{{Short description|Defunct drop tower at Kennywood}} {{notability|date = January 2021}} {{ Infobox attraction | name = Pitt Fall | logo = | logo_width = | image = Pitt Fall.jpg | imagedimensions = 250px | caption = Pitt Fall's yellow and black structure at night | location = Kennywood | section = [[Kennywood#Themed park areas|Lost Kennywood]] | status = Defunct | cost = | soft_opened = {{Start date|1997|04|17}} | opened = {{Start date|1997|04|20}} | closed = {{End date|2011|09|18}} | previousattraction = <!--If there is an appropriate article, this should be linked.--> | replacement = [[Black Widow (ride)|Black Widow]] <!--If there is an appropriate article, this should be linked.--> | coordinates = | type = [[Drop tower (ride)|Drop tower]] | manufacturer = Intamin | designer = <!--Should be linked.--> | model = [[Giant Drop (disambiguation)|Giant Drop]] | theme = | height_ft = 251 | drop_ft = 229 | length_ft = <!--Must be expressed in feet and may contain only numeric characters.--> | speed_mph = 65 | gforce = | capacity = <!--Use only one of vehicles, rows, participants, or audience--> | vehicle_type = | vehicles = 4 | riders_per_vehicle = 4 | rows = | riders_per_row = <!--Only use if rows has been specified.--> | duration = | restriction_in = 48 | virtual_queue_name = | virtual_queue_image = <!--Use ONLY the filename, not a full [[Image:]] link--> | virtual_queue_status= <!--should be available if above fields are used--> | single_rider = <!--Must be "available" if available.--> | custom_label_1 = | custom_value_1 = | custom_label_2 = | custom_value_2 = | accessible = | transfer_accessible = | assistive_listening = | cc = }} '''Pitt Fall''' was a [[drop tower (ride)|drop tower]] ride located at [[Kennywood]] amusement park in [[West Mifflin, Pennsylvania]]. The name of the ride was a pun on the word "[[Pitfall trap|pitfall]]", a type of [[booby trap]], but spelled with two "t"'s in reference to the nearby city of [[Pittsburgh]]. When it opened in 1997, it was the tallest drop tower in the world. The ride was manufactured by [[Intamin]] and its model is known in the industry as a "Giant Drop".

==History== Construction of Pitt Fall began in July 1996 at the former site of Phantom Flyers.<ref>{{cite news|date=October 19, 1996|title=Pitt Fall new 'rush'|work=Indiana Gazette|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/63009887/pitt-fall-new-rush/|access-date=September 2, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Pitt Fall soft opened on April 17, 1997, during a special preview day. The ride opened to the public on April 20, 1997.<ref>{{cite news|last=Loeffler|first=William|date=April 18, 1997|title=Kennywood adds Pitt Fall to scream team|work=News Record|publisher=Staff Writer|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54269938/kennywood-adds-pitt-fall-to-scream-team/|access-date=September 2, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

In June 2011, Pitt Fall was listed for sale and bought in early September by an undisclosed buyer. After 14 years of operation, Pitt Fall permanently closed on September 18, 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://newsplusnotes.blogspot.com/2011/09/pitt-fall-no-more.html|title=Pitt Fall No More|date=15 September 2011 |publisher=NewsPlusNotes}}</ref> It was replaced by [[Black Widow (ride)|Black Widow]] in 2012.

==Ride experience== A group of sixteen or fewer riders would be loaded into a group of four ride cars which seated four riders each. The riders were then secured with an over-the-shoulder harness and an interlocking seat belt. As the riders boarded, four yellow catch cars slowly descended from the top of the tower and coupled onto each ride car. After the all-clear was given, the catch cars pulled on the ride vehicles, lifting them off the ground and ascending to the top of the tower.

After clearing the braking zone, the cars picked up speed, reaching 12&nbsp;mph. They were held 229 feet in the air for several seconds, after which they were released from the couplings, allowing the cars to free-fall nearly 150 feet at 65&nbsp;mph.

Upon reaching the braking zone, magnetic brakes slowed the speed of the ride cars. Once the cars came to a stop on the ground, the riders lifted their safety harnesses and exited the ride.

==Records== {{S-start}} {{Succession box| title=World's Tallest Vertical Drop Ride | before=''[[Drop Tower: Scream Zone]]'' | years=1997 | after=''[[Power Tower|Power Tower (Cedar Point)]]''}} {{S-end}}

==References== *https://web.archive.org/web/20150907000821/http://coaster-net.com/ride-gallery/25-pitt-fall-defunct/ {{Reflist}}

{{Kennywood}} {{Pittsburgh Metro Area}}

[[Category:Kennywood]] [[Category:Amusement rides manufactured by Intamin]] [[Category:Drop tower rides]] [[Category:Amusement rides introduced in 1997]] [[Category:Towers completed in 1997]] [[Category:Amusement rides closed in 2011]] [[Category:1997 establishments in Pennsylvania]] [[Category:2011 disestablishments in Pennsylvania]]