New Kennywood Events To Mark 120th Anniversary

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WEST MIFFLIN (KDKA) -- Kennywood is like a heavy duty construction site these days with pavers, trucks, cranes, forklifts, and plenty of people working.

Everywhere you turn at Kennywood, there's construction going on right now. And that's going to mean something good for your family and your kids this coming summer, park officials say.

Starting with Thomas Town now under construction next to Kiddieland, featuring the Thomas train characters familiar to parents and young kids alike.

"It's going to be the second largest 'Thomas and Friends' attraction in North America," Kennywood spokesperson Nick Paradise told KDKA money editor Jon Delano on Wednesday. "We're going to have five new rides, including a re-theme of our existing train ride, a new stage show, an indoor play area."

It's an $8.5 million addition to the park -- opening later this summer.

But that's not the only construction on site.

Remember the old and very popular Log Jammer?

There's work on that site right now, too.

Delano: "What's going up where the Log Jammer was?"

Paradise: "So we are working hard to bring Kennywood's next great attraction to the park in the area where the Log Jammer once was."

Delano: "A roller coaster?"

Paradise: "Ah, I can just say it's going to be our next attraction."

Mum's the word from Kennywood, but park enthusiasts are predicting a new roller coaster on recently acquired land not far from the Log Jammer.

WATCH: Kennywood's Nick Paradise on PTL --

So what else is new?

Besides some new food items, riders of the Sky Rocket coaster can put on virtual reality or VR goggles while they ride, simulating a whole new experience, including veering off the tracks -- well, not for real

"If you're looking to try something different or are into virtual reality, it's a cool extra opportunity there," says Paradise.

Speaking of coasters, it's the Thunderbolt's 50th anniversary, so watch for a special week when guests 50 and over get in for $19.68, the year the Thunderbolt was installed.

And Kennywood itself is also celebrating -- 120 years of summer fun for all.