Originally posted: 7/25/2004

Last updated: 2/26/2005

Hersheypark

  By Chris Cowan
  themeparks@insightbb.com 
 

  Hershey Park 

1903:

Milton S. Hershey surveys a site along Spring Creek for the park.
 

1907:

On April 24th, Hershey Park opens with a baseball game which takes place on the new athletic field.

Along with the field and grandstand, the park has a pavilion and bandstand.

Picnicking and boating were the two main activities.
 

1908:

A Merry-Go-Round is added and opens on July 4th.

A 1500-seat amphitheater is added on a sloping hillside next to the pavilion.
 

1909:

The Scenic Railroad is added.

Two bowling alleys are added.

A tennis court is added.

A band shell is added.

A photography gallery is added.
 

1912:

A Carousel (William H. Dentzel) is added for $15,000 and opens in July.  It's 50-feet in diameter and features 53 animals (bears, deer, giraffes, goats, lions, ostrich, pigs and rabbits) and two chariots.
 

1913-1923:

The Hershey Zoo is added.

Hershey Park Cafe is added.

The Convention Hall is added.

The Starlight Ballroom, a dance pavilion, is added.
 

1923:

The Joy Ride, a wooden roller coaster built by PTC, is added.  It's the first coaster ever designed by Herbert Schmeck.  Note:  This coaster was actually owned by PTC and built on land leased to it by Hershey Park.

The Joy Ride is renamed The Wild Cat.
 

1924-1929:

Ferris Wheel is added.

The Skooter is added.

Aeroplane Swing is added.
 

1933:

The Mill Chute (log flume) is added.

The Bug is added.

A Fun House is added.

A Penny Arcade is added.
 

1935:

The Wild Cat's track is re-profiled with higher hills and steeper banking on the curves.
 

1945:

Carrousel (PTC model with 66 horses and 2 chariots and featuring a 1926 Wurlizter organ) replaces the park's Dentzel model.

The Wild Cat is removed in September.
 

1946:

The Comet, a wooden roller coaster built by PTC, is added in the former location of The Wild Cat.
 

1950:

Twin 66-ft high Ferris Wheels are added.
 

1960:

The Dry Gulch Railroad is added.

Helicopters (Alan Herschell Helicopter kiddie ride) is added.
 

1965:

Skyview (Universal Design Ltd.), a sky-ride offering a round-trip ride over Spring Creek, is added in the Music Box Way area.

Bizzy Bees (Hampton Amusement Bumble Bee kiddie ride) is added in Music Box Way.

Dizzy Drums (Hampton Amusement Tubs of Fun kiddie ride) is added in Music Box Way.

Granny Bugs (Hampton Amusement Granny Bugs kiddie ride) is added.
 

1967:

Space Age (Hampton Amusement Space Age kiddie starship ride) is added.
 

1968:

Traffic Jam (Hampton Amusement Combo kiddie car ride) is added.
 

1969:

Monorail (Universal Mobility), a six minute ride through the park and zoo, is added in the Music Box Way section.
 

  Hersheypark 

1971:

Hershey Park is renamed Hersheypark and the pay-per-ride policy is replaced with one-price admission.
 

1972:

Twin Toboggans (Chance Toboggan), two identical steel roller coasters placed side-by-side, are added.

Carrousel Circle, a new theme area, is added.

Carrousel is moved to Carrousel Circle.

Giant Wheel (Intamin Double Wheel) is added in Carrousel Circle.

Scrambler (Eli Bridge Co. Scrambler) is added in Carrousel Circle.
 

1973:

Coal Cracker (Arrow HydroFlume) water flume ride is added in the Minetown area.

A new amphitheater is added in the spot where the park's original amphitheater was located.
 

1974:

Trailblazer (Arrow Mine Train steel roller coaster) is added in Pioneer Frontier.
 

1975:

Kissing Tower (Intamin Gyro-Tower with windows shaped like Hershey Kisses) is added in Minetown.

Turnpike - Speedway (Arrow car ride) is added in Minetown.

Turnpike - Classic Cars (Arrow Model-T car ride) is added in Minetown.

Ladybug (Chambers Turtle kiddie ride) is added in Music Box Way.
 

1977:

Sooperdooperlooper (Schwarzkopf Looping Speedracer steel roller coaster) is added and opens on July 4th in Comet Hollow.

Twin Toboggans (both coasters) are removed.
 

1978:

Rodeo (Chance Trabant) is added in Pioneer Frontier.

The Comet is remodeled.
 

1979:

Pony Parade (W.F. Mangels Co Pony Cart kiddie ride) is added.

Admission this year is $8.75.  Parking is free.

1980:

Livery Stables (W.F. Mangels Co. kiddie carousel with 16 horses) is added in Pioneer Frontier.

Helicopters kiddie ride is reconstructed.
 

1982:

Wave Swinger (Zierer Wave Swinger) is added.

Paddleboats (Sun Dolphin) are added on Spring Creek in the Comet Hollow section.
 

