The Legacy of the Phantom
Two decades after its makeover, The Phantom’s Revenge remains a beloved favorite among parkgoers and roller coaster enthusiasts alike.
Remnants
The coaster has been well cared for—in true Kennywood fashion—and has held up remarkably well. Much of the original Arrow track has been replaced over the years as part of ongoing maintenance. For the 2009 season, it opened with newly fabricated track sections from the first drop to the top of the second hill; nowadays, the only remaining sections of Arrow track are functional elements such as the lift hill, station, storage track, and brake run.
To tell the difference between the two track types, notice how the Morgan sections have large cross ties that wrap around the track spine, similar to a ribbed pattern; the surviving Arrow segments have smaller cross ties that connect mostly atop the spine.
Speaking of Arrow, the scraps of Phantom’s old track are scattered around as decoration at the Diesel Drivers children’s ride. On the topic of remnants, some footers from Laser Loop can be seen from Phantom’s queue, while a few from Steel Phantom can still be spotted during the ride.
The fiberglass train shells from the original Steel Phantom trains have survived in private collections.
For the 2022 season, Kennywood repainted the “terrifying teal” track to “petrifying purple,” a color chosen by fans and done by Baynum Solutions.
Staying Power
The Phantom’s Revenge is essential to the park’s identity, being honored in many ways; its larger-than-life presence inspired the name of the Lil’ Phantom kiddie coaster, and it continues to play a spirited role in the annual Phantom Fall Fest event.
The original Steel Phantom is missed, but many who have ridden both consider The Phantom’s Revenge to be the better ride. The idea behind Steel Phantom still lives on as riders take the 200-plus-foot drop down the ravine to this day.
Phantom’s famous drop down the hillside remains elite after all these years, and the hills in the second half make it an airtime machine unlike any other. It has stood the test of time, still ranking among the best steel coasters in the Golden Ticket Awards.
It’s perfectly chaotic; no other coaster gives riders the sensation of diving down a ravine with nothing but a pool-noodle-type lap bar to stay strapped in. Its classic feel—especially the absence of air gates in the station—captures the historic and timeless character of Kennywood.
The records Steel Phantom broke back in the ‘90s have long been outdone, but Revenge is still among the fastest coasters in the world. Modern record-setters reach over 300, 400, and—soon enough—600 feet, but that doesn’t stop fans from coming back to experience the unmistakable thrill of The Phantom’s Revenge.
It stood as Kennywood’s tallest coaster until the 220-foot Steel Curtain opened in 2019. Ironically, Steel Curtain replaced an Arrow log flume ride and was manufactured by S&S – Sansei Technologies, the company that acquired the assets of the now-defunct Arrow Dynamics. In a way, the football-themed hypercoaster feels like a spiritual successor to Steel Phantom as it dives 205 feet into nine inversions, tying the North American record.
Dana Morgan retired from the industry in 2001, selling the assets of D. H. Morgan Manufacturing to Chance Rides. Chance went on to produce a mini Phantom’s Revenge-like coaster, Lightning Run at Kentucky Kingdom.
Morgan’s redesign of the Phantom was rare for its time; however, in recent years, more parks and manufacturers have taken on conversions that are a hit with fans. Take for example Rocky Mountain Construction’s work to transform aging wooden coasters into hybrid masterpieces or Zamperla’s efforts to give the 420-foot-tall Top Thrill Dragster a second life.
The Phantom’s Future
The Phantom’s Revenge stands as a ghost of Arrow past, but other loopers of the era did not stand the test of time. Viper at Six Flags Magic Mountain, which inspired Steel Phantom’s first drop, is the final remaining Arrow mega-looper as of 2025.
Steel Phantom may have been criticized for being rough, but no one could say it was boring; as its sequel continues, the coaster is as thrilling as ever, ready to be enjoyed by generations to come. Kennywood—and its longstanding collection of wooden coasters—is now under the ownership of Herschend Family Entertainment, which also owns world-class parks such as Dollywood and Silver Dollar City.
Considering the way Kennywood cares for its coasters, Pittsburgh locals and coaster enthusiasts alike can continue feel the thrilling spirit of The Phantom’s Revenge.
The spirit of Kennywood is that of history, tradition, and memories—the spirit of Kennywood is The Phantom’s Revenge.
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