Thomas & Friends™ Makes Tracks to Pittsburgh's Kennywood Park

WEST MIFFLIN, PA--Thomas the Tank Engine™, along with his friends and favorite destinations from the Island of Sodor, will come to life this year with the opening of Thomas Town™ within Kennywood Park, one of the world's most renowned family amusement parks. Thomas Town will feature five rides including a train ride with Thomas, a stage show along with themed play and entertainment areas, merchandise opportunities and more within a section of Kennywood. It will be the second-largest permanent Thomas & Friends™ attraction in North America. "We're so excited to welcome Thomas & Friends to Kennywood," says Kennywood General Manager Jerome Gibas. "Thomas Town presents a huge addition that expands our family offerings while introducing the park to Thomas & Friends fans from around the globe. We couldn't ask for a better gift for Kennywood and our guests to help celebrate our 120th anniversary season in 2018." Set on a bluff overlooking the Monongahela River and the historic Edgar Thomson Steel Works in nearby Braddock, the site of Thomas Town fits in perfectly with the Island of Sodor. It will be one of the largest single-year additions in Kennywood's 120-year history, adding four new family rides, plus retheming The Olde Kennywood Railroad into a Thomas & Friends story. The area will also include a retail center, soft-play area, Birthday Center, and an entertainment show featuring Thomas' friends Percy, James, Emily and Gordon. All the attractions will be placed in and around the existing footprint of the park's train ride, which has operated at Kennywood with various themes since 1945. All of the rides and attractions will feature beloved characters such as Thomas, Diesel, Salty, Iron Bert, Rusty, Cranky the Crane, Harold the Helicopter and more favorites. Guests can visit familiar destinations around the Island of Sodor like Tidmouth Sheds and Knapford Station. Sir Topham Hatt, Controller of the Railway on the Island of Sodor, will be on site to greet and take photos with guests. More details will be revealed in the coming months leading up to the area's grand opening. Follow along for updates on construction and progress on our Thomas Town page, plus the Kennywood Facebook and Twitter pages. 

"We're so excited to welcome Thomas & Friends to Kennywood," says Kennywood General Manager Jerome Gibas. "Thomas Town presents a huge addition that expands our family offerings while introducing the park to Thomas & Friends fans from around the globe. We couldn't ask for a better gift for Kennywood and our guests to help celebrate our 120th anniversary season in 2018."

Thomas the Tank Engine™ was created more than 70 years ago by a British clergyman, the Rev W Awdry, as a storybook for his son. That story quickly grew to become the award-winning global brand franchise it is today, enjoyed by families in more than 150 territories and in over 40 languages across multiple touch-points and formats, including: 400+ original TV shows; 12 feature-length films; 14 websites in nine languages; apps; toys (ranked number one property in the pre-school toys category in the UK and Australia and number two in the US); consumer products; publishing; live attractions and much more. Thomas & Friends has scooped prestigious accolades including a Parent’s Choice Award, a Webby and a Licensing Award for Best Classic Licensed Property. The famous and cheeky No.1 blue engine and his friends invite children to enter a world of imagination through the tracks of a train. Together, the children and engines embark on timeless adventures while experiencing valuable yet fun life lessons of discovery, friendship and cooperation. For more information about the wonderful world of Thomas & Friends please visit the Thomas & Friends web site, Facebook page, and YouTube channel for bonus material and exclusive content.  

Mattel is a global learning, development and play company that inspires the next generation of kids to shape a brighter tomorrow. Through our portfolio of iconic consumer brands, including American Girl®, Barbie®, Fisher-Price®, Hot Wheels® and Thomas & Friends™, we create systems of play, content and experiences that help kids unlock their full potential. Mattel also creates inspiring and innovative products in collaboration with leading entertainment and technology companies as well as other partners. With a global workforce of approximately 32,000 people, Mattel operates in 40 countries and territories and sells products in more than 150 nations. Visit Mattel online at www.mattel.com.