List of rides in Hersheypark
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Hersheypark has a unique naming for the different height categories within the park. The categories are named for different candy products made by The Hershey Company.
All measurements are in inches:
- (M) Miniatures: 0 - 36 (3' and below)
- (K) Kisses: 36 - 42 (3' - 3'6")
- (R) Reeses: 42 - 48 (3'6" - 4')
- (H) Hershey's: 48 - 54 (4' - 4'6")
- (T) Twizzler: 54 - 60 (4'6" - 5')
- (J) Jolly Rancher: 60 and above (5' and above)
An asterisk next to the height category means that they must ride with a responsible rider.
The "Ratings" for each ride are as follows: (descriptions come from the 2007 edition of the map of Hersheypark)
- 1: Children's Ride: This is a low-speed, gentle ride intended for young children and may accommodate chaperones where permitted.
- 2: Mild Thrill Ride: This is a low to medium speed ride with expected changes in elevation and speed. This ride may require some rider body control and is not recommended for unaccompanied toddlers or very small children.
- 3: Moderate Thrill Ride: This is a medium speed ride where riders may experience unexpected changes in elevation and speed. This ride may contain moderate twists, turns, bumps, spins and loops and may require some rider body control.
- 4: High Thrill Ride: This is a fast-paced ride experience with unexpected changes in speed, direction and/or elevation. This ride may contain significant twists, turns, bumps, spins, and loops and requires full rider body control.
- 5: Aggressive Thrill Ride: This is a high-speed ride experience. Riders will experience many unexpected rapid changes in speed, direction, and/or elevation and requires full rider body control. This ride is not recommended for guests with physical, cognitive, and/or medical limitations.
[edit] Roller coasters
| Ride | Year Opened | Height | Rating | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Comet | 1946 | R*, H, T, J | 4 | Wooden coaster by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company and remodeled in 1978. It was built in 1946. |
| Trailblazer | 1974 | K*, R*, H, T, J | 3 | An Arrow Development Steel Mine Train roller coaster. It received two new trains designed by Premier Rides in 2003. |
| SooperDooperLooper | 1977 | R*, H, T, J | 5 | Looping steel coaster designed by Anton Schwarzkopf. This was the first full circuit looping coaster on the east coast. Formerly ran with three trains, currently runs with two. |
| Sidewinder | 1992 | H*, T, J | 5 | A Vekoma Boomerang steel coaster which takes you forward through a series of inversions and then through it backwards. Notable for having the first Vekoma-designed train for this type of installation (previously, Arrow trains were used). |
| Wildcat | 1996 | H, T, J | 5 | Wooden coaster intended to be based on the park's original Wild Cat coaster. This coaster marked the debut of the company Great Coasters International or GCI. In 2007 the ride received two new Millennium Flyer trains. |
| Great Bear | 1998 | T, J | 5 | An inverted steel coaster built by B&M. Its two trains travel the 2,800-foot track, including the 124-foot drop, with a maximum speed of 58 mph. |
| Wild Mouse | 1999 | H*, T, J | 5 | Wild Mouse coaster from Mack which gives the illusion of falling off the track. |
| Lightning Racer | 2000 | H, T, J | 4 | A Dueling wooden coaster built by Great Coasters International. Two wooden coasters race side by side in its 3,400 feet of twisted track. The ride uses four "Millennium Flyer" wooden coaster trains. |
| Roller Soaker | 2002 | R*, H, T, J | 3 | Steel coaster with the spectators able to spray water at the riders. This coaster was developed by Setpoint Inc., and is only one of two models like it in the world (the other is at Paramount's Carowinds). |
| Storm Runner | 2004 | T, J | 5 | The first hydraulic launch steel coaster with inversions designed by Intamin AG. 50 seconds long, Storm Runner cost 12.5 million dollars. |
| Fahrenheit | 2008 | J,T | 5 (presumed) | Intamin AG coaster. 97-degree first drop, vertical lift, and 2700 feet of track. |
[edit] Water rides
