Kennywood kept Steel Curtain closure secret to bolster sales, lawsuit says

A New Kensington man is suing Kennywood, contending the West Mifflin amusement park withheld information about a seasonlong closure of its flagship attraction to bolster its season pass sales.

Kennywood officials last week announced the Steel Curtain roller coaster would not open in the 2024 season, disappointing riders and leaving at least one season pass holder feel like he had been swindled.

Joshua Miller filed a class-action lawsuit with his attorney, John A. Biedrzycki III, on Monday in Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas. They could not immediately be reached for comment.

The lawsuit alleges Kennywood and its parent company enticed Miller and others to buy season passes with advertisements that featured the Steel Curtain and other attractions.

Miller believed the Steel Curtain — which opened in 2019 and is promised on Kennywood’s website to “make a lasting impression” — would be running this season when he purchased the pass. In the lawsuit, Miller alleged Kennywood knew beforehand that it would have to close the coaster this season but opted to withhold that information to avoid losing customers.

A Kennywood spokesperson Tuesday declined to comment on the lawsuit.

The lawsuit contends that Kennywood violated the state’s unfair trade practices and consumer protection law by failing to disclose the Steel Curtain would be closed. The suit alleges three violations.

Miller is seeking $100 per violation for himself and anyone else who purchased season passes before the park announced the Steel Curtain would not be operational this year.

Season passes range in price from $109.99 for the base level pass to $239.99 for a top-tier pass that also provides access to Sandcastle, Idlewild & SoakZone and Dutch Wonderland.

The Steel Curtain closed in August for maintenance work.

Kennywood announced just days before the park opened for the year it would be closed for the duration of the 2024 season. Park officials said the ride would undergo an extensive modification project to increase its longevity and reliability.