Can you Imagine Six Flags Kennywood?

It was considered and thankfully laughed at by the owners:

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06071/668640.stm

They did imagine that for a brief period. Premier Parks tried desperately to enter the pennsylvania market, to no avail. I don't think they ever will, either.

I had no idea Kennywood was trying to acquire Geauga Lake. Were they in the market to expand the park... or to eliminate their competition?

Ray P. (who wonders what a KW-owned Geauga Lake would have been like)

Six Flags Kennywood!!!??!?!?!?!?!

Ahhhhhhhhh!!!!! It burns!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm glad Kennywood didn't sell out to SF.

If they had, what would they have called it?

Six Flags South Park. Why? They would've seriously killed Kenny.
:) *** Edited 3/14/2006 1:57:15 PM UTC by FLYINGSCOOTER***

Honestly, in 1997, I doubt anyone could have predicted the Premier Parks vision was going to fail. Those of you saying your happy Kennywood didn't sell out to SF because SF would've ruined the park are nothing more than Monday morning Quarterbacks. Who knows what people would've thought if Kennywood did sell to SF in '97.

Predicted the failure? Dude, we all had 'dead pools' in on when the bottom block of the pyramid was going to be kicked out.

Once they stey stop aquiring, the bills need paid. Its what is happening to the casino industry with the mergers right now, including today with AZTAR and Pinnacle.

Except, in the amusement industry, when you can't generate revenue 365 days a year, it gets ugly.

Premier wanted the Kennywood name. They did not care about Idlewild or Compounce. Sandcastle would become Hurricane Harbor, and Six Flags over Kennywood would have still been Pittsburgh's park, minus the all the detail work that the owners do, minus all the group picnics, minus all the costume charachters that made an atmosphere.

It would just become another amusement park with higher prices, anemic looking kids, and ride breakdowns, with a Boomerang, a SLC, and few more Huss rides that would not work.

a Boomerang, a SLC, and few more Huss rides that would not work.

---

Yep, that sounds just like SFWOA. lol

---

Agent Johnson said:
Predicted the failure? Dude, we all had 'dead pools' in on when the bottom block of the pyramid was going to be kicked out.

---

In 1997, could you have predicted that Premier Parks was going to fail? How many parks had they bought at that point? Three?

They had Funtime, but 'we' in the industry knew they were on the move, making 'over-offers' for other parks.

1997 was a long time ago in this industry, but some minor success at Frontier City would never spell success on a large scale.

Just think how great Jack Rabbit, T-bolt, and the Racer would be running today after 10 years of Premier/SF maintenance!

On the other hand, there would be 3 steel coasters in the parking lot-- that sometimes would run.

;) ;) ;) (for those who can't recognize sarcasm)

---

PerrysburgGuy said:
Six Flags Kennywood!!!??!?!?!?!?!

Ahhhhhhhhh!!!!! It burns!!!!!!!!!!!!!

---

That's a very scary thought!

-Tina

Kennywood should have been happy, they never sold out, because look at Geauga lake. A sad state that cedar fair has tried to help and right now its taking years to get it back up to par.

Sure they would have added things, but they would not have run like so many others have stated. One cherished tradition was tarnished thank God not two!

I thought it was cool when Premier started buying up all those parks! Of course, then, I was just a little enthusiast out of college and liked the fact that they were buying new rides here and there and making big improvements.

But then they bought Kentucky Kingdom, which I thought was great for a few days... and I thought "how are they going to pay for all this?" Then they bought Six Flags and I was a little leerie on that, too.

Of course, I did like the fact I could get into half of the parks in this country with one seasons pass.

Every year and $200,000.000 in capital improvements later I wondered if they would ever lower their debt.

Guess not!

I've imagined this plenty of times, and it's never pretty.

You'd have to think that we'd lose the name. Six Flags Kennywood isn't any more likely than Six Flags Geauga Lake, Six Flags Riverside or Six Flags Jazzland. I don't think Six Flags Pennsylvania rolls off the tongue, and I think they would've gone regional, something like the "mid-America" name.

Absolutely, without a doubt, many historical rides would be gone. They're not worth the upkeep and don't get more asses through the gates.

I think the Old Mill/Turnpike take up too much space in a landlocked park. Hello SLC.

A Boomerang would fit where the Turtle is.

Maybe an Intamin Impulse along the highway from the Musik Express to SwingShot site.

The Steel Phantom would've still been removed, but replaced by a B&M. (Not everything they did sucked!)

The picnic groves would've probably made room for a couple more coasters, too. I'd imagine a CCI by the highway.

Kiddieland would've gone Looney Tooney with a basic kiddie coaster in what is now the groves behind kiddieland.

The Potato Patch would've stayed, but Subways and other chains would've replaced many of the other stands.

Also, you'd pay to park :( and probably be able to buy beer :) .

We had a lot of time to think about this stuff.

(edit: punctuation) *** Edited 3/14/2006 1:12:44 AM UTC by kpjb***

Beer at Kennywood? Then who would stop at the Caurosel Show Bar in Dravosburg?

And out go the various and numerous Eastern-European nationality days. Besides, no baba I know is going to pay 15 bucks to park anywhere.

Guess it works out for the best, since it sounds like the blue-collar, steel-worker,union-local, fraternal-society picnic type of crowd is exactly what Shapiro doesn't want in his precious parks.

^Too bad. Having grown up in a Steel-working, white and blue collar family, I can say they spend cash at parks like there's no tomorrow.
We used to have Corp picnics at Euclid Beach and later Geauga Lake. My dad would get free tickets for us and he'd spend at least 100-200 bucks on food, games and souveniers. This was the 1960's, 1970's, and hundred then is like 500-600 now.

Maybe Six Flags wants that jolly-good Drug Dealer money. (jk). :)

Yes, but I'd rather not.

I wonder what was on the chopping block when Kennywood was considering an SLC?