Phantoms Revenge...a Waste of Space?

****First off, this is not intended to be a bashing thread, I wouldn’t do that to one of my favorite rides.

With the current land ownership at Kennywood, and the tight space they are in, I am trying to figure out exactly the reason why the layout of Phantom is as it is.

So, this question goes out to Kennywood insiders, maintenance, park personnel, land sculptors and manufacturers:

Essentially, why does the ride go “left” past the rabbit hops instead of “right” into a second decent into the ravine for the low turn? Was it that the land could not support the structure of the ride or was it the shape of the land, the zoning for neighbors, or was it just Morgan’s doing?

I just thought that the area next to the Pittfall could have been used for another new attraction in the future.

*** This post was edited by john peck on 8/23/2001. ***

Actually, I think that area CAN still be used for other things. For example, a flatride or sitdown restaurant could easily fit inside the final turnaround.

-------------
--Greg
My page My other page And my coaster page

A sitdown restaurant? I didn't know there were other types, a floorless restaurant is the way to go. On the other hand, that sounds nasty! Sorry for the lame joke. :)

Lame, yes. Humorous? Sure! ;)

I never thought of that - a food place. If there's one thing I'd like to see at Kennywood other than a new ride would be another sitdown restaurant.

As Greg and I have discussed before, Kennywood's space problem isn't as bad as it could be. There are still some places for rides within the park's current borders, and they can always try to buy land and expand the park outward. The next obvious areas are at the "ends" of the park: the valley behind Racer and Jack Rabbit could be the home of a killer terrain woodie or inverted coaster, and the houses behind Exterminator could be razed for a new area of the park. (Kennywood doesn't own them all yet, but in the future, they could.)

-------------
Matt Lynch
Co-Webmaster : Kennywood Boulevard

http://kennywood.coasterbuzz.com/gallery/" target=_blank> area?

*** This post was edited by joey isch on 8/23/2001. ***

Keep in mind too, most of the houses on the other side of PR's last 'ground-hugging' helix are owned by Kennywood Entertainment Company (the Allegheny County assessment website will prove that.) So the idea of expansion in that area is not completely out of the question.

Exactly my point. I wonder how many aren't owned by Kennywood yet and whether or not they'll be able to get their hands on 'em soon.

But as I said, there are other places for new rides or concession stands. There's a nice plot of land behind Turtle that could fit something, and inside PR's first drop, even though the new queue took up most of the space, is a possibility.

-------------
Matt Lynch
Co-Webmaster : Kennywood Boulevard

I thought that KW owned someof those houses.... I just would think that Phantom would have been designed to allow more undeveloped land alongside the Lost Kennywood Midway near Pittfall. I am really surprised that PR didnt make even more use of that ravine....ya know?

Well yea they own the houses, but people probably live in them.

"Excuse me, we have to evict you so we can tear down your house to build two new rides. Have a nice day!"

-----------------
Assistant Webmaster
Kennywood Park Unlimited
www.kpunlimited.com

You guys forgot the inverted restaurant..........

Will they ever get a wheel back in?? Or Flying Scooters???
-------------
"Those were rose-colored times on rides with your eyes closed"....Lisa Loeb
www.angelfire.com/oh4/tk173

I understand some employees live in the houses owned by Kennywood over there.

We can only hope about the wheel and flyers. I wonder how long "America's Finest Traditional Amusement Park" can legally go without having a Ferris wheel.

As for the Flyers, I never rode them, but I understand they used to have some where Pittfall now stands, which was once in the middle of Steel Phantom's helix. If you get a chance to check out Linda Barnicott's new print, they're on it.

-------------
Matt Lynch
Co-Webmaster : Kennywood Boulevard

The scooters were moved to Lake Compounce

The wheel is at Wildwood. Feel free to ride it there, because no one wanted to when it was at KP. Hence its removal. A smaller wheel, someday, maybe, but not one that takes up such a prime location. The Aero 360 has huge lines even on slow days. The Wonder Wheel sometimes didn't run at full capacity even on busy days.

Oh, and yes, KP does own some of those houses. About 1/2 of them, maybe more. The problem isn't the people living in them, because they're all employees. (They live there for free, just pay utilities, but the downside is that they know some day there may be a Huss Frisbee in their yard.) The problem is that the houses are owned sporadically. Two here, one there, etc. Many of the people in between aren't exactly willing to part with them for fair market value, either.

So, yes, there's room to expand, but it will be done slowly and expensively, and probably not for a while.

BTW, I don't know where you people get your sources, but the new ride for next year is indeed a Zamperla inverted Corn Dog Stand.

-----------------
"Let's go out and have some fun!" (New Order)

Awww, no way! I was hoping for the Floorless Cheese-on-a-Stick! Now I'm disappointed.

--Greg, who really WOULD like to see Cheese-on-a-stick make an appearance somewhere at Kennywood.

Taipan said:
A sitdown restaurant? I didn't know there were other types, a floorless restaurant is the way to go. On the other hand, that sounds nasty! Sorry for the lame joke.

I was at Knott's on Tue. and there was a standup resturaunt with no chairs and high tables....

-----------------
What would life be without roller coasters? A big ball of poo!!!

From what I hear, wasn't Cheese-on-a-Stick available at Kennywood last year, and it mysteriously disappeared this year? I never noticed before simply because I never got it. However, after enjoying a few glorious sticks of cheese at Knoebel's, I sure hope it does come back.

-------------
Matt Lynch
Co-Webmaster : Kennywood Boulevard

Any employees live there or just specific job positions? I would imagine that the majority of the employees come from around the area...

I rode the Flyers once. Weren't that great, just kind of like the Wave Swinger except you're kind of in control. Almost in the exact spot where PF is today. I'd rather ride the Giant Drop

-----------------
Assistant Webmaster
Kennywood Park Unlimited
www.kpunlimited.com

I think I'd trade the Flyers for PittFall too, even though I do love that type of ride. Riding them at Knoebel's, PKI, and Holiday World was a real treat this year.

Still, it's a small ride. I'd think they could squeeze it in somewhere.

-------------
Matt Lynch
Co-Webmaster : Kennywood Boulevard