| Ride | Year Opened | Height | Rating | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tidal Force | 1994 | R,H,T,J | 4 | A splash-down ride with a 100-foot drop. Its spray is powerful enough to reach visitors passing by on the walkways. During Tidal Force's inaugural season, the ride would actually create greater and more powerful "sprays" to nearby spectators. Hershey Park Employees (wearing raincoats) would warn passengers who have finished riding Tidal Force (who would be crossing the splash bridge) to hold onto the rail in order not to risk injury from an intense spray from a descending Tidal Force ride vehicle. However, in 1995 many nets and an acrylic glass wall (at the splash bridge) were installed in order to decrease the intensity of the spray. The ride vehicles themselves were also modified to change the angle of the spray, directing it more upwards. Now, nearby spectators of Tidal Force have a much lesser, but still present, risk of getting soaked with water for just watching the ride in action. |
| Canyon River Rapids | 1987 | R,H,T,J | 4 | A river rafting ride that soaks guests with waterfalls. A little known fact about this ride is that spectators can actually attempt to launch water (out of 'geysers') at the passengers of this ride. For years, Get The Picture Corporation sold videos of the ride for purchase after disembarking. It was the first ride video system in the world. However, in 2005 they switched to a two-picture system (upstream and downstream), and now only sell one photo of each raft. This ride is under consideration of being removed or modified for a new ride, due to its condition and age. |
| Tiny Timbers | 1989 | M*,K*,R*,H,T | 1 | It is a water ride for smaller children. It is in the Music Box Way section. |
| Coal Cracker | 1973 | M*,K*,R*,H,T,J | 4 | The park's oldest log flume ride, as well as the first hydroflume ride, winding riders through a series of canals before sending them barreling down the obligatory wet drop. It was the first ride to sell pictures of passengers on the ride. This has now become a mainstay of new Hersheypark rides. |
| Roller Soaker | 2002 | R*, H, T, J | 3 | Steel coaster with the spectators able to spray water at the riders, and the riders able to dump water on the spectators. This coaster was developed by Setpoint Inc., and is only one of two models like it in the world (the other is at Paramount's Carowinds). |
[edit] Rides for taller heights
| Ride | Year Opened | Height | Rating | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Claw | 2003 | H, T, J | 4 | A swinging pendulum ride installed in 2003, replacing the old Cyclops (a version of the Enterprise ride). |
| Great Bear | 1998 | T, J | 5 | An inverted steel coaster built by B&M. Its two trains travel the 2,800-foot track, including the 124-foot drop, with a maximum speed of 58 mph. |
| Storm Runner | 2004 | T, J | 5 | The first hydraulic launch steel coaster with inversions designed by Intamin AG. 50 seconds long, Storm Runner cost 12.5 million dollars. |
| Lightning Racer | 2000 | H, T, J | 4 | A Dueling wooden coaster built by Great Coasters International. Two wooden coasters race side by side in its 3,400 feet of twisted track. The ride uses four "Millennium Flyer" wooden coaster trains. |
| Geico Fender Bender | 1978 | H*, T, J | 4 | The first and only bumper car ride in Hersheypark, built in 1978. Approximately 40 bumper cars ride for about 2 minutes, reaching a top speed of approximately 15 miles per hour. In 2005, Geico gave the Fender Bender its current name; all of the bumper cars have a bumper sticker, which features the Geico Gecko and reads "My other car is insured by Geico." |
[edit] Rides for everyone
| Ride | Year Opened | Rating | Height | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carrousel | 1945 | M*, K*, R, H, T, J | 2 | An authentic Philadelphia Toboggan Company 1945 installation. The carousel also features music played inside the ride, playing songs such as John Philip Sousa's Stars and Stripes Forever. |
| Kissing Tower | 1975 | M, K, R, H, T, J | 2 | Takes riders on a trip upwards 250 feet while rotating clockwise, providing a panoramic view of Hershey through windows shaped like Hershey's Kisses. Installed in 1975. |
| Ferris Wheel | 1997 | M*, K*, R*, H*, T*, J*,No Single Riders | 2 | Located in the newer Midway America section, is 88 feet in diameter and sends riders nearly 100 feet into the air. Installed in 1997. Due to a safety change from the manufactures CRM, a new fall hazard sticker is on the side, and no single riders are allowed.
