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It's
THE STORY
Entering the new millennium, Kennywood was eager to come up with something different and exciting. Something daring had to be done to make the Pittsburgh park stand out and be noticed among its close competitors-the amusement industry's monsters that were building roller coasters quicker than a Todd Ritchie fastball.
It was decided that in order to commit and maintain Kennywood as America's Finest Traditional Amusement Park, one of its signature rides, The Steel Phantom, had to be dismantled and replaced.
Once it became common knowledge that the Steel Phantom would no longer be in existence after Labor Day of the 2000 season, letters of concern and confusion came pouring in. "Why are you getting rid of the best ride in the park"? "Why not take out some of those pavilions instead"? "Why get rid of a Top 5 Coaster"? Why, why, why???
"Because", offered the president of Kennywood, "we need to do better". So, the Steel Phantom would be no more.
As the last few months of the Steel Phantom's life became weeks, the blueprints for the new ride were completed. The Phantom would be taken down and discarded and the new ride would be a secret until its unveiling in 2001.
During these last few weeks we started to notice things subtly changing the face of Kennywood. For one thing, even on the sun-shiniest days, the sky would be dark and brooding in Lost Kennywood, and the air would be cold. Even the mood of the Guests and Team Members was sharp.
It was then also, we noticed things missing. Little things at first, like a spatula from Small Fry or balls from the Spill the Milk game. As days went by, things went from vanishing to being vandalized. Team Members would return to work every morning finding something in disarray-- gift shops with stock knocked to the floor, garbage cans tipped over in the park's midways, windows smashed as if golf balls were being driven right through them!
Who is doing this? Rumors were flying. Who was responsible?
Then the ultimate crime…the blueprints for the new ride were missing. The secret blueprints were GONE! It was that day our mystery was explained.
That afternoon, shreds of blue paper began blowing across the platform of the Steel Phantom. Team Members tried to keep the debris from blowing on the tracks and onto patrons but due to the unbelievable amount, they were unable to keep up, and subsequently the ride was shut down. Piles built up on the platform and in the cars. Team Members called for assistance to clean up the mess. Everyone was in the process of helping to sweep up when the ride's loudspeaker audibly kicked on. It squealed and scraped, forcing everyone on the platform to cover their ears. Then, …it was perfectly silent.
"YOU DARE VANQUISH THE STEEL PHANTOM WITHOUT MY CONSENT! FEAR THE WRATH OF THE PHANTOM! MORTALS DID NOT CREATE THE PHANTOM LEGEND AND CANNOT SEVER MY PRESENCE FROM KENNYWOOD!! HEAR ME AND KNOW-ONLY I CAN TRANSFORM THE STEEL PHANTOM OR YOU WILL FACE MY VENGEANCE!!
The voice died away. The speakers were quiet. Team Members stood in awe staring blankly at each other. Creaking, ripping sounds caused everyone on the platform to snap out of their initial shock to see a giant, opaque figure floating in the station like a black cloud. It then sped with a flash of lightning back towards the coaster's loops and became so large, it filled the entire butterfly. Green eyes appeared, glaring from the cloud and hands materialized grabbing a loop in each hand, tearing them apart like a Thanksgiving wishbone.
The group on the platform stared with terror, open-mouthed. One Team Member was able to yell, "Oh no! Our ride"!! The form faced the frightened group and muttered, "not YOUR ride".
The Phantom made quick work of the coaster's track, ripping out all of the loops and upside down track with hands flashing and bolts of electricity shooting from his fists, leaving behind the ride's majesty, the first and second drops.
The Phantom then calmly approached the horrified group, eyes glowing, "YOU WILL DO MY BIDDING" … and vanished...
After a minute, the group felt safe enough to move. One radio-wielding Team Member called in with hesitance, "assistance at the Phantom-code 10". Several supervisors rushed over to Lost Kennywood. They were met by a group of excited co-workers babbling incoherently and pointing at the Steel Phantom. Something about the track being broken, cracked, lightning…what??? The ride appeared to be in one piece. The Kennywood roller coaster engineers gave the Steel Phantom a thorough examination and found nothing out of place. The Team Members were incredulous!! They burst into the office of the president with their story of green glowing eyes and lightning hands and Phantom warnings.
We can take a hint. He wins. The Legend of the Phantom Lives.
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The "Phantom" Story is Copyright Kennywood 2000©