Pitt Fall
Pitt Fall's yellow and black structure at night
Kennywood
AreaLost Kennywood
StatusRemoved
Soft opening dateApril 17, 1997 (1997-04-17)
Opening dateApril 20, 1997 (1997-04-20)
Closing dateSeptember 18, 2011 (2011-09-18)
Replaced byBlack Widow
Ride statistics
Attraction typeDrop tower
ManufacturerIntamin
ModelGiant Drop
Height251 ft (77 m)
Drop229 ft (70 m)
Speed65 mph (105 km/h)
Vehicles4
Riders per vehicle4
Height restriction48 in (122 cm)

Pitt Fall was a drop tower ride located at Kennywood amusement park in the Pittsburgh suburb of West Mifflin, Pennsylvania. The name of the ride was a pun on the word "pitfall", a type of booby trap, but spelled with two "t"'s as in an abbreviation of "Pittsburgh". When it opened in 1997, it was the tallest drop tower in the world. The ride was manufactured by Intamin and is known in the industry as a "Giant Drop".

History

Construction of Pitt Fall began in July 1996 at the former site of Phantom Flyers.[1] Pitt Fall soft opened on April 17, 1997 during a special preview day. The ride then opened on April 20, 1997.[2]

In June 2011, Pitt Fall was listed for sale and bought in early September by an undisclosed buyer. After 14 years, Pitt Fall closed for good on September 18, 2011.[3] It was replaced by Black Widow in 2012.

Ride experience

A group of sixteen or less riders would be loaded into a group of four ride cars which seated four riders each. The riders were then secured with an over-the-shoulder harness and an interlocking seat belt. As the riders boarded, four yellow catch cars slowly descended from the top of the tower and coupled onto each ride car. After the "all-clear" was given, the catch cars pulled on the ride vehicles, lifting them off the ground and ascended to the top of the tower.

After clearing the braking zone, the cars picked up speed, reaching 12 mph. They were held 229 feet in the air for several seconds, after which they were released from the couplings, allowing the cars to free fall nearly 150 feet at 65 mph.

Upon reaching the braking zone, magnetic brakes slowed the speed of the ride cars. Once the cars came to a stop on the ground, the riders lifted their safety harnesses and exited the ride.

Records

References

  1. ↑ "Pitt Fall new 'rush'". Indiana Gazette. October 19, 1996. Retrieved September 2, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ↑ Loeffler, William (April 18, 1997). "Kennywood adds Pitt Fall to scream team". News Record. Staff Writer. Retrieved September 2, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ "Pitt Fall No More". NewsPlusNotes. 15 September 2011.
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