As a Kennywood first-timer, I was excited. People I’d asked, like my father and friends, told me that it was a fun place that I had to go to before I left for college—a PA staple. When I walked in the gates my heart started to beat heavier. The sight of the coasters was much more intimidating up close.

The first coaster I took on was the Skyrocket, a blue coaster near the front of the park which climbed a tall hill and slashed down at a sharp angle, went upside down a few times, and skyrocketed me to fear I had never felt before.

One thing to know about me is that I have a gigantic fear of heights, so naturally I have a gigantic fear of roller coasters . . . But did I still ride them? Yes.

During the 35-minute long wait, I was a catatonic mess.

Six years prior at Cedar Point I rode the scariest ride they had which hurtled riders 94 miles per hour, was over 300 feet in the air, and slashed down at a 90-degree angle. I was not terrified. I rode more coasters after. I did not cry.

However, my brother told me when we got off the ride that he had never heard me scream that much or that loudly.

Sometime in the last six years I became much, much more afraid of roller coasters.

Through my research, I found that as you get older, your sense of balance decreases and such intense movement affects you more, and that with age comes knowledge of risks and potential dangers. These factors fit my experience to a tee.

After the Kennywood classic Jackrabbit coaster, which I reluctantly agreed to ride in hopes that a less intimidating ride would be more approachable, I was ready for the Phantom to take me.

Although the ride was not remotely intimidating (to normal people, like the 8-year-old that mogged me in line), I felt a compiling fear from all of my ancestors before me which cultivated in me a fight, flight, or freeze response and made me beg my father for freedom from the line of the Racers.

This sense of dread left me distraught on a bench with tears welling in my eyes. The only thing that could calm me down was my oh-so-beloved iPhone and Instagram Reels.

After the Racer, the Phantom’s bell tolled signaling park goers that the 6 p.m. Phantom Fest began. Smoke seeped into the masses and the fright actors came alive.

With the darkness upon us, the fam and I decided to try one of the haunted walkthroughs, The Shady Grove Memorial Hospital.

After the hour-long wait, we were greeted by a medium-level fright that centered around eyes. One hulking fright actor asked me if he could take my pretty blue orbs. I found myself being targeted (rightfully so) by fright actors as I am a 5 foot 1 inch teenage girl and easy scaring prey.

Along the journey of exploring all that Phantom Fest had to offer, I came across two main areas of focus for the frights: Hellbilly Hollow and the Dead Light District. Hellbilly Hollow was my favorite of the two and consisted of a variety of Appalachian-themed frights catering to the bizarre. With (seemingly) drunken men in overalls, hay bales, and a porta potty that sprayed water at passersby the area was full of spooky whimsy that reminded one of home.

After a slice of pizza, we were ready for another ride. But due to my intense fear of tall coasters, we landed on The Exterminator, an indoor roller coaster centered on an exterminator chasing a rat.

As the line for this ride was 95 minutes, it was our last ride of the night and left me with fun memories. I loved the exterminator. It was just scary enough to get me screaming, but not too intense for tears. I loved it and would 100 percent ride it again!

One Beaver Area teacher, Mr. Dane Schlenke, said that he loved going to Kennywood in the summers with his school marching band and “couldn’t get enough of the Potato Patch fries!”

Mr. Schlenke also recalled the previous lack of safety on rides like the Jackrabbit which, instead of a safety belt, held passengers in place with a piece of leather tied to both ends on each seat. Mr. Schlenke shared a personal anecdote of the ride and how he had to pull his brother back into the seat after the leather failed to contain him in the ride—this made me very thankful for better safety regulations.

Contrary to my experience, Mr. Schlenke felt “thrilled, not scared” on the roller coasters and said he loved roller coasters three times in our conversation.

All this is to say: my Kennywood Phantom Fest experience is a 6.5/10 as the lines were incredibly long and I am terrified of roller coasters.

Go to Kennywood if you’re a thrill seeker or are just looking for a new experience. The food is great and the atmosphere is wonderfully festive.

Challenge yourself to not be a scaredy-cat like me and try out Kennywood next summer or next Halloween . . . If you dare . . .