1983:

Cyclops (Huss Enterprise) is added.

Pirat (Huss Pirat) is added.

Tilt-A-Whirl (Sellner Mfg. Co. Electric Tilt) is added in Comet Hollow.

Admission this year is $12.95.  Parking is free.

 

1984:

Conestoga (Huss Flying Carpet) is added.

Timber Rattler is added.

Dry Gulch Railroad's original train engine is replaced by "Skooter" a new propane-fuel powered model.

Admission this year is $13.95.  Parking is free.

 

1985:

Swing Thing (Zamperla Kid Swing 12 kiddie ride) is added in Music Box Way.
 

1986:

Rolling Rovers (Mason Industries kiddie self-propelled scooters) is added.
 

1987:

Canyon River Rapids (Intamin Rapid River Ride-6 white water rafting ride) is added in Pioneer Frontier.

Mini-Himalaya (Venture Ride Mfg. kiddie himalaya ride) is added in Carrousel Circle.
 

1988:

Western Chute Out (New Wave Rides), a water slide complex featuring the Winding Rivers enclosed raft slide and Straight Shooters (2 enclosed raft slides), is added in the Pioneer Frontier area.
 

1989:

Tiny Timbers (Venture Ride Mfg. kiddie log flume) is added in the Music Box Way section.
 

1990:

Flying Falcon (Huss Condor) is added.

Convoy (Zamperla Convoy kiddie ride) is added in Minetown.

Dinosaur-Go-Round (Venture Ride Mfg. kiddie ride) is added in Minetown.

Red Baron (Zamperla kiddie bi-plane ride) is added in Minetown.

A second train, pulled by "Janelle", is added to the Dry Gulch Railroad.
 

1991:

Sidewinder (Vekoma Boomerang), the park's first new roller coaster in 14 years, is added in Pioneer Frontier.
 

1994:

Tidal Force (O.D. Hopkins Shoot-The-Chute water ride) is added in Pioneer Frontier.

The park expands to 90 acres.
 

1995:

Tiny Tracks (Zamperla Rio Grande kiddie minature train ride) is added in Carrousel Circle.
 

1996:

The Wildcat (GCI wooden roller coaster), named after the park's first coaster, is added for $5 million in Midway America.  Note: This was GCI's first roller coaster.

Miniature Train (Chance kiddie ride) is added in Midway America.

Moon Walk (Wapello inflatable kiddie "bounce" structure) is added in Midway America.
 

1997:

Ferris Wheel (Chance Giant Wheel) is added in Midway America.

The Whip (Rideworks 11-car Whip) is added.

The park expands to 110 acres.
 

1998:

Great Bear (B&M inverted steel roller coaster) is added for $13 million in Minetown.

1999:

The Hersheypark Fair is added within Midway America and includes:

  o  Wild Mouse (Mack Wild Mouse compact portable steel roller coaster)
  o  Music Express (Moser Rides Music Express)
  o  Chaos (Chance Chaos)
  o  Frog Hopper (S&S Frog Hopper mini drop-tower)
  o  Merry Derry Dip Fun Slides
  o  A 10,000-ft exhibition tent
  o  Game and food booths

Admission this year is $30.95.
 

2000:

Lightning Racer (GCI twin wooden roller coaster) is added in Midway America.

Crazy Climber (PlaySmart, Inc. kiddie padded jungle gym) is added in Midway America.

Tiger's Tail (Leisure Activities kiddie inflatable jungle gym) is added in Midway America.

Admission this year is $32.95.
 

2001:

Nightlights, a nightly 20-minute laser and music show at closing time is added.

Admission this year is $33.95.

2002:

Roller Soaker (Setpoint inverted steel roller coaster) is added in Midway America.  Each of the coaster's cars have four riders, seated back-to-back and holds 16 gallons of water, which can be dumped on people waiting in line below (each rider has 4 gallons).  There are also water canons on the ground which are used to shoot at riders on the coaster.

Cyclops (Huss Enterprise) is removed at the end of the season.

Conestoga (Huss Flying Carpet) is removed at the end of the season.

Admission this year is $34.95.
 

2003:

The Claw (Chance Revolution) is added.

Frontier Flyers (Larson International Flying Scooters) is added in Pioneer Frontier.

Mini-Pirate (SBF Visa International kiddie pirate ship ride) is added in Music Box Way.

Mini-Scrambler (Eli Bridge Co kiddie scrambler) is added in Pioneer Frontier.
 

2004:

Storm Runner (Intamin steel hydraulic-launched Rocket Coaster), is added for $12.5 million in Pioneer Frontier.  The launch is 0 to 72 miles-per-hour in 2 seconds.  Note:  This is the first Rocket Coaster model that features inversions.

Admission this year is $37.95.  Parking is $7.00.
 

2005:

Turbulence (Interactive Rides Frequent Faller) is announced as the 2005 addition, then canceled.

Admission this year is $39.95.  Parking is $7.00.