Jack Rabbit is a wooden roller coaster at Kennywood park in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, that has been sending riders down its signature double-dip drop since June 18, 1920. Designed by legendary coaster engineer John A. Miller and built with Harry C. Baker, Jack Rabbit is recognized as the fifth oldest roller coaster in the world and the second oldest still operating in the United States.
Miller built Jack Rabbit just after patenting a new under-friction track design that used wheels both above and below the rails, allowing for steeper drops than had previously been possible. That innovation let him carve the ride’s famous 70-foot first plunge directly into a natural ravine, creating a sudden airtime moment that still catches riders off guard more than a century later.
Stats at a Glance
- Park: Kennywood
- Manufacturer: Harry C. Baker
- Designer: John A. Miller
- Opened: June 18, 1920
- Height: 40 feet
- Top speed: 45 mph
- Length: 2,132 feet
- Inversions: 0
The Ride Experience
Jack Rabbit’s layout uses the natural terrain of its ravine setting rather than steel supports to generate speed and airtime. After the chain lift hill, the train plunges 70 feet into the ravine and immediately rises into a second, smaller hill, creating the coaster’s trademark double-dip – a moment of ejector airtime that is especially strong in the rear seats. The ride also passes through a themed tunnel covering its turnaround; the original tunnel was removed in 1947 and a shorter version was restored in 1991.
At 45 mph and roughly a minute and a half long, Jack Rabbit is modest by modern standards, but its age and construction give it a rougher, more physical feel than newer wooden coasters, which many enthusiasts consider part of its charm.
History and Legacy
Jack Rabbit was built for about $50,000 as part of Kennywood’s early-20th-century expansion, using John Miller’s newly patented track technology that made steeper, more aggressive drops safe for the first time. That engineering breakthrough helped shape coaster design for decades afterward.
The ride has earned recognition from the American Coaster Enthusiasts, including an ACE Coaster Classic designation and Landmark status in 2010, and it stands as a contributing structure within the Kennywood Park National Historic Landmark District.
Explore more: Explore more classic and modern roller coasters.
Jack Rabbit Photo Archive: July 2003
These are original ThrillZing photos of Jack Rabbit taken at Kennywood on July 30, 2003, restored and upscaled from the original camera files. They show the 1920 wooden coaster’s white turnaround and its trains rounding the top. All photos are free to reuse under a CC BY 4.0 license with credit to ThrillZing and a link to this page.
Jack Rabbit FAQs
How old is the Jack Rabbit at Kennywood?
Jack Rabbit opened on June 18, 1920, making it more than a century old and one of the oldest operating roller coasters in the world.
Who designed the Jack Rabbit roller coaster?
It was designed by John A. Miller, a pioneering coaster engineer, and built with Harry C. Baker using Miller’s newly patented under-friction track system.
Does Jack Rabbit have any loops or inversions?
No. Jack Rabbit is a classic out-and-back style wooden coaster with zero inversions; its main highlight is a steep 70-foot double-dip drop.
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Photo: Larry Pieniazek, User:Lar, (primary) / CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons.