Was there ever a snake bite death at Kennywood in the 1940s???

[e***@hotmail.com]

He mentioned growing up in the area near Kennywood. He
remembers hearing a story from the 1940's about a small child
who was riding the carousel, the kid told its mother that the
horsie had bit it. The bite was from a baby snake. The child
then died. Can anyone tell me if this story is true or false?

This is an old urban legend. I've heard it with several
different park names inserted in place of Kennywood. [...]

Not to mention that it would be particularly unlikely to happen at
Kennywood, given the fact that poisonous snakes are not native to
western Pennsylvania. (There are some non-poisonous snakes around,
but nobody's going to die from being bitten by those.)
The closest place to Kennywood where you might find poisonous snakes
is at the Pittsburgh (Highland Park) Zoo, which is over ten miles
away from Kennywood and separated from it by two of Pittsburgh's
three rivers.
(Ob. coaster comment: Wouldn't surprise me if this urban legend
resurfaces at some point as the reason why certain Six Flags coasters
have a snake-related name... :-)
-Shawn Mamros (western PA native - you just knew I had to chime in... :-)

Agkistodon contortrix mokeson
The northern copperhead is Pennsylvania’s most common venomous
snake. Found in all but the northernmost counties, it prefers abandoned
foundations, rock walls, and rocky hillsides.

[e***@hotmail.com]

He mentioned growing up in the area near Kennywood. He
remembers hearing a story from the 1940's about a small child
who was riding the carousel, the kid told its mother that the
horsie had bit it. The bite was from a baby snake. The child
then died. Can anyone tell me if this story is true or false?

This is an old urban legend. I've heard it with several
different park names inserted in place of Kennywood. [...]

Not to mention that it would be particularly unlikely to happen at
Kennywood, given the fact that poisonous snakes are not native to
western Pennsylvania. (There are some non-poisonous snakes around,
but nobody's going to die from being bitten by those.)
The closest place to Kennywood where you might find poisonous snakes
is at the Pittsburgh (Highland Park) Zoo, which is over ten miles
away from Kennywood and separated from it by two of Pittsburgh's
three rivers.
(Ob. coaster comment: Wouldn't surprise me if this urban legend
resurfaces at some point as the reason why certain Six Flags coasters
have a snake-related name... :-)
-Shawn Mamros (western PA native - you just knew I had to chime in... :-)

Agkistodon contortrix mokeson
The northern copperhead is Pennsylvania’s most common venomous
snake. Found in all but the northernmost counties, it prefers abandoned
foundations, rock walls, and rocky hillsides.

[Surf Dance Chris]

Post by e***@hotmail.com

He mentioned growing up in the area near Kennywood.  He
remembers hearing a story from the 1940's about a small child
who was riding the carousel, the kid told its mother that the
horsie had bit it. The bite was from a baby snake.  The child
then died. Can anyone tell me if this story is true or false?

This is an old urban legend.  I've heard it with several
different park names inserted in place of Kennywood.  [...]

Not to mention that it would be particularly unlikely to happen at
Kennywood, given the fact that poisonous snakes are not native to
western Pennsylvania.  (There are some non-poisonous snakes around,
but nobody's going to die from being bitten by those.)
The closest place to Kennywood where you might find poisonous snakes
is at the Pittsburgh (Highland Park) Zoo, which is over ten miles
away from Kennywood and separated from it by two of Pittsburgh's
three rivers.
(Ob. coaster comment: Wouldn't surprise me if this urban legend
resurfaces at some point as the reason why certain Six Flags coasters
have a snake-related name... :-)
-Shawn Mamros (western PA native - you just knew I had to chime in... :-)

Agkistodon contortrix mokeson
The northern copperhead is Pennsylvania’s most common venomous
snake. Found in all but the northernmost counties, it prefers abandoned
foundations, rock walls, and rocky hillsides.

