The Haunting History of Kennywood’s Le Cachot

[@Astrojack83]

I miss these old dark rides. I'd love to see an old school dark ride return to kennywood.

[@twktodd]

I can still remember the sound that it made the tick tick tick sound, then the bang of slamming into the doors. I miss this ride.

[@jackschissler255]

The Gold Rusher started out on ground level but after a few yrs they raised it to the top. When it was on ground level it went up a small hill but once they raised it up, the hill was gone. The Gold Rusher had this spiral track that went down around this massive waterfall.

[@Stacey89]

I swear I remember that at one point, when the lights were flickering, there was a black and white checkered floor. It was a fun ride for sure.

[@nohandle227]

Bill Tracy Was the man for classic dark ride design. I rode many of these rides at Kennywood as a kid. The one I remember the least of was "Tornado" pre -"Ghost Ship" , I was only 4 at the time. But as for the others: "Noah's Ark" before the whale mouth. Safari when it had the native out front, then changed to a lion with a mouse on it's nose (they changed it for obvious reasons). They then changed it to "Le Cachot" which still had a lot of the Safari stunts but they did add other items. The "Old Mill" when it had exotic areas like Spain or Hawaii and had Tarzan swinging from cables. The one I miss though is the "Ghost Ship". This ride had the best theming and the best stunts.

[@FatherAxeKeeper]

This ride scared me so much as a kid back in the late 80s/90s. I couldn't even stand to look at it while walking past. I remember on the side of the building that housed it were numbers counting down from 9 that you could see from the food court next to the ride. Even that scared me as I had no idea what they represented, and the fear of the unknown terrified me. Still I rode it about 5 times, usually covering my eyes with my hands most of the time, while trying to prove to my older brother and mom that I wasn't scared. Looking back the super loud noise the cars made was probably the scariest part. I went back to the park in the early 2000's hoping to face my fears as an adult only to be met with the sad news that it had been demolished. I would give anything to ride it again and hear those extremely loud cars.

[@denniswhite6013]

Please bring this back, seems to be every ones #1 ride they miss!

[@JunkyardKid]

Loved it. The facade was one of Bill Tracey’s best. I remember it being very scary and unnerving.

[@dananderson3077]

Any Bill Tracy gags great......nice installment!

[@TOFTS77]

Kennywood picnic we would always makes sure to hit the trifecta of Dark rides. Old Mill, Gold Rush, and Le Cachot. Of course we would also walk through Noah's Ark but we never considered it a Dark Ride. The Buzzing and click of the carts from Le Cachot is permanently ingrained in my memory. Funny enough because of how close they were I always thought Gold Rush was directly above Le Cachot.

[@RMsteelerfan7]

It actually was in some portions of it, but Gold Rush mainly used the top part of the games building that’s right next door. That’s also where Ghostwood goes, all above the games building on the top floor.

[@kaystray5034]

I randomly thought about this ride this afternoon and was so excited to see a video about it! I remember my mom and sister taking me on this ride when I was little. I was really really nervous but my mom pointed out there was a stuffed Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle toy hanging from one of the "cages" containing the swinging faces on the front where the line queued and it made me laugh. I enjoyed the ride and even though I was still a little scared my mom made me feel super safe. ❤

[@dandrnachmusic]

I remember riding this in the 80s/90s and really enjoyed it. I think Kennywood should be more proactive to recreate and preserve rides like this. In the way the did the Kangaroo. This Pretzel style ride has a tiny footprint and fits hand in hand with Kennywood's history

[@benjaminspudich8519]

I use to love this ride. I have good memories of riding it with my mom. I love you mom rest in peace!

[@jasonk.9170]

Boy, this ride brought back memories! Especially the summer mom took me on it, gashed her foot on a piece of sharp metal on the cart and had to go to that medical place by the Grand Prix by the bathrooms and went home early! Got a bunch of free tics tho, love Kennywood happy Halloween yinz guys! 🎃

[@RMsteelerfan7]

Haha kinda reminds me of the time I was on Thunderbolt a while back and I don’t remember exactly what I got cut by, but something cut into my finger and gave me a cut. I had to go over to the first aid area near Gran Prix (surprisingly it’s not called Grand, it’s actually called Gran Prix.. just learned of that maybe a month ago), but anywho, yeah they gave me a bandaid, and I was on my way. Good times.

[@jasonk.9170]

@@RMsteelerfan7 same first aid mom went to when I was a kid! I always thought it was Grand tho weird

[@RMsteelerfan7]

I did too, but Kennywood calls it “Gran” on their website, and even on the sign of the ride in person. So I guess I was lied to this entire time lol. It was hard to believe at first.

[@amusementvillage]

I miss this ride, sad it's gone

[@3000adidaskorn]

The room with the flashing lights was the best! On the other side of that room was another track. People that got on the ride after you would pass by you in that room. I remember throwing pennies at my brother and his friend passing by. LoL

[@ambergriffith6926]

Memory unlocked! I’d forgotten about this one!!!

[@christinatait1911]

I really miss lecachot along with all the other dark rides❤😢

[@HistoricalAmusements]

Great Video! Did you know there used to be a dragon in the ride where the skeletons fishing in the boat were, the dragon is now at Idlewild in the storybook forest.

[@RMsteelerfan7]

No, I did not know that. That's really cool though!

[@ScottyMania313]

I enjoyed this one and Goldrusher. They make me thirsty for some old school Kennywood juice served in a plastic fruit-shaped cup with a silly straw.

