West Mifflin in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Jack Rabbit
ACE Roller Coaster Landmark
Photographed by Bradley Owen, August 24, 2024
1. Jack Rabbit Marker
American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE) recognizes Kennywood's Jack Rabbit as an ACE Roller Coaster Landmark, a designation reserved for rides of historic significance.
Featuring four drops into a natural ravine, Jack Rabbit is best known for its signature air-time-producing, 68-foot, 6-inch "double dip" following an uncommon mid-course lift hill. The 2,132-foot long wood coaster was constructed in 1920 by the fabled "Golden Age" coaster design team of John Miller (1872-1941) and Harry Baker (1887-1939), at a cost of $50,000, with construction supervised by Kennywood's Charles J. Mach. It was the park's first coaster to feature Miller's patented and revolutionary underfriction wheels, which locked the train to the track, allowing for steeper and more daring drops than previously possible. When it first opened to the public on June 18, 1920, Jack Rabbit featured a dark tunnel around the lower back turn that was removed during the 1940s, but was later reinstated prior to the 1991 season.
Noted also for its classic Edward Vettel Sr.-designed trains with stationary lap-bars that replaced the original open-front trains in 1951, Jack Rabbit has remained one of Kennywood's most popular coasters for over 90 years. As one of the oldest operating coasters in the world, Jack Rabbit is a true
this page online
ACE salutes Kennywood, a National Historic Landmark, for continuing to operate and preserve Jack Rabbit for generations of riders to enjoy.
Erected 2010 by American Coaster Enthusiasts.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Entertainment • Parks & Recreational Areas. In addition, it is included in the ACE Roller Coaster Landmarks series list. A significant historical date for this entry is June 18, 1920.
Location. 40° 23.22′ N, 79° 51.788′ W. Marker is in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, in Allegheny County. It can be reached from the intersection of Kennywood Boulevard (Pennsylvania Route 837) and Hoffman Boulevard, on the right when traveling north. Marker is located in Kennywood Amusement Park. Admission fee is required for entry. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4800 Kennywood Blvd, West Mifflin PA 15122, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Greater Pittsburgh. It is also in the American Northeast, in the Mid-Atlantic, in the Ohio River Valley, in Appalachia, and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France, the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, and one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A different marker also named Jack Rabbit (here, next to this marker); Racer (within shouting distance of this marker); Kangaroo (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Racer (within shouting distance of this marker); Kennywood Park
Photographed by Bradley Owen, August 24, 2024
2. Jack Rabbit Marker
Other markers no longer nearby. George Was Here (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); The Windmill (was about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line but has been reported to have been replaced with another marker now near it).
Photographed by Bradley Owen, August 24, 2024
3. Jack Rabbit Roller Coaster
Credits. This page was last revised on August 31, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 30, 2024, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. This page has been viewed 242 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 31, 2024, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia.