What the heck? This thread began before I even discovered RRC (back in
1998)

[k***@aol.com]

About 18 years ago, a "snake scare" occurred at SFoT. Bruce Neal, PR
guy, did a lengthy trace to find the source of the story. It was followed
back to a family from Louisiana several days later who supposedly saw
a snake. The best part of this was an editorial comic that ran in local
papers. The Shockwave coaster had just opened. The cartoon was of
a snake in the shape of SW's double loops. Heh! Heh!
Robert Reagan

At last year's ACE Coaster Con there was a snake crawling on the beams and netting about the queue of Casa Magnetica. No one was killed and the snake went on its merry way.

Ken Simmons

[k***@gmail.com]

I grew up and spent most of my life in this steel valley. There are poisonous snakes indigenous to the area! They are called copperheads! I don't know if story is true or not but I also heard a snake in roller coaster cause the teenager that was killed to stand up! There are poisonous snakes in this area ! Both stories are very plausible!

[Coasterfreak]

I don't know the answer to the question, but it's interesting that you
asked. My great grandmother used to tell us as kids in the 70's about a
girl who was bit by a poisonous snake while riding a roller coaster. We
lived in NY, so it's not a stretch that she could have heard about
something like this happening in PA, although she never specified what
roller coaster or where. I've always wondered if it was true or if she
was a little senile. Seems now like it may have been true.

Post by k***@gmail.com
I grew up and spent most of my life in this steel valley. There are poisonous snakes indigenous to the area! They are called copperheads! I don't know if story is true or not but I also heard a snake in roller coaster cause the teenager that was killed to stand up! There are poisonous snakes in this area ! Both stories are very plausible!

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[u***@gmail.com]

Post by Coasterfreak
I don't know the answer to the question, but it's interesting that you
asked. My great grandmother used to tell us as kids in the 70's about a
girl who was bit by a poisonous snake while riding a roller coaster. We
lived in NY, so it's not a stretch that she could have heard about
something like this happening in PA, although she never specified what
roller coaster or where. I've always wondered if it was true or if she
was a little senile. Seems now like it may have been true.

Post by k***@gmail.com
I grew up and spent most of my life in this steel valley. There are poisonous snakes indigenous to the area! They are called copperheads! I don't know if story is true or not but I also heard a snake in roller coaster cause the teenager that was killed to stand up! There are poisonous snakes in this area ! Both stories are very plausible!

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This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
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http://www.snopes.com/critters/snakes/carousel.asp
http://www.snopes.com/critters/snakes/ballpit.asp

[d***@gmail.com]

About 18 years ago, a "snake scare" occurred at SFoT. Bruce Neal, PR
guy, did a lengthy trace to find the source of the story. It was followed
back to a family from Louisiana several days later who supposedly saw
a snake. The best part of this was an editorial comic that ran in local
papers. The Shockwave coaster had just opened. The cartoon was of
a snake in the shape of SW's double loops. Heh! Heh!
Robert Reagan

Robert Reagan...wow, good to "hear" your voice from a long time ago. This is Ricky Summersett.

My mom told me the exact same story about Playland, San Antonio. A child bit "by the horse" on the carousel, turned out to be a snake, and child died. Of course it's likely untrue, but HOW in the world does an urban legend like that start going around to amusement parks in the 1970s?!? Without the internet? Crazy.

[d***@gmail.com]

About 18 years ago, a "snake scare" occurred at SFoT....
The Shockwave coaster had just opened. > Robert Reagan

Didn't Shockwave open in 1978? An almost 40 year old steel coaster still IMO completely awesome.

[m***@gmail.com]

Um excuse me but copperhead snakes are quite poisonous and very native to western pennsylvania...
. May wanna do some research .

[t***@gmail.com]

Post by m***@gmail.com
Um excuse me but copperhead snakes are quite poisonous and very native to western pennsylvania...
. May wanna do some research .

Even without medical treatment, a copperhead bite is very unlikely to be fatal.

Unpleasant, yes.
Fatal, no.