Kennywood replacing Pitt Fall with new Zamperla Giant Discovery 40 for 2012
By amusementtoday | December 15, 2011
Kennywood Park is proud to announce Black Widow, a Zamperla Giant Discovery 40 swinging pendulum ride, as the replacement for its Pitt Fall free fall.
“Black Widow will have a combination of height, airtime and thrill factor,” said Kennywood General Manager Jerome Gibas. “Kennywood offers a great variety of ride experiences and Black Widow will provide our guests with a new dimension of thrill.”
The Black Widow experience starts with 40 riders sitting in outward-facing suspended seats that form a giant circle. With legs dangling freely, each rider is secured with a shoulder restraint. The giant circle begins to swing in a pendulum motion while rotating counterclockwise. At the peak of the swing riders will experience that feeling of weightlessness coveted by thrill seekers. The rotation and pendulum motion creates a variety of different sensations depending on a rider’s specific position. The combination of both elements results in a unique ride experience every time.
Situated on the spot previously occupied by Pitt Fall, Black Widow will stand 90-feet-tall but will reach a height of 146 feet in full swing with an angle of 120 degrees from the center. The pendulum motion propels riders back and forth at 68 mph. The new ride is slated to open next spring.
