Kennywood has provided an update on its Steel Curtain roller coaster, which has been closed for the entire 2024 season.
The West Mifflin, Pennsylvania amusement park had announced in April that the problematic nine-inversion coaster would be undergoing “an extensive modification project” in 2024 to increase reliability. The modifications are about to become more visible, according to the Friday press release from the park.
Kennywood general manager Ricky Spicuzza said in a statement, “When you visit the park this weekend, you will notice we have begun the next phase of work on this project, which includes adding additional columns to the structure. These enhancements and others will increase the coaster’s reliability and longevity, maintaining it for generations of riders to come.”
Spicuzza continued, “We are excited to continue progress on the coaster over the next several months and we can’t wait to welcome riders back to the Steel Curtain in 2025.”
The update confirms that Kennywood plans on reopening the attraction. Steel Curtain opened in 2019, setting a new North American record for most inversions on a coaster. However, it struggled with repeated periods of extended downtime, including closing for the last months of the 2023 season.
Steel Curtain was built by the Utah-based S&S Worldwide, the same firm behind the 4D FreeSpin coasters found in many Six Flags parks, as well as the Maxx Force launch coaster at Six Flags Great America.