Roller Soaker

Roller Coasters At Hersheypark

Hersheypark is an amusement park located in Hershey, PA right next to the Hershey Chocolate Factory. It first opened in 1907 as a place where the employees of the Hershey Chocolate Company could go to get away. Eventually, the company decided to open to the public which was greatly received. Included in your Hershey admission is ZooAmerica, a zoo ajacent to the park. Currently, the park has 11 roller coasters ranging from the family friendly to the most extreme. Here I provide you with a break down of each coaster.

1. CometThe Comet is a classic double out and back wooden coaster built in 1946 by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company. According to Hersheypark the lift hill is 84 ft tall with the drop being 96 ft. Many argue the drop is the same number of feet as the lift. Also the first drop is nick named "Chocolate Drop" by Hershey. Lights known as chaser lights were incorporated into the ride in 1964, giving an added beauty to the already astounding coaster. In 1994 the park bought 2 new trains for the coaster naming them "Mork's Comet" and "Halley's Comet". Over the years Comet has seen various changes/upgrades including the 2006 retracking and new seat belts in 2008.

Statistics: 1. Height: 84 ft 2. Length: 3, 360 ft 3. Max Spped: 50 pmh 4. Duration: 1:45 minutes

2. Fahrenheit Fahrenheit is a steel coaster featuring 6 inversions built in 2008 by Intanim AG. It replaced the Western Chute-Out slide complex that at one time was Hersheypark's only water slides. The feature of the coaster is the 97 degree first drop, which makes this the second steepest drop in the United States behind Steel Hawg at Indiana Beach (Monticello, Indiana). Fahrenheit was the first ever coaster to gain hype via viral marketing (click on the Fahrenheit name to read more about the marketing that was used via Wikipedia).

Statistics: 1. Height: 121 ft 2. Length: 2, 700 ft 3. Max Speed: 58 mph 4. Duration: 1:25 minutes 5. Inversions: 6

3. Great Bear Great Bear is a steel coaster built by Bolliger and Mabillard and opened in 1998. Due to the coasters custom design as well as other factors including terrain and other attractions location this was one of B&M's most difficult rides to install. Because there was not a lot of sand used in the supports to absorb sound the coaster makes a loud roaring sound which can be heard in almost all of Comet Hollow. A unique feature to Great Bear is a helix immediately after acsending the lift hill which swings riders into the 124 ft first drop.

Statistics: 1. Height: 90 ft 2. Length: 2, 800 ft 3. Max Speed: 61 mph 4. Duration: 2:15 minutes 5. Inversions: 4

4. Lightning Racer Lightning Racer is the first ever racing and dueling coaster built in 2000 by Great Coasters International. The ride was one of the first to use Millennium Flyer trains (manufactured by Great Coaster International) which provide a smooth and comfortable ride. For the first two years of operation Hersheypark played previously recorded recordings for the winning train. The two tracks are named Thrunder/Green and Lighning/Red and travel through the same elements. Lightning does tend to win more of the races due to weight on the trains, weather, and speed of the lift hills, since this does differ sometimes. Lightning Race is consistently voted a top 25 roller coaster by Amusement Today's Golden Tickets.

Statistics: 1. Height: 90 ft 2. Length: 3, 400 ft 3. Max Speed: 51 mph 4. Duration: 1:20 minutes

5. Roller Soaker Roller Soaker built by Setpoint USA is a suspended family coaster and was Hershey's first interactive ride. What makes this kind of coaster unique is each rider is provided with 4 gallons of water. The water can be dropped from the car on people waiting in line or over guest enjoying Intercoastal Waterway lazy river. Also there are several water canons on the groud where guest can shoot at riders that are on the coaster and there is a waterfall the entire car rides under. For guest that do not want to get wet there is a dry path.

