Kennywood’s Steel Curtain came to a complete stop with riders onboard Saturday after the roller coaster’s safety sensors were triggered mid-ride.

Social media posts showed photos of 24 riders stuck on the lift hill as the coaster sat motionless on the tracks. Kennywood spokeswoman Lynsey Winters said the Steel Curtain was stopped for “just about 20 minutes” while Kennywood’s team made safety checks.

The Steel Curtain, a 220-foot-tall coaster with 4,000 feet of track, reopened last month after being closed all of 2024 for structural modifications.

Ricky Spicuzza, the park’s general manager, said in a news release that the ride’s system operated as intended, and once the team verified there were no safety concerns, the roller coaster resumed

“Rides, including the Steel Curtain, are designed with highly sophisticated control systems and safety features that allow these attractions to operate in a safe and efficient manner. If these control systems sense something out of the ordinary, even if it is minor, they are designed to automatically stop the train in a safe location, if necessary,” the news release said.

Once Kennywood’s safety team cleared the attraction, the Steel Curtain continued for the duration of the ride before being closed for the remainder of the day. On Sunday, the ride reopened in the morning along with the park.

“I know it is sensitive,” Winters said, referencing the ride’s recent closure, but stressed stoppages are not uncommon.

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