Kennywood and Idlewild Amusement Parks (Mon., 7/7/25)

Kennywood and Idlewild — TWO iconic amusement parks.

Some “big-league” cities trumpet the fact that they’ve got a big-league amusement park. The Pittsburgh area can claim two: Kennywood, close to the city, and Idlewild, a bit farther out. Check the parks’ websites for daily schedules and special events. Kennywood, which dates from 1898, has now been evolving for over 125 years. It’s known for a world-class collection of mechanized rides, including three classic wooden roller coasters plus the steel-framed Phantom’s Revenge and Steel Curtain. There’s also a nice assortment of kiddie rides, and a newer “intermediate” ride is Spinavision, part of Kennywood’s growing alien-themed Area 412. Brand new last year is the Potato Patch bumper cars. 4800 Kennywood Blvd., West Mifflin.

Idlewild offers a distinctive combination of amusements in a gorgeous countryside setting. The rides aren’t nationally ranked but there are plenty of them, and a bunch are downright thrilling. Idlewild moreover has a full-scale water park, the Soak Zone, with water slides and a wave pool. There’s also an outdoor jungle-gym area, and last but never least the weirdly charming Story Book Forest, where children and trippy adults can wander through mini-replicas of scenes from fairy tales and folk songs—including Mother Goose, the Good Ship Lollipop, and more. Idlewild is about an hour-ish drive from Pittsburgh (depending on where you start from) and well worth the journey. 2574 U.S. 30, Ligonier. (M.V.)

Kennywood’s vintage Racer still rocks the coaster scene. Photo: Jason North.

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