Kennywood Holds Grand Re-Opening For Noah's Ark Ride

WEST MIFFLIN (KDKA) -- Noah's Ark has been a fixture in Kennywood Park for 90 years, but this year, the rocking funhouse got a makeover.

The grand re-opening of the attraction was held Wednesday.

Two by two, guests arrived for a ride on Noah's Ark. The big blue whale is back, after 20 years in exile.

It is probably the most famous whale since the one who swallowed Jonah, and there were a lot of famous faces there to celebrate the opening.

Former Steelers come in pairs.

"The people that do my website, they publicized that I was going to be out there, and they said, the whale is back, and it said Craig Wolfley underneath. And I said, 'Oh great!'" said former Steeler Craig Wolfley.

"I just love the park. I've been coming here since I was in grade school in North Braddock," said former Steelers linebacker Bill Priatko.

Noah's Ark is one of many "Kennywood Memories," preserved by documentarian Rick Sebak.

"Long before I did 'Kennywood Memories…' when I was a little kid, Noah's Ark was always a huge part of coming to Kennywood," said Sebak.

Even the Pirate Parrot brought a pal along.

"It's so much a part of Kennywood, and Kennywood is so much a part to Pittsburgh, particularly for the kids," said former Pirates pitcher Kent Tekulve. "Right after school is out, Kennywood day. All the things that my kids did, now my grandchildren are starting to do."

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And the new blue whale is just the start.

"Just about everything within the ark is all new," says Kennywood spokesman Nick Paradise. "All of the animals, with the exception of the big gorilla, are all brand new, along with the Noah figurines. The scenes, just about every one of those has changed as well. People who have gone through the ark decades ago, you'll say, 'Wow, I remember that when from when I was a kid."