Gold Rush over at Kennywood

Man, now I'm really sad. We were just there on Sunday -- I'd been begging to go all season and it was the 'least rainy' of our options, LOL -- but the Gold Rusher was closed. I figured it had to do with the rain (despite being an indoor ride... Disaster Transport's issues on the brain LOL,) and while disappointed, figured I would just ride it next year. Guess that won't happen. :(

The sudden closing seems odd to me too -- one would think they'd leave it open through at least the end of the season (or at least the regular season, if not their Fright Nights.)

If they're suddenly closing something this early, that must mean there is much work to be done to transform it into whatever it is to become. Could you imagine having the locomotive prop at your local haunted house? It'd be a great way to have people need a change of underwear:)

Kennywood plans on re-using most of the props for Phantom Fright Nights, so, don't be looking for these artifacts to start showing up on e-bay. Not-so-coincidentally, a new fright zone for this year is called "Death Valley Ghost Town". You can bet where you'll see some of the Gold Rusher's former inhabitants take up new residence. The ride will start to be dismantled on Monday and the building will begin preparation for what will replace it. Sunday morning, the park is planning an invitation only 'wake' for the Gold Rusher for DAFE members and employees for one final ride, as reported in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article. Although a few people may actually 'know' what is going to replace it, Kennywood management is keeping it's replacement secret for the time being.

Heres my view. I live in pittsburgh and the gold Rusher is a dark ride that has been a fixture in the park for many years. Its time to remove and update. Its theming is really bad, it has a really low capasity of moving the crowds ,only 300 per hour,and its just really bad. The space is very small where it lives and its time to put something new in. It apears to me that the space would be perfect for a sally dark ride. Im just hoping that it will not be replaced with more food and games The park has limited space as it is. Dont get me wrong, I love dark rides , but its time for change and it time for the replacement of the Rusher.I think that Kennywood Corp. is right on track to remove and replace . Its the replace part that Im concerned about. Coasteron..Love and Peace.

Man am I glad I got there yesterday. I got home late last night and was shocked to read that the very ride I had been on that day was closing the next.

Almost every time I've gotten to Kennywood, I've tried to get a ride in on Gold Rusher. It was a delightful experience and, despite what some naysayers claim, the effects were terrific. It's fun to hear the kids in the car ahead of you, screaming as the bugs descend upon them in the dark.

At least they still have Noah's Ark -- a great funhouse. Although I gotta say, every time I ride Garfield's Nightmare, I like it less and less.

Too bad, sound the death toll for another classic dark ride. :( I'm glad I decided to ride it when I visited the park last summer.

Gold Rusher is closing so early due to the emense amount of construction and demoliton and just overhauling of the building that is going to be needed for the new ride like brotherdave said... Just why they made the announcement to the public so late is beyond me i work at the park and we have all known since the beginnning of the season. Brother Dave was right about the demolition and the fright night new section "Death Valley" however it appears that Kennywood has decided that they may not use the gold rusher scenes after all they said even though they wont be used again they don't want to destroy them in the weather.

Management announced at the DAFE wake on Sunday that most of the props and scenes would indeed be used for Death Valley during Phantom Fright Nights. They also announced that the ride's track and vehicles would be heading to Parque de Diversiones in Costa Rica. They emphasized that almost nothing will be available on e-bay, except for possibly a few signs and other minor scenery items. And that's not even definite.