Kennywood ready for annual scare fest

Kennywood's annual seasonal celebration, Phantom Fright Nights, is nearly upon us.

The Halloween-themed event that transforms the West Mifflin amusement park into a foggy scare zone on weekends through the end of October kicks off Friday night at 7.

Kennywood spokesman Jeff Filicko said the park has added plenty of new twists this year that are designed to "keep people on their toes."

With lots of unexpected bumps, bangs and terrifying visions springing up unexpectedly throughout the park, even veteran fans of the seasonal transformation should find things to make their hearts beat faster.

The changes begin as patrons enter the park through the Kennyville Cemetery; the midway hasn't moved but park goers' progress through it has been altered compared to previous years.

More than 100 tombstones, 300 monsters, skeletons and other scary types, and 3,000 cornstalks are being employed to make the journey through the park a frightening one. There's also 2,500 square feet of colored gel lighting, 10,479 colored light bulbs, 50 strobe lights and 50 fog machines in place to help create ambiance.

Filicko said employees, who began preparing for Fright Nights back in August, "really have the chance to let their creativity shine" in getting the park ready for the season.

Kennywood employee Dave Cherep, who serves on the Fright Nights planning committee, said the haunted house Mortem Manor (located in what is the Parkside Cafe in the regular season) gets regular updates.

This year, planners have added to the walk-through attraction a scary bathroom feature that should serve as a reminder why it is dangerous to fall asleep in the tub.

"Next year, maybe we'll re-do the kitchen or the kids' bedroom," added Cherep.

On Wednesday, Kennywood employees were busy throughout the park decorating its 10 scare zones and haunted houses.

Checking the jaw of a fake skeleton, Kennywood employee Quintin Barber said the mannequin looked perfectly dressed, as it was, in preacher's clothes.

"Now we just have to stand him up somehow," Barber said as he looked over a pile of wooden rods that he was planning to use to hold up the dummy.

Most of the props used in Fright Nights are stored in the former K-Mart building above the park in the off-season. Filicko said the two-week lead-up to the beginning of Fright Nights is when park employees "really push to get things done."

All of the effort plus 17 operating roller coasters and rides and sideshow entertainment by Eric Starkey at Kennyville Stage should make for a seamless entertainment experience when the event begins on Friday.

Phantom Fright Nights take place every Friday and Saturday night through Oct. 30 from 7 p.m. till 1 a.m., plus a bonus night on Oct. 10 from 7 till 11 p.m. Tickets are $25.99 at the gate or $22.99 at participating Giant Eagle supermarkets. Special RIP passes for ghost tours and roller coasters, including Sky Rocket, are available at an additional cost.

For more information, call 412-461-0500 or visit the website www.kennywood.com

By Eric Slagle, MCKEESPORT DAILY NEWS
Thursday, September 30, 2010