Kennywood’s oldest operating ride is getting a facelift in 2020. The boat ride near the park’s entrance, which has been themed to “Garfield’s Nightmare” since 2004, will once again regain the moniker of “The Old Mill,” and the “old” ride will be made new again!
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First built in 1901, riders boarded wooden boats that sailed through a narrow wooden channel. The ride theme changed many times over the year, from the original Old Mill to Fairyland Floats, Panama Canal and Rapids Gorge. In the 1970s, it was called Hardheaded Harold’s Horrendously Humorous Haunted Hideaway, and then reverted back to The Old Mill in the 1990s. Garfield’s Nightmare has been the theme for the last 15 years.
Kennywood Spokesman Nick Paradise told TribLive that Kennywood would be “restoring the ride to the retro western theme that’s been remembered by so many over the years, but with plenty of new twists for a whole new generation to enjoy,” and that the move came “based on popular demand.”
Garfield waking up from his Nightmare is not the only change coming to Kennywood this season.
Kennywood’s floral clock, which was removed for Thomas Town construction in 2018, is coming back, but not at its former location. The new clock will be located near the entrance to Lost Kennywood.
The historic Jack Rabbit roller coaster will hit triple digits in 2020, and Kennywood is having a season-long celebration of the coaster’s 100th birthday, complete with a contest in which 100 season passes will be given away. There also will souvenir merchandise and other mementos available and the coaster will sport a 100th birthday logo this year as well.
The Steelers Experience building, part of Kennywood’s new-for-2019 Steelers Country section that debuted last year, anchored by The Steel Curtain, is slated to open. Read more about the Steelers Experience in our interview with JRA’s Rick O’Connell.
Pounce Bounce and the Orbiter have been removed from Kiddieland, where a new seating area is being added.
There are also multiple infrastructure improvements coming to Kennywood, including an information center near Sky Rocket, additional parking booths, improvements to entrance and exit ramps, restroom renovations, and dedicated VIP entrances for Phantom’s Revenge, Jack Rabbit, and Racer.
Kennywood is also proud to be a certified Autism Center. New for the 2020 Season, a Quiet Room will be available for guests under the Lost Kennywood entrance sign (near Noah’s Ark, the Turtle, and Potato Patch). This space was formerly a Phantom’s Revenge Gift Shop.
Kennywood will open April 25 for a Season Passholder Private Event, and then to the public on May 2. For more information, visit the park’s website, and follow Kennywood on social media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
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