The Ride
In 1924 Kennywood park constructed the Pippin using the natural terrain of the park to make a great coaster. This was Kennywood's second terrain coaster, the first being of course the Jack Rabbit. Towards the end of the 1960's the park wanted to build a coaster that was more thrilling than their other two, but they wanted another terrain coaster. It was decided that they would reconstruct one of their terrain coasters and add a completely new track section making a long terrain coaster. The Jack Rabbit was the original candidate for the work, but it was decided to do the work on the Pippin instead. The original four drops were saved and a new station was built to attach the two tracks. The new layout contained two ravine drops, before you finally connect to the chain lift.
The Experience
Riders board one of three National Amusement Device trains and the trains dive down the ravine out of the station. The trains climbs the other side of the ravine and rounds a 180 degree turn. Then it's down another ravine drop, and the bulldog locks on to the train. The chain lifts the train to a 70 foot summit and then the track banks at a 45 degree angle. Next riders go through a slightly banked turn leading to a banked climbing turn. Then a turn left and riders plunge back down into the ravine. Climbing back to ground level the trains take a quick U-turn and down the final ravine drop, then the train finds it's way back into the station.
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