The blue whale of Noah's Ark is an ancient and unique funhouse (6 photos + 1 video)

This is one of the first and last of its kind, a funhouse where guests enter through the mouth of an 88-year-old blue whale.





A realistic and mystical blue whale with an open mouth waits for the next daredevil to take the first step onto its spongy tongue. Anyone who takes this step is instantly transported to a world of fantasy and adventure.



Once a staple of amusement parks around the world, these classic rides are now hard to find. Kennywood, an amusement park in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, is home to the world's last operating Noah's Ark ride.





As visitors navigate dimly lit hallways and creaky moving floors, they encounter surprises and strange animatronic creatures.

Built for Kennywood in 1936 by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company, Noah's Ark is a striking, uniquely designed ride that has been a beloved part of the park and the Pittsburgh community since its inception. Although it has since been renovated, its character remains intact.



Funhouses based on the biblical story of Noah and his ark have invited people of all ages to relive the story ever since the first Noah's Ark-themed funhouse was designed by Leroy Ramond in 1919 for the Venice Pier in California. These rides were unique because they incorporated typical funhouse elements into a wooden ark structure, which typically featured animatronic animals and biblical scenes.



With the advent of modern amusement parks, many of these unique rides have been lost. The only operating ride in the world that remains is Noah's Ark at Kennywood, which features the iconic blue whale.



It has stood the test of time with a variety of weird and bizarre effects that play off the well-known story of the great flood and the gathering of animals. After its transformation in 2016, the attraction returned to the classic funhouse atmosphere, which it continues to maintain to this day for the enjoyment of lovers of good old classics.