Kennywood Takes Center Stage in “Adventureland”
As the summer begins to wind down, what better time to turn our attention to a Pittsburgh staple. Kennywood Park is located in West Mifflin and has been a beloved destination for 128 years. The amusement park opened in 1898 as a trolley park at the end of the Monongahela Street Railway, which was owned by the Mellon family. While the term “trolley park” might be new to you, you’re already likely familiar with one: Coney Island. A trolley park is defined as a recreation area along or at the end of a streetcar line. In the beginning, these parks had picnic spots and green spaces, but eventually grew to include Ferris wheels, roller coasters, and more. Thus, the amusement park was born.
Kennywood is one of only thirteen trolley parks still in operation, and one of only two amusement parks in the United States that has been designated as a National Historic Landmark. For movie lovers, though, Kennywood is a different kind of landmark. Famed Pittsburgh historian Rick Seback made a 1988 documentary called Kennywood Memories that’s considered one of his most popular films. This was not the only movie shot on the grounds of Kennywood.
© 2007 Miramax Films. All Rights Reserved.
2009 was the height of Twilight fever. Tweens everywhere were arguing about being Team Edward or Team Jacob, but it’s the girl at the center of this love triangle who spent some time in Pittsburgh. In 2007, Kristen Stewart was here shooting Adventureland, and it was on that set that Twilight’s director, Catherine Hardwicke, came to visit for an informal screen test. Despite the fact that Stewart shot Adventureland in 2007, Twilight would be completed and released a full year before Adventureland.
Loosely based on the Long Island amusement park of the same name, Adventureland does take place in Pittsburgh. Written and directed by Greg Mottola, the film follows James (Jesse Eisenberg) in his immediate post-college months of indecision. He’s supposed to be backpacking across Europe, but his father (Jack Gilpin) lost his job, so there’s no money to fund this excursion. Instead, James must spend the summer in his hometown of Pittsburgh, working in the games section of the local theme park, Adventureland. It’s there where he meets Stewart’s Em, a fellow games employee with whom he becomes quickly infatuated.
Of course Kennywood is the stand-in for Adventureland, and while the film takes place over the summer months, it would have been an operational nightmare to make a movie while thousands of Pittsburghers were enjoying their annual trek to the park. Adventureland was filmed during the winter months to allow free access to the park and the rides. The classic Musik Express is heavily featured throughout the movie, while other rides like The Racer, Phantom’s Revenge, Noah’s Ark, and more are seen in the background.
Kennywood is not the only Pittsburgh-area location to be seen in Adventureland. James takes a girl, Lisa P (Margarita Levieva), on a date to what’s called Velvet Touch, but is actually Jodi B’s Restaurant in Forest Hills. Despite this date, James’ real sights are set on Em, with whom he shares a kiss on the 16th Street Bridge. In Coraopolis, the Stardust Lounge is the location of the scene where the Rolling Stones cover band plays. And last but not least, the scenes of James’ family home were shot in the Fox Ridge neighborhood of McCandless.
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