‘ EXHILARATING’
Steel Curtain coaster ready and rolling at Kennywood
Some people say they’re going to show up in the wee hours of Saturday morning so they can be among the first members of the general public to ride the Steel Curtain, Kennywood’s record- setting new roller coaster, when the West Mifflin amusement park opens.
After rigorously testing it over 1,000- plus runs last month, the park let members of the media and some others ride it first on Friday morning. TV crews arrived in the dark to set up for the very “First Ride” — scheduled for 6: 30 a. m. — for the dozen people who won Kennywood’s July 2018 online number-scratchoff and word- search contest to decode what its then- secret “Project 412” was going to be.
It was this football- themed coaster, peaking at 220 feet, that is the tallest in Pennsylvania and sets two other records: the world’s tallest coaster inversion — 197 feet — and the most inversions on a North American coaster — nine. Coming out of that highest upsidedown point, the cars drop 205 feet. They hit speeds up to 76 mph on a ride that covers 4,000 feet of track and takes two minutes.
The appropriately named Yellin family, of Zelienople, won the contest twice and scored four seats for the very first ride — mom Jennifer, dad Michael, son A. J. and daughter Kat. While they were yelling during it, they were beaming afterward.
“It’s not scary,” said 14- year- old A. J., the main coaster buff and puzzle solver.
“Exhilarating,” his mom said. “You don’t feel beat up.”
“Smooth,” agreed his dad, who marveled at the view.
“It dominates!” said A. J. as they talked about riding it again.
No one was able to take selfies or videotape the ride because no loose articles are allowed — no phones, cameras, GoPros, smart glasses, purses, even change. Anything loose needs to be stored in a box on the platform or left with someone who’s staying put.
Winners came from as far away as California and Texas.
“I’ve got the wrong team on,” said Justin Doede, of Huron Township, Mich., who wore a Detroit Lions jersey — along with his mom, Denise — as they sat in the last car of the train with “19” on the front. A second train has “33” on the front, as 1933 is the year the Pittsburgh Steelers franchise was founded.
Mr. Doede cheered along with the other 23 First Riders as the recorded voice of Steelers broadcaster Bill Hillgrove announced, “Here we go!” The coaster rattled loudly at it was lifted to launch, and then it thundered off, with the riders screaming.
Afterward, Mr. Doede said, “It was awesome!”
“Boy, that jumps up to top 5!” his mom said.
But Mr. Doede said he needed to ride it again — and again and again — and think about it before he could say where it fits in with the 175 coasters he has ridden. “I would say it’s my favorite ride in Kennywood.”
At one point, he caught a glimpse of the piece of black- andgold superstructure that the workers who built it had signed.
Later in the morning, there was a first ride for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The organization collaborated with Kennywood — in the first such partnership between a pro sports franchise and an amusement park — on the coaster
and the adjacent Steelers Country food and fun area.
Current and former players, including Cam Heyward and John Banaszak, attended a spirited dedication, emceed by Mr. Hillgrove, at the entrance to the new section of the park. Then they and others in the team’s contingent climbed in the football- shaped seats to try the ride.
Steelers Country includes a steel building holding the Steelers Experience, in which participants eventually will be able to play and compete at footballthemed games involving running, throwing footballs, tackling an obstacle course, even climbing a “Terrible Towel” structure.
Next to that, in one of the park’s former picnic pavilions, is the End Zone Cafe, where park visitors will be able to order tailgate- style fare with a twist — burgers stuffed with cheese and bacon, wings, pierogies — to eat inside or outside the adjacent tailgating area.
Except for a gift shop in the Steelers Experience building, where riders exit the new coaster, Steelers Country is not going to be open until later this summer or fall, said Kennywood spokesman Nick Paradise.
He noted that on Saturday, the park may open the gates a bit early — at 10 instead of 10: 30 a. m. — for the expected crowds of people who just can’t wait to ride the new attraction.
Kennywood and the Steelers announced the new roller coaster and park area, located where the Log Jammer ride used to be in the northeast corner of the park, on July 19, 2018. It’s the biggest coaster yet designed by S& S Worldwide.