KW 8-21-03 old mill update (long)

It was time for the end of summer run to kennywood, and of course it was the hottest day of the year in Pittsburgh. However, it was a very productive day.

Phantom's Revenge 9 laps all over the place. This ride was running really good with both forcefull and floating airtime. If only it was a little longer it would be up with Millenium Force

Thunderbolt 9 Laps. Being the coaster that I have ridden the most times in my life, there is some bias in saying that this is my favorite woodie. The laterals still are great, and I like the burst of airtime now on the first hill in the back that didn't seem to be there before phantom's revenge.

Jack Rabbit 3 Laps. Unfortunately, the coaster gods did not provide for a back seat ride, but there were two rides in the second to last seat. The airtime like always is still there.

Racer 3 Laps. Once again no back seat ride, but still running good and the atmosphere of the race at night between the two trains was really nice.

Exterminator 2 Laps. This one was running pretty good today. I had some of my more dizying rides on it.

I'll skip the flats in order to keep this short. Now as far as the old mill rumor being thrown out there, it might have some merit. I am familiar with the sources of the Lemon Chill guy and the statement "those that know don't tell". Since riding the thrunderbolt so many times an older guy that was a ride op reconginzed me and made some conversation. He asked at one point if I had ridden the old mill today. I replied no, but then he said that I probably should because it would be different next year. This is nothing confirmed, but it seems like the rumor has some truth to it. I will put this question out there to those a little more skilled than I, Does the old mill have any historical stature (meaning historical landmark type status) that might prevent it from being changed? This is just a thought. Anyway it does look like there will be a phantom fright nide ride on the old mill for old times sake. I am still mixed about this, but I'll wait for the final verdict before passing judgement.

Anyway, another great day at a great park, and I guess that since the coaster gods give me Kennywood as a home park, then I can overlook them not giving me backseat rides on some oldies.

l. The Old Mill is on the historic register, but as I understand it that means the structure cannot be torn down or altered. It can be cosmetically remodelled. I would assume that would allow the changing of scenes, replacement of boats, or even raising or lowering of the water channel.

2. Sounds like the coasters were running well as usual. Don't you think would be fair to claim that others may have more steel, but no park in the world has a trio of classic woodies to compare with Kennywood's JR-R-TB, and no park offers the variety of coasters with the punch of JR-R-TB-PR-Ext ?

I believe Trekker Park is right. The historical designation applies only to the structure itself. The stunts and scenes have been changed a number of times through the years, the last really major retheming was done in the mid 70's by Henri Pohl.Henri was a former Cedar Point technician who went out on his own in the early 70's(I won't go into why at this time). He supervised a crew of Carnegie Mellon art students to refurbish the Dentzel carousel, and also the Old Mill. That's when the name was changed to "Hardhearted Harold's Horrendously Humourous Haunted Hideaway".Even since then some things have been changed around on the inside.
*** This post was edited by Dutchman 8/23/2003 11:02:53 AM ***

The Old mill will be open for Phantom Fright Nights.

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Assistant Webmaster,
Kennywood Boulevard

of all the parks ive visited this year, kennywood has the best woodies and keeps them in great shape. year after year thunderbolt and jackrabbit provide the same great ride.

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http://www.eightdotthree.net

The Old Mill MIGHT be open for fright nights. It's not definite.

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Rejection is one thing, but rejection from a fool is cruel!
-Morrissey

Well the Old Mill has been changed in the past, it has had its name changed from the Panama Canal to Fairyland Floats to Rapids Gorge to the Old Mill again, so if it did happen, it wouldn't be the first and in all liklyhood would eventually go back to the old mill
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The Jokes on You!! Ha Ha

Here would be my proposal :
Buy the rights from Disney to The Old Mill, the classic movie. Many of you might remember it as one of the great animated cartoons of all time and there wasn't a single funny scene in it. It started out showing this idylllic pastoral scene of a huge, beautiful old mill way out in the country. it was inhabited by a multitude of creatures including owls, bats, rabbits, squirrels, etc. The movie began as the sun set. The opening scenes are stunningly beautiful. But then the mood shifts, because the breeze begins to stir, the moon disappears behind clouds, lightning appears out on the horizon, and it's obvious a major storm is approaching. As the wind picks up, the big blades of the mill begin to turn, which means inside the gears and wheels and grinders begin to rotate. By the time the storm reaches full fury, it is a really frightening film, because every creature is in danger from all the interior motion, and the mill itself is at risk of being torn apart or crushed by falling trees or branches. Finally the storm passes and dawn breaks over a tattered but still standing mill and its harried but still alive residents.
Could you imagine the job a top theming outfit could do recreating all that inside KW's Old Mill? Think of the Norway Maelstrom down at Epcot, where you're out in that boat in a North Sea storm as the waves pick up. It would redefine the water dark ride for a new century, and it would return the Old Mill to its deepest roots, not turn it over to some hokey mascot.

No, it WILL be open. I think its officially on the backup list for PFN, but it'll be open anyways.

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2002/2003
KWTM

Not neccessarily. A backup doesn't always get opened, and things not on the backup list do. Depending on the time schedule for any work to be done in the Old Mill, it may not be available.

I'm not doubting that it will be open, but it's quite far from definite. The Express and Kangaroo are both higher up on the backup list.

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Rejection is one thing, but rejection from a fool is cruel!
-Morrissey