(Sunday, June 18, 2006) - At the San Joaquin Fair in Stockton, California, a 6-year-old boy died from injuries he suffered in a fall from a giant Ferris wheel. The boy was riding the 90-foot-tall ride alone, even though he was only 6 years old, and the gondolas are not equipped with seat belts or safety restraints. The ride's manufacturer and operator require that riders be at least 42 inches tall to ride alone, and the boy's height exceeded 42 inches. But there is no requirement that children over 42 inches tall be accompanied by an adult, and there is no requirement that children be a minimum age to ride alone. According to witnesses, the wheel had turned 2-3 times then stopped to unload passengers, leaving the boy's gondola at the top of the wheel. Apparently, the boy became scared and panicked, and attempted to exit the gondola. He fell about 90 feet, hit a railing, and landed on the ground. According to Sacramento's KXTV News, the boy's mother expected that her child would be seated in a gondola with other passengers. "I know when he was inside he was yelling he was scared. "I don't think he realized it stops, and it lets people out at the bottom." The ride is owned and operated by Butler Amusements of Fairfield, California. It was manufactured by Chance Rides. |
| Monorail | 1969 | M*, K*, R*, H, T, J | 2 | Takes riders on a relaxing, elevated tour of the park, briefly crossing over ZOOAMERICA and downtown Hershey, Pennsylvania. Before 1973 the monorail served as an entrance/exit to the park from the Hershey chocolate factory tour. (The station structure still exists at the factory it is sometimes used for special groups.)[1] |
| Starship America | 1955 | M*,K*,R*,H,T,J (Note: Only Jolly Ranchers may accompany smaller riders.) | 3 | A classic ride temporarily closed between 2003 and 2004, now located in Founder's Circle. |
| Rodeo | 1978 | M*, K*, R*, H, T, J | 3 | Circular disc that rotates Riders clockwise & counter-clockwise, also moving up and down. |
| Scrambler | 1972 | M*, K*, R*, H*, T, J | 3 | |
| Music Express | 1999 | R, H, T, J | 3 | This is a Himalaya ride, but it does not go backwards. It plays music while you ride, and the music has been updated/changed for 2008. |
| Tilt-A-Whirl | 1983 | M*, K*, R*, H, T, J | 3 | |
| Dry Gulch Railroad | 1960 | M*, K*, R, H, T, J | 2 | |
| Reese's Xtreme Cup Challenge | 2006 | K*,R*,H,T,J (Note: Only Jolly Ranchers may accompany smaller riders.) | 2 | An interactive dark ride where two cars compete against each other for the highest score. Everyone wins candy at the end! |
| Skyview | 1965 | M*, K*, R*, H, T, J | 2 | |
| Merry Derry Dip Fun Slides | 1999 | M*, K*, R*, H*, T, J | 2 | |
| Coal Cracker | 1973 | M*,K*,R*,H,T,J | 4 | The park's oldest log flume ride, as well as the first hydroflume ride, winding riders through a series of canals before sending them barrelling down the obligatory wet drop. It was the first ride to sell pictures of passengers on the ride. This has now become a mainstay of new Hersheypark rides. |
| Western Chute-Out | 1988-2008 | M*,K*,R*,H,T,J | 3 | Originally named "Pistol Pete's Plunge", this ride contained a pair of winding water-tubes (known as "Winding Rivers") and a pair of straight water-slides (known as "Straight Shooters"). However, the "Straight Shooters" were converted into straight water-tubes upon the name-change. For both the "Winding Rivers" and the "Straight Shooters", there were "light" and "dark" tubes; in the dark tubes it was at times impossible, especially on the Winding Rivers, to know which way you were going. Guests on the Winding Rivers tended to get much wetter than the Straight Shooters because of the sharp, fast turns. As of December 2007, the ride has been demolished because the decrease of use and room needed for their newest ride, Fahrenheit. |
| Sunoco Twin Turnpike | 1975 | M*, K*, R*, H, T, J | 2 | |
| Flying Falcon | 1990 | M*,K*,R*,H*,T,J | 3 | Four arms suspend falcon cars that spin going sideways, Going 100 feet in the air. |
[edit] Kiddie Rides
All rides are classified as a "1" rating.
This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
| Ride | Year Opened | Height | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bizzy Bees | 1965 | M, K, R, H | |
| Space Age | 1967 | M, K, R, H | Designed by Hampton Amusements |
| Dinosaur-Go-Round | 1990 | M, K, R, H | A children's ride that travels in circles and fits four children per dinosaur. It ues to be At Minetown It was installed in 1990 and has been recently (2006) relocated to Founder's Circle. |
| Granny Bugs | 1965 | M, K, R, H | |
| Convoy | 1990 | M*, K, R, H, T | A children's ride that travels in circles and fits two children inside and two children outside per truck. |
| Red Baron | 1990 | M, K, R, H | Children "fly" through the air. Children can control how high up they go. |
| Balloon Flite | 1982 | M, K, R, H | Moved from Pioneer Frontier to Founder's Circle in 2005. |
| Mini Scrambler | 2002 | M, K, R | |
| Frog Hopper | 1999 | M, K, R, H, T | Originally opened in Midway America opposite the Ferris Wheel, the ride was moved to Minetown in 2006. |
| Ladybug | 1975 | M, K, R, H, T | |
| Miniature Train | 1996 | M, K, R, H | Originally just a part of Hersheypark's Christmas Candyland, the ride found a permanent home in Midway America in 1996. |
| Livery Stables | 1980 | K, R, H | |
| Tiny Tracks presented by Amtrak | 1995 | M, K, R, H | Designed by Zamperla of Italy. |
[1] http://www.monorails.org/tMspages/Hershey.html See Also: Defunct Hersheypark Attractions
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