Jack Rabbit (Kennywood)

Jack Rabbit
Kennywood
Coordinates	40°23′12″N 79°51′46″W / 40.38667°N 79.86278°WCoordinates: 40°23′12″N 79°51′46″W / 40.38667°N 79.86278°W
Status	Operating
Opening date	1920
Cost	$50,000
General statistics
Type	Wood
Manufacturer	Harry C. Baker
Designer	John A. Miller
Model	Out and Back roller coaster
Track layout	Terrain
Lift/launch system	Chain lift
Height	40 ft (12 m)
Drop	70 ft (21 m)
Length	2,132 ft (650 m)
Speed	45 mph (72 km/h)
Inversions	0
Duration	1:36
Max vertical angle	45°
Height restriction	36 in (91 cm)
Trains	3 trains with 3 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 3 rows for a total of 18 riders per train.
Jack Rabbit at RCDB Pictures of Jack Rabbit at RCDB

Jack Rabbit is a wooden roller coaster located at Kennywood Park in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh, United States.

Designed and built by John A. Miller and Harry C. Baker^[1] in 1921, it is one of the oldest still-running roller coasters in the world. The ride's three trains were manufactured by Edward Vettel, Sr. in 1951 and contain three cars of six seats each. The aging cars are considered a part of the ride's nostalgic experience but also lead to some young children being disallowed to enter the ride (36" is the minimum), due to the use of a small lapbar to hold in riders. A popular early feature of the ride was a tunnel which covered the turnaround section after the first drop, but this was removed in 1947 when the new cars were ordered. In 1991, the tunnel was restored, at a slightly shorter length.

The Jack Rabbit was built shortly after Miller patented a new track design in 1921 (which all wooden coasters built since have used). This design involved the use of wheels both under and over the track, which allowed Miller to create the then enormous 70-foot (21 m) drop that is the attraction's largest. It is most well known for its double dip following the lift hill. The double dip produces strong airtime that makes the rider feel that they will be thrown from the seat, and a feeling that the train leaves the track (it rises up but the upstop wheels keep it firmly on the rails).

According to Rick Sebak, producer of Pittsburgh history programs for WQED, the attraction was designed so that each train's last seat would provide the strongest airtime, and therefore the most desired ride.

Awards

It is an ACE Coaster Classic.^[2]

Jack Rabbit was designated as an "ACE Roller Coaster Landmark" by American Coaster Enthusiasts in June, 2010.^[3]

Golden Ticket Awards: Top wood Roller Coasters
Year	1998	1999	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016
Ranking	20[4]	22[5]	36[6]	37[7]	42[8]	34[9]	28[10]	37[11]	33[12]	34[13]	39[14]	20[15]	23[16]	16[17]	18[18]	19[19]	21[20]	20[21]

Gallery

• 
  The orange train after departing the station.
• 
  The pink train begins its descent down the double dip. This train has since been repainted orange as seen in the other photos.
• 
  The double dip, the Jack Rabbit's signature element, as seen from the queue at left along with the ride's first drop next to it.
• 
  The orange train loading in the station.

References

1. Miller and Baker Inc. 1923 Catalogue (reprint). Natrona Heights, PA: Amusement Park Journal. 1923.
2. ACE Coaster Classic Awards
4. "Top 25 wood roller coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 6B. August 1998. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
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19. "2014 Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 18 (6.2): 38–39. September 2014. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
20. "2015 Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 19 (6.2): 45–46. September 2015. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
21. "2016 Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 20 (6.2): 46–46. September 2016. Retrieved September 13, 2016.