[@latenitevegas]

The grape one always comes to mind

[@JessicaMcCort]

I completely forgot about The Gold Rusher!! ❤

[@brianlyautey8768]

I was so upset when they took this Classic Dark Ride out of the park.

[@SlippinnnJimmy]

1:30 The most Pittsburgh guy ever! 😂

[@alexmcgrogan8557]

Best dark ride ever at kennywood

[@urbex_coasters]

Never got to ride Le Cachot but I've ridden the Bill Tracey rides at Waldemeer (which I know Wacky Shack has a few if Le Cachot's stunts) and rides like the Knobles Haunted Mansion that use the same ride system as Le Cachot. I will definitively say it seems like a cool dark ride and I wish I would've gotten to ride it. And that facade looks awesome, wonder if any of those characters remain in storage and could be brought back. Le Cachot was demoshed before I was born though so those images will just remain a feaver dream of a ride I wish I could experience I guess.

[@RMsteelerfan7]

I didn’t even realize the one at Waldameer is very similar to it until you mentioned it. I’ve rode that before, but I haven’t rode Le Cachot. It’s nice to have gotten to ride a ride that is very similar to it.

[@urbex_coasters]

@@RMsteelerfan7 Not only is it similar, it literally has a lot of Le Cachot stunts in it. The stunts in Le Cachot were built by Bill Tracy, Waldemeer wanted to make sure their dark rides stay true to the Bill Tracy roots, using Le Cachot props has made that a reality.

[@The_Bad_Guy.]

Oh wow i completely forgot this ride existed! We used to ride this all the time as kids.

[@Tomdiana]

Still liked it better than Ghostwood estates.

[@genietv4]

I knew this would be the ride love it!

[@johnschmude5852]

I miss this ride. Old school dark ride.

[@lostsheep2640]

Was pretty cool ride. I do remember riding it.

[@Wild1995]

I once tried to impress a French person and used the word Le Cachot. He told me it means castle, not dungeon. The mural outside was also a castle.

[@RMsteelerfan7]

It makes sense if it means castle… but in Kennywood Memories and another documentary that was on old dark rides, they said Le Cachot meant “the dungeon.”

[@Wild1995]

Yes I know that. My comment was to be funny because when I first saw Kennywood Memories in 1988 we all learned some French. But a French person told me it means castle. Kennywood Memories may have misled Pittsburghers in some French. I just used the Google translator and dungeon in French is donjon Castle is Chachot @@RMsteelerfan7

[@RMsteelerfan7]

My Spanish teacher taught me that Google Translate is so inaccurate. Only because it doesn’t know what exact word you mean. Like there could be many meanings for one word. I’m just surprised Le Cachot on Google Translate even came up as “The Dungeon.”

[@RMsteelerfan7]

But I do agree, Kennywood Memories could’ve been a bit misleading. Back then there was no such thing as Google Translate or anything like that… so they stuck with what they believed to be a Cachot.

[@Wild1995]

No It came up as Castle. You have watched Kennywood Memories too many times LOL@@RMsteelerfan7

[@edbarker8636]

Anyway Kennywood is actually my home Park I miss that ride

[@supercoolguy1233-c3o]

My grandpa told me all about this ride HE LOVED IT

[@RMsteelerfan7]

yeah charles jacques jr… he’s totally your grandpa. sorry for your loss by the way, he passed away sometime either earlier this year or last year (I can’t remember)

[@supercoolguy1233-c3o]

@@RMsteelerfan7 that's not my grandpa

[@RMsteelerfan7]

yes he is.

[@supercoolguy1233-c3o]

@@RMsteelerfan7 oh yeah I forgot he's the dead one

[@hexes13]

Hands down my favoritest ride when I was a kid what drew me to it was skeleton riding the chopper I thought that was the coolest thing I've ever seen Noah's Ark was my second favorite almost forgot about the Log Jammer thanks for posting

[@MrSRArter]

4:46 I wondered if that sign was there the entire 1998 season or if Exterminator was mainly built to make up for the loss of Le Cahot.

[@RMsteelerfan7]

That was just their announcement sign, the ride was under construction at that time. The ride opened in 1999.

[@gtawarrior92]

I don't think I ever rode La cachet. I'm glad they put the exterminator in though. I love that ride

[@Thatfoxatthebowlinglane]

I wish Disney had a ride like le cachot

[@RMsteelerfan7]

They could easily make one like it 👍

[@theodoreperkoski1951]

I loved the cars

[@Dexzler]

love it

[@christymallesky8670]

Thanks

[@TotallyNot_Jakewastaken]

First 5 hours!

[@RMsteelerfan7]

but you weren’t one of the few who were night owls for this video 🦉

[@TotallyNot_Jakewastaken]

I know, but I watch some as soon as I woke up.

[@chadwichterman7572]

It's pronounced LEH CASH-OWE. The Exterminator isn't the same as Le Cachot and can never beat it.

[@RMsteelerfan7]

What did I call it instead?

[@chadwichterman7572]

@@RMsteelerfan7 LA CASH-OWE.

[@RMsteelerfan7]

oh so it’s leh….almost the same thing! It’s better than just straight up calling it “LEH-CATCH-OT” (how you’d say it in English), as I used to call it prior to making this video a year ago and learning the French pronunciation.

[@Del_Monico]

I remember way back after the ride was closed when there was a temporary outdoor thing at station square. Some small ride or something had the outer panels from Le Cachot standing outside his modern ride. I remember because it was obvious...that one jail-like thing with the furry creature behind it. I know it was from Le Cachot. They must have auctioned it off.