Staff shortage keeps some rides closed during opening days at Kennywood

It’s been a bumpy opening for Kennywood Park this year.

First they changed the cheese that tops the Potato Patch fries.

Then, word spread the park switched ketchup brands — from Heinz to Hunt’s.

Now, visitors to the West Mifflin amusement park are less than amused by rides and attractions that weren’t open because of a staff shortage. The park isn’t intentionally trying to anger its customers, Kennywood spokesman Nick Paradise said.

“Nobody’s more frustrated than us when we can’t get things open,” Paradise said.

Groans about Kennywood spread on social media. Jeannette’s Marlena Dawn Cunha hasn’t visited the park yet this year but recently took to Facebook to complain.

“Guess there’s no point in even trying this year for Kennywood. First they change the cheese, then change the ketchup and now they don’t have the rides, concession stands or gift shops open. Guess they don’t want the public’s business,” Cunha posted on her page.

Cunha, 39, said Tuesday she is thinking twice about going. The Potato Patch fries are one of the main reasons she visits the park, but it is expensive to take her five kids. Still, she has fond memories of visiting Kennywood as a girl and remembers when schools would offer discounted tickets to reward students who excelled.

“I would love to go more. I can’t afford it,” Cunha said.

Kennywood is working to find enough seasonal employees to fully staff the park, Paradise said. At its peak, Kennywood employs about 1,500 people each season, and filling those jobs has been tough, he said.

“It is a really hot labor market right now,” Paradise said.

Staffing the park on weekends hasn’t been an issue since Kennywood opened for the season May 23. But weekday staffing has been difficult because many teens who work at the park are still in school, Paradise said, and fewer college students are interested in working at the park over the summer.

To bolster interest, Kennywood has raised its pay rate by $1.40 an hour. Those 16 and older start at $9 per hour, depending on experience. Teens between 14 and 15 years old start at $8 per hour — 75 cents more than the minimum wage in Pennsylvania. Raises also are given based on experience and performance, Paradise said.

The park, which along with Idlewild in Ligonier and Sandcastle in Homestead, is owned by the Spanish amusement park conglomerate Parques Reunidos. Kennywood, which bills itself as the largest youth employer in the region, expanded its college internship program and is bringing in more international workers to meet staffing needs, Paradise said.

“We’re not looking for problems. We’re looking to find solutions,” he said. “We’re continuing to look at more options.”

Kennywood is trying to entice people with summers off, like teachers looking for temporary work and recent retirees looking to keep busy, to work at the park.

“This is a great place to work,” he said.

Although some rides and attractions had been closed at points in May, most rides Monday were open by early afternoon. Three were closed. The park is waiting for a part to repair the Black Widow. The Sky Coaster bungee ride is in the Steel Curtain construction zone, and the Sky Rocket has been closed and will continue to be closed indefinitely as the park works with ride specialists to fix it.