Hersheypark

Ferris Wheel at Hersheypark.Hershey, Pennsylvania: Hershey is known around the world for their famous chocolate bar but each year thousand of people flock to the sweetest place on Earth not just for sweets but for thrills. With over 60 rides and attractions, Hersheypark is one of the country’s premiere theme parks.

Milton Hershey, the founder of the Hershey Chocolate Factory, envisioned a park for the working family of the factory. In 1903, Hershey picked out a site along Spring Creek to locate the park. Work began and in 1907 the park was opened to the public.

The early park was much different then today’s theme park. The original park focused more on leisure and relaxation. When the park opened, it had a bandstand and pavilion as well as great places to picnic. In 1908 a merry-go-round was added as well as a 1,500 seat amphitheater. The expansion continued into 1909 with the addition of a tennis court and bowling alley.

By 1912, the park began to transform into a theme park. A scenic railroad and carousel were added to the park. The first roller coaster, The Wild Cat was added in 1923. By the end of the 1920’s, the park also added a zoo, museum, dance pavilion and four swimming pools.

The park continued to grow into a theme park in the 1930’s and 1940’s. A penny arcade, log flume ride were added as well as modifications to the Wild Cat to make it more intense. By 1945 there were over two dozen rides in the park.

The first major roller coaster was added in 1946. The Comet roller coaster is a wooden roller coaster that is still in operation today.

As the times changed, so did the park. In the early 1970’s, a redevelopment plan was enacted and the park transformed from a leisure park into a major theme park. The free admission and pay as you go plan was replaced with a one price admission plan. The park exploded with growth. On July 4, 1977, the park opened the first steel looping rollercoaster on the East Coast. The SooperDooperLooper features a single loop and still operates today.

From the early 1980’s through today, the park continued to expand as quickly as the calendar. Each year brought new and exciting attractions. But just as new rides were added, older rides were replaced. The park has become a constant changing and improving venue.

Today the park is laid out into nine themed lands. Here are the lands as you approach them from the entrance along with the rides they contain:

  • Tudor Square- area around entrance feature shops.

  • Rhineland- no rides but home to many of the parks shops.

  • Founder’s Circle- Carousel, Mini-Himalaya, Dinosaur-Go-Round, Amtrak Tiny Train, Traffic Jam, Helicopters, Space Age, Scrambler, Starship America and Balloon Flite.

  • Music Box Way- Geico Fender Bender, Bizzy Bees, Skyview, Ladybug, Indian Echo Caverns Mini Pirate, Dizzy Drums, Tiny Timbers, Swing Thing, Captial Blue Cross Monorail and Pirate.

  • Comet Hollow- Comet, Wave Swinger, Tilt-A-Whirl and SooperDooperLooper.

  • Minetown- Coal Cracker, Great Bear, Sunoco Twin Turnpike, Kissing Tower, Flying Falcon, Red Baron, Convoy and Frog Hopper.

  • Pioneer Frontier- Dry Gulch Railroad, The Claw, Livery Stables, Mini Scrambler, Frontier Flyers, The Howler, Sidewinder, Storm Runner, Trailblazer and Fahrenheit.

  • Boardwalk- East Coast Waterworks, Coastline Plunge, Sandcastle Cove, Bayside Pier, K Waverider, Tidal Force, Roller Soaker, The Shore and Intercoastal Waterway.

  • Midway America- Wildcat, Wild Mouse, Merry Derry Dip Fun Slides, Granny Bugs, Miniature Train, Pony Parade, Whip, Music Express, Ferris Wheel and Lightning Racer.

The park also features a zoo that is included with park admission. ZooAmerica is a 11 acre zoo that is home to over 200 animals that are native to North America. The zoo is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. Admission to the zoo is included in the Hersheypark pass and is accessible via a walk-way in Minetown. However you can also purchase a zoo only pass if you want to visit only the zoo and not the theme park.

Hersheypark has evolved from a small leisure park into a large theme park. It has grown to over 100 acres with more then 60 rides and attraction including 11 roller coasters. The park is continuing to change to keep with current trends but regardless of what the future has in store, Hersheypark will continue to be “The Sweetest Place on Earth.”

For photos of the park, visit my Hersheypark photo gallery.

Updated September 11, 2010

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