

Kennywood is an amusement park which is located in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, just southeast of Pittsburgh. The park opened on May 30, 1898, as a trolley park attraction at the end of the Mellon family's Monongahela Street Railway.[1][2]

It was purchased in 1906 by F. W. Henninger and Andrew McSwigan, both of whom later formed the family-owned Kennywood Entertainment Company. The company later sold Kennywood, along with four other parks, in 2007 to Parques Reunidos, an international entertainment operator based in Spain.[6]

The amusement park features various structures and rides dating back to the early 1900s. Along with Rye Playland Park, it is one of two amusement parks in the United States designated as a National Historic Landmark. Kennywood is also one of thirteen trolley parks in the United States that remain in operation.

  1. ^ a b "New Pleasure Resort Will Be Established; It Will Be Known as Kennywood Park, and Its Projectors Expect To Make It Popular and Attractive". The Pittsburgh Post. December 18, 1898. The Monongahela Street Railway Company has closed a deal by which it becomes the owner of what is known as the Kenny farm, about one mile from the bridge connecting Homestead and Braddock...It is expected to have the place open by May 30, 1898. It will be known as Kennywood park.
  2. ^ a b "Kennywood Park Opens". Pittsburgh Gazette. May 31, 1899. Kennywood park, on the line of the Monongahela street railway, was opened formally yesterday to an enormous crowd.
  3. ^ "Kennywood – PHMC Historical Markers". Historical Marker Database. Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission. Archived from the original on December 7, 2013. Retrieved December 10, 2013.
  4. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  5. ^ "Kennywood Park". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Archived from the original on January 10, 2009. Retrieved July 2, 2008.
  6. ^ News Release (December 11, 2007). "New Chapter in Kennywood Entertainment History Announced" (PDF). Kennywood Entertainment Company. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 11, 2008.