Testing, testing.

It’s all that remains before eager riders can climb in and take off on Kennywood Park’s newest ride, The Steel Curtain.

The structure is complete, the final piece of track placed atop the coaster. And yinzers — and other roller coaster aficionados — are way past ready.

According to park spokesman Nick Paradise, that first public ride depends on some final construction work — and weather.

The Steel Curtain, which rises 220 feet above the ground (making it the tallest coaster in Pennsylvania), features black and gold cars that will take 24 riders on a two-minute trip, traveling at 76 mph.

”The goal is when it opens that it’s a fantastic experience that people can’t wait to do again,” Paradise says.

So when will that Steel Curtain send us soaring and dominate our social media posts? An announcement could come as soon as next week, he adds.

Fan faves

In the meantime, there are plenty of other rides to keep us on the edge of our seats.

Judging by lines and the park’s ride operations department, the top three rides are Phantom’s Revenge, Thunderbolt and Jack Rabbit, Paradise says.

Kennywood definitely has a solid lineup of wooden coasters, and they’re pretty smooth too! Jack Rabbit was our favorite, cuz of that double dip! ? pic.twitter.com/y9bVfr7IP3

— UnitedThrills (@UnitedThrills) June 25, 2018

Jack Rabbit: Built on a natural ravine, riders throng to the Jack Rabbit for its 70-foot, double-dip drop. At a maximum speed of 45 mph, it covers 2,132 feet of track in 90 seconds.

Thunderbolt: Last year was the Thunderbolt’s golden anniversary, marking 50 years of patrons screaming, laughing, raising their arms and maybe offering up a prayer as they ride the classic wooden roller coaster. Rated the #1 roller coaster by the New York Times in 1974, the Thunderbolt’s track is 3,250 feet long, and it reaches a maximum speed of 55 mph.

Phantom’s Revenge: The Phantom’s Revenge has long been a park favorite with roller coaster enthusiasts, coming in third best in the nation in a 2018 USA Today poll. With a vertical height of 160 feet, a maximum drop of 232 feet and a speed of 85 mph, the almost 2-minute ride packs a thrill-seeking wallop. If you’re afraid of heights, maybe take a pass on this one.

Hope you're not afraid of heights...I'm not! Here are a few views of the very top of the Phantom's Revenge today pic.twitter.com/e3fOKqhhKl

— Dave DiCello (@DaveDiCello) June 24, 2016

Beyond the top three, determining “favorite rides” can be challenging, Paradise says. “People love The Turtle, and the lines won’t be that long, typically.” A Kennywood tradition since 1927, the ride takes children and adults on a circular track over a set of three hills and dips in turtle-shaped cars.

The Kangaroo and the merry-go-round are also high on the list for most multi-generational groups of visitors, Paradise says.

A circular ride, The Kangaroo “bounces” passengers from the top of a hill, simulating the sensation of flying or bouncing like a kangaroo.

“Rides like that are rideable for everyone. They are not too (daunting) for grandparents or overwhelming for young kids. Siblings can go on together,” he says. With 72 animals — 20 stationary, 50 jumpers, one lion, one tiger and four chariots — and a thrill rating of 1, the carousel gently takes riders round and round, accompanied by a 1918 Wulitzer Band Organ.

Flynn’s Fire Training and Cranky’s Drop Tower, part of the park’s new Thomas Town ride, are proving pretty popular among the newer rides, Paradise says.

“The Exterminator is kind of a dark horse,” he says.

It’s indoors and can get overlooked, but always has long lines. Part of that wait is due to the single cars, four riders max, he adds.

The ride had its 20th anniversary this year, and is still a big draw, Paradise says. A thrill level 4 ride, the high-speed roller coaster spins riders as they move along a twisting, turning track — in the dark.

Nostalgia rules

Part of the appeal of Kennywood Park is the nostalgia factor. From going with parents to the school picnic to dates to taking one’s own kids, the amusement park plays a big role throughout many people’s lives.

And that can cause some sadness and even consternation when some rides disappear, Paradise says. “Rides are taken out for lack of popularity or high levels of maintenance and down time.”

When a ride is about to exit the park, operators often see a surge in its popularity as people show up for a last ride.

When the Log Jammer was retired in 2017, visitors expressed their disappointment and lined up to splash down in the flume ride one last time. Others were a little more philosophical.

There’s nothing old school Pittsburghers love more than kennywood and referencing the 70s Steelers so replacing the log jammer with “steel curtain” is just ... well ... we should have all seen it coming.

— Adam Gretz (@AGretz) July 19, 2018

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