Steel Curtain, PA's Tallest Coaster, On Track For Summer

PITTSBURGH, PA - Pennsylvania’s tallest coaster is taking shape at a Pittsburgh-area amusement park, and it won’t be long before the sounds of construction vehicles and equipment will be replaced by cries of terror and exhilaration.

Kennywood on Wednesday offered an up-close look at The Steel Curtain. Though it won’t open until sometime this summer, the coaster already tops the list of top 10 extreme coasters for 2019 by Blooloop, an online resource for professionals in the theme parks industry.

Named after the heralded Pittsburgh Steelers defenses of the 1970s, the ride will anchor Kennywood’s new Steelers Country area. It will feature an entry tunnel similar to the one at Heinz Field, interactive skill games, a new restaurant area, a Steelers fountain that will allow park guests to cool off on hot summer days, a dining area and a large scoreboard.

The Steel Curtain will be the state’s tallest coaster at 220 feet; it will have the world’s tallest inversion, 197 feet; and its nine inversions total will be the most of any coaster in North America. With a top speed of 75 mph, the 24-passenger cars will complete the 4,000-foot ride in just two minutes.

Construction of the ride’s 152 foundations began last year. There are 113 pieces of track being assembled, with the largest piece being 39 feet long and weighing more than 12,000 pounds. More than 21,000 bolts are being used for the project.

You can watch video of the tour and remarks by Kennywood and Steelers officials here:

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