Taking a leap: The Kangaroo returns to Kennywood
The Kangaroo will jump again.
Kennywood announced Saturday that the iconic ride returns at 3 p.m. Sunday. Season pass holders can ride early starting at 11 a.m.
“Guests asked for it to come back, and we decided to bring what we believe is the last ride of its kind in the world back, better than ever,” said Mark Pauls, general manager of the West Mifflin park. “People weren’t happy it was gone.”
Fans immediately expressed sadness with the Kangaroo being retired in 2020 along with the Paratrooper, the Bayern Kurve and the Volcano.
Kennywood management conducted a survey of customers last year and found they wanted to Kangaroo up and running again versus having a new attraction.
The park reached out to Premier Rides, Inc. based in Baltimore, Md., a company that manufactures amusement park rides. In their Cincinnati, Ohio factory the company rebuilt the Kangaroo.
Pauls visited the factory, even sitting in one of the cars. There have been challenges to getting parts for older rides, Pauls said. Pauls said they had to navigate some supply chain issues, which is partly why it didn’t open when the park did in mid-April.
He got to watch part of the process, which included making updates to the design on a computer versus how the original drawings were done by hand in the 1960s.
The Kangaroo originally debuted in 1962.
It wasn’t officially considered a roller coaster. But creator John Norman Bartlett dubbed it a “Flying Coaster” due to the single, sharp slope in its circular track that would move its cars up into the air, according to Kennywood.
Kennywood created a web series for fans to follow the work of the ride.
“The designers were able to see every detail and small part of the ride,” Pauls said. “They could twist the cars and see them from every angle.”
The entire ride was taken apart. The seats were changed to meet current amusement park operating standards, Pauls said.
The Kangaroo is a ride for guests of all ages.
The ride lasts a little over a minute.
There are eight cars and three to four people to a seat.
“It’s the perfect transitional ride for kids who want more than a merry-go-round but aren’t ready for the big thrill rides,” Paradise said.
“There is something nostalgic about this ride,” said Kennywood spokesman Nick Paradise. “It’s the last of its kind. We are bringing it back with a fresh twist on a classic ride. People have been raving about it coming back. It’s considered a centerpiece of the park.”
The ride returns to its same spot. Some nearby trees have been removed to allow for a larger display of the metal backdrop, which has been re-created showcasing the Kangaroo shaped details. It lights up at night and the kangaroos appear to be dancing across the back of the structure.
Just like the Kangaroo ride will be once again.
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region's diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of "A Daughter's Promise." She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
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