Raging Rapids (Kennywood)

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Raging Rapids

Kennywood
Location	West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, USA
Coordinates	40°23′19″N 79°51′51″W / 40.388722°N 79.864249°W / 40.388722; -79.864249
Status	Operating since 1985
Rider height	Minimum: 42 inch Min. unaccompanied: 48 inch
Replaced	Dipper

Statistics

Manufacturer

Intamin

Product

River Rapids

Capacity

6 per boat

Raging Rapids is a River Rapids ride built by Intamin currently located at Kennywood in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, USA. The ride opened in 1985.

History

Raging Rapids, at the time referred to as Racing Waters, was announced in a letter to park employees from park president Carl O. Hughes in 1984. The ride replaced the Dipper roller coaster.^[1] A section of Thunderbolt's structure had to be modified to accommodate the new ride.

Before opening, Kennywood filmed a commercial for the new ride on Kings Dominion's White Water Canyon with talk show host Myron Cope and football player Jack Lambert.^[2]

The ride opened in 1985, but closed within a month of its opening due to major mechanical problems. The ride's three 200-HP pumps simultaneously broke and had to be sent to Florida by charter jet to be rebuilt. The park also faced issues with oil leaking into the water and broken gearboxes. The pumps were ultimately replaced with submersible propeller pumps.^[3]

A 25 foot triple waterfall and two "pop up" geysers were added to the ride in 1986, as was an observation deck.^[4]

Images

References

↑ Jacques, Charles Jr. More Kennywood Memories. Amusement Park Journal. pp. 72–73.
↑ Jacques, Charles Jr. More Kennywood Memories. Amusement Park Journal. p. 78.
↑ Jacques, Charles Jr. More Kennywood Memories. Amusement Park Journal. pp. 76–77.
↑ Jacques, Charles Jr. More Kennywood Memories. p. 82.