Last chance to ride Turtle this season before preservation project begins

By: Mark Frazee | Content Manager

Don't panic! The Turtle is not going anywhere. With that out of the way....

The Turtle has thrilled generations of parkgoers since it debuted at Kennywood in 1927 – an incredible 96 years ago! Since then, a few things have changed. For starters, its name – it opened as the Tumble Bug, the generic name for the ride that was manufactured in nearby Beaver Falls. In 1948, the ride received a new set of cars, including a new sixth car,  along with the re-theme to the Turtle we all know today.  Once a staple at amusement parks across the world, the Turtle is now the last operating ride of its kind. And while the controls have been updated here and there, the core ride experience has remained the same for nearly a century.

That's not changing!

What is changing: after 96 years, the ride's center foundation is ready to be replaced. Of course, the turtles and sweeps all attach to this structure – making it an essential part of the ride. Kennywood is committed to the preservation of the world's last tumble bug, and this replacement project is a critical component of that commitment. 

Above: Maintenance technician Jarett Yuknalis completes morning inspections on the Turtle. This entire center structure will be replaced over the next few months.

"It's time," says Gary Miller, Project Manager. "We need to disassemble the ride itself, jackhammer up the existing foundation and dig down to the bedrock."

Once they reach the bedrock, Miller and his team will then completely reconstruct the centerpiece.

"We'll mount the rebar cage into the bedrock, then rebuild the foundation," Miller says. "We'll also run new wiring from the control booth to the new center foundation. Operationally, nothing changes."

With the Turtle's manufacturer long-defunct, this project will be completed in-house by our expert team of carpenters, maintenance technicians and electricians. Because these crews need to disassemble most of the ride and dig approximately 15 feet underground, it's much easier to get started now, before the ground freezes up during the winter months.

For this reason, the Turtle's last day of operation for the 2023 Season is this Sunday, August 20.

We invite you to join us this week – we're open daily – for your final Turtle rides of the season! After this Sunday, crews will immediately get to work on this project to help preserve the world's last operating tumble bug for another 96 years and beyond. Nestled somewhat inconspicuously below the Phantom's Revenge and Thunderbolt, the Turtle stands the test of time – an icon of Kennywood's past, present and future.

For a limited time, buy a 2024 Season Pass now and get the rest of 2023 free, or get one-day tickets for as low as $39.99 when you buy online.