Kennywood restores classic Whip ride as part of 125th Celebration

By: Tasha Pokrzywa | Communications Manager - Pittsburgh HUB

The paint fumes fill the air long before you open Kennywood’s body shop door. Two Whip cars are propped up on wooden horses, ready for their renovation before Kennywood’s upcoming 125^th Celebration. Ed Lisowski is suited up in protective coveralls that have seen their fair share of Kennywood projects through the years. He has been doing body and paint work at the park since the mid-‘90s, handling everything from signage to ride vehicles, plus whatever else may come into his shop. Ed’s currently working on painting each of the 16 cars that belong to the Whip, Kennywood’s oldest flat ride that dates all the way back to 1926.

Lisowski is certified in just about everything offered to paint technicians through PPG Industries, Inc., the park's paint supplier with headquarters here in Pittsburgh. To become certified, students must pass both written and hands-on testing. Preparing and applying these paints take a lot of skill and knowledge to ensure the highest quality paint job that can withstand the elements that Kennywood's attractions endure each season.

After Lisowski completes the prep work and priming on each car, they are ready for color. That's when he dons something similar to a space suit, with a protective hood and face shield plus a hose to allow for breathable clean air. A section of the body shop has giant doors that close while industrial vents run to dispel the fumes during painting and drying. All in all, each car remains with Ed for about a week, when two more arrive once the newly-painted, brightly-colored cars depart.

While the body shop is the first stop for the cars, it's certainly not their last. Kennywood's carpenters check and replace the wood along the cars' frames, making sure everything in place is sturdy and free from rot. Next, another stop for upholstery work on the seats. The vinyl seats can become frayed or even ripped through the season, so they often need repaired or completely replaced. Then, mechanics swap out any worn bearings on the wheels and pressure wash the others, ensuring smooth, safe rides for guests all season.

“There’s more to it than I think a lot of people realize,” Ed explains as he mixes a vibrant deep purple for the two cars this week. “There’s a lot of maintenance that goes on, it’s more than just turning the lights on.”

Of course, the tremendous upkeep of the rides at Kennywood is for more than just looks. To ensure the highest safety standards, Kennywood's team members continuously work to maintain the park's 40+ rides and attractions all year. The bulk of the work comes in the off-season when all ride components are thoroughly checked and repaired in any way needed. 

The last stop for the Whip cars is the paint shop, where Jen Tomasic gives the cars their finishing touches of vinyl lettering. Tomasic, a University of Pittsburgh studio arts graduate, has offered her creativity and talent to paint at Kennywood for over 20 years. She delicately paints the numbers on the front of each car and the ride’s name on the back before they are taken to finish curing and drying under one of the pavilions.

The Whip is just one of the attractions receiving a refresh this winter. Tomasic and Lisowski are also working on several other park projects together ahead of the upcoming season. This includes work on Kennywood’s new ride, Spinvasion, plus the refreshed Cosmic Chaos along with the entire new Area 412 that will welcome the out-of-this-world ride, opening Memorial Day Weekend. Their paint projects include signage for the new area, with radiantly-colored aliens and space crafts, as well as various other park improvements yet to be announced. 

“This is the rewarding part of it,” Lisowski says after finishing the final spray of the Whip cars and assessing his work. “You’re trying to do the best you can to have something that looks shiny and nice. You take pride in what you do. That’s your bread and butter. That’s important.”

Kennywood’s 125^th season kicks off on April 22. Check out the park’s limited-time Season Pass payment plan options - then start to plan your visit today!