Statistics: 1. Height: 70 ft 2. Length: 1, 300 ft 3. Max Speed: 20.5 mph 4. Duration: 1 minute

6. Sooperdooperlooper The Sooperdooperlooper was the first looping coaster built on the east coast when it opened in 1977. It was deisgned by Werner Stengel as a terrain coaster and built by Schwarzkopf. Even though this coaster was built in the 70's it is still one of the most popular coasters in the park because of the low height requirement. The main feature of the coaster is the single loop it has at the bottom of the first drop. Also it has a 165 foot tunnel and riders are only held in by a lap bar. The G forces from the loop and helix is what holds riders in their seat.

Statistics: 1. Height: 75 ft 2. Length: 2, 614 ft 3. Max Speed: 45 mph 4. Duration: 1:30 minutes 5. Inversions: 1

7. Sidewinder The Sidewinder is a standard Vekoma boomerang coaster and it opened in 1991. One thing to note about this particular one is it was the first Vekoma boomerang to use Vekoma trains and not the usual Arrow trains previously used (Arrow is now known as S&S Power). During the duration of the ride guest are turned upside down a total of 6 times, 3 facing forward and the same 3 going backwards through the track.

Statistics: 1. Height: 116.5 ft 2. Length: 935 ft 3. Max Speed: 47 mph 4. Duration: 1:48 minutes 5. Inversions: 3

8. Storm Runner Storm Runner is a steel launched roller coaster created by Intanim AG and opened in 2004. This was the third accelerator coaster built by Intanim AG. The ride features a dual loading station, magnetic brakes, a top hat, and 3 inversions. Besides the speed the ride produces and sheer look of the ride a main feature of the ride is that it interacts with 3 other rides which are Dry Gultch Railroad, the Monorail, and the Trailblazer. Storm Runner is the first accelerator coaster with over the shoulder resrtaints, a dual loading station with switch tracks, and to have inversions. When the ride first opened it was so popular the queue line was not long enough, Hershey had to use ropes to make the queue line longer. In 2005 a overflow queue line was added next to Trailblazers first drop.

Statistics: 1. Height: 150 ft 2. Length: 2, 600 ft 3. Max Speed: 75 mph 4. Duration: 0:50-0:60 Seconds 5. Acceleration: 0-72 mph in 2 seconds

9. Trailblazer The Trailblazer is a steel family roller coaster manufactured by Arrow Dynamics and opened in 1974. After the Comet, this is the second oldest coaster in the park. The features of the ride are a helix, it circles itself 4 times, and the mid-course brake run is almost level with Storm Runner. In 2003 the ride was given two new trains from Premier Rides. The new cars have individual lap bars instead of the previous "t-bar" lap bar for each seat.

Statistics: 1. Height: (can not find exact) 2. Length: 1, 600 ft 3. Max Speed: 45 mph 4. Duration: 1:15 minutes

10. Wild Mouse Wild Mouse opened in 1999 and is manufactured by MACK Rides. Hershey runs their version of the wild mouse with little braking on the upper level, the cars do not stop in the station (they move on the track at a very slow pace), and they allow four adults per car. Even though other parks have almost the identical ride, but by different manufacturers, they have more braking on the upper level, the cars stop in the station, and they do not allow more then 2 adults per car.

Statistics: 1. Height: 45 ft 2. Length: 1, 213 ft 3. Max Speed: 28 mph 4. Duration: 1:58 minutes

11. The Wildcat The Wildcat is a wooden roller coaster named after the 1920's coaster of the same name. The original Wildcat was Hersheypark's first roller coaster which operated from 1923-1945. Great Coasters International manufactured the new ride and it opened in 1996. Initially, it ran with trains made by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company until 2007 when they were replaced by GCI's Millenium Flyer trains. Before the change the ride was known for causing rider pain due to the sudden twist and turns. The ride in general is bumpy and quite rough. With the new trains the the ride is more tolerable for none fanatics of classic wooden coasters, for which are known for rough rides.

Statistics: 1. Height: 90 ft 2. Length: 3, 183 ft 3. Max Speed: 50 mph 4. Duration: (can not find)