Kennywood Alert--Friday, October 7, 2005

For anyone who was planning on attending Phantom Fright Nights tonight, please note that the park will be CLOSED due to an all-day rain. However, the park will still be open two nights this weekend: Saturday from 7pm-1am, and a scheduled bonus night Sunday from 7pm-11pm.

http://www.kennywood.com/

Edit: The forcast is calling for similar weather tomorrow; please call the park or check their website after 2pm to confirm that they will be open for your visit.

*** Edited 10/7/2005 4:53:06 PM UTC by PhantomTails***

There goes my pre-PPP routine!

Whatever will I do!

I'm sure the wife and I will think of something. :)

-Tambo

They close for RAIN?

Geez.

well, it's not so much closing for rain as it is lack of people who will come out in the rain.

I went to Dorney's friday night the first night last year, and there was practically no one in the park - it was great. Everything was walk-on front row the entire night. I imagine they lost a lot of money on that night, though. I'm wondering if they're going to stay open for tonight, or if they'll close as well?

Plus, the fog effects don't work near as well in the rain... not to mention potential damage to scareactors' costumes, or even possibly getting them sick.

I know. I thought the same thing. Steelers fans don't like when the stink washes off. :)

-Tambo

Now I don't have to feel nearly as bad for not being able to meet the 400 people who've asked if I can make it tonight.

well I guess I'm heading straight to Knoebel's after work instead of stopping by Kennywood tonight :(

I guess it gives me another night to rest my bum ankle.

-josh

This is only my opinion and it's really not a bash but a complaint.

KW fright night would have been on my agenda if I was to attened PPP like many are comming from the west..

I've seen other parks do this including PKI. IMHO it's a short term money saver for the park in terms of not having to operate at a loss but long term looser to those who had arangements to visit Hence PR.

In the good, They didn't shut down after openning but in the bad those who would visit don't get to enjoy KP, Some comming from long distances. I have at least three friends that would be there tonight but are now seeking alternate plans.

I don't know, I just think it's a bummer.

Chuck, who knows them steeler fans probably won't visit in fear of taking a shower. J/K
Go Bengals!

Would it be worth visiting? Half of the haunted attractions would be closed, costumed employees would not be permitted to roam the midways, and at least one popular attraction (Thunderbolt) would be out of service or in limited operation while the rain persists. There really isn't any point to spending money to visit when there are few things open, and the park wouldn't even resemble PFN.

Most of their haunted attractions are also through grassy areas that quickly get muddy pathways. In an all day rain event like today, i'm sure that those already muddy pathways only get worse.

The question comes down to the quality of the experience Kennywood would be able to offer. As a park that takes pride in its Halloween activities (ranked 3rd nationally after what... 3-4 years of existance?), I think it's an intelligent move PR wise as well as money-saving wise to close the park on a day when they knew that they would not be able to deliver anything that even mildly resembled their halloween event running at full tilt. I would be hardpressed to believe that the majority of attendees tonight would come away with a positive taste of Kennywood if the park stayed open... crummy or closed mazes, muddy paths, no fog (a huge part of the atmosphere at PFN), sporadically open rides... I don't see the benefits of opening.

It is admittedly unfortunate for those who had plans of stopping by en-route to PPP (I believe the regional ACE crew also had an informal 'event' scheduled there today), but ultimately it just was not in the best interests of the park or its patrons for the place to be open tonight.

$.02

Actually, the informal regional ACE night is NEXT Friday, Oct 14.

Funny thing is that the rains in Pittsburgh stopped just around 7:00pm tonight. Go figure...

So what do the Griswolds do? Does Clark punch something here too?

I had to make the reference, but see that it would stink for people that didnt know this was going to happen. They would make the trek for nothing, unless they so happened to stop by a random sporting goods store and bought a gun. All kidding aside this stinks for anyone who planned on going. *** Edited 10/8/2005 4:33:07 AM UTC by MagnunBarrel***

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Brother Dave said:
Funny thing is that the rains in Pittsburgh stopped just around 7:00pm tonight. Go figure...

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The grounds would have been a mess, though, and there were some nasty quick little showers throughout the evening.

More importantly, they had to make the decision to close (which I understand) earlier than 7pm so that they had time to inform their employees, put up a message on the website, etc.

They ARE open tonight, though. I'll be there :)

Yeah since we got called off yesterday, 2 from the Thunderbolt and 2 from the Phantom crew took a little road trip to Geauga Lake. It was so emty and didn't really rain too much. If we get called off today - it's off to Cedar Point we go!

Are you sure Kennywood is open tonight? Dorney closed today due to rain/flooding.

Kennywood is open for tonight (the 8th) - they keep you updated on their main page.

Kennywood is OPEN tonight. On my way now.... Hope to see some of you all there. Stop by Thunderbolt and say hi (name is Mike).

dannerman, the weather that closed Dorney today (and, from what I hear, Great Adventure, so people commenting earlier in this thread about Kennywood closing can go pound sand because it was FAR from a unique occurance this weekend ;) ) was well past Kennywood. We had a light mist at opening, and that was it. FABULOUS night.

Hey Greg, 'Have I told you lately that...U Suck!"? ;)

Still hate you all for going and leaving me. But at least we have 'proof' now that 2 of you were there together...or not.