WEST MIFFLIN, Pa. -- Kennywood announced the details of its new ride for 2008, a state-of-the-art dark ride named Ghostwood Estate, to attendees at the Great Ohio Coaster Club holiday party Saturday in Columbus, Ohio.

Though the coaster fans were the first to hear the official announcement, rumors of the ride were already circulating on the Internet. The eight-room haunted house will replace the Gold Rusher, which was retired last August.

"Ghostwood Estate is clearly an indication of Kennywood's commitment to dark rides," said Kennywood General Manager Jerome Gibas. "It combines the newest technology available -- a trackless conveyance system with cars programmed and monitored by a computer and includes over 200 interactive targets and numerous CGIs (Computer Generated Images)."

Guests will be armed with blasters, developed by LaserStar, Florida. The blasters provide guests the opportunity to compete with others in the vehicle by targeting haunted characters throughout the estate. Each vehicle is also equipped with four individual scoreboards.

All of the haunted effects of the ride will be designed by Halloween Productions Inc., of St. Louis, Mo. Kennywood first became accounted with Larry Kirchner, HPI president, in 2001 when it purchased three walk-through Halloween mazes as a base for its now hugely successful Phantom Fright Nights.

The $2 million project is expected to be complete for Kennywood's opening in May 2008.

For more information about Kennywood, call 412-461-0500 or visit www.kennywood.com.