Hersheypark

Hersheypark
Company type	Private
Industry	Amusement park
Founded	1906
Founder	Milton S. Hershey
Headquarters	Hershey, United States
Area served	Regional, North America
Products	Amusement rides and attractions, water park, wildlife park (ZooAmerica)
Owner	Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company
Website	www.hersheypark.com

Hersheypark—originally called Hershey Park until 1970—is a family-oriented theme park located in Hershey, Pennsylvania, situated approximately east of Harrisburg and west of Philadelphia. Established in 1906 by Milton S. Hershey, the entrepreneur and founder behind The Hershey Company, the park was initially designed as a recreational area for employees of the Hershey Chocolate Company. The entire operation is owned by Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company, a privately held subsidiary.

The park has earned notable industry accolades, including the distinguished Applause Award. Its inaugural roller coaster, the Wild Cat, opened to guests in 1923. A significant expansion in 1970 brought new attractions and extended the park’s boundaries, introducing rides such as the SooperDooperLooper—one of the earliest looping coasters—and the 330-foot Kissing Tower observation ride. Between the mid-1980s and 2008, Hersheypark underwent rapid growth, adding eight additional roller coasters and launching the Boardwalk at Hersheypark water park.

Covering more than , Hersheypark currently boasts 76 rides and attractions alongside ZooAmerica, a wildlife park. Nearby is Hershey's Chocolate World, a visitor center that combines retail shopping, dining options, and a chocolate factory-themed tour ride designed to deepen brand engagement.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic’s effect on attendance worldwide, Hersheypark consistently welcomed over 3.3 million guests annually. In 2020, attendance declined to 1.7 million visitors. It holds the distinction of being Pennsylvania’s most frequented theme park and ranks ninth across North America, making it the largest theme park in the U.S. outside Ohio, Florida, or California.

This company overview underscores Hersheypark’s strategic expansion within the amusement sector through ongoing investment in attractions and capitalizing on its strong brand legacy combined with global operations guided by seasoned executive leadership.

History

In 1903, Milton S. Hershey, founder of the Hershey Chocolate Company, envisioned a recreational space for employees along Spring Creek in what would become Hershey. By 1905, essential infrastructure such as a bridge and pavilion had been constructed. In 1906, Hershey purchased most of the adjacent land from J.H. Nissley and developed a baseball field that hosted its first game on May 5, marking the park’s inaugural public event.

Name

The park officially opened under the name Hershey Park on May 30, 1906. The opening ceremony included a baseball game accompanied by music from the Hershey Band. Before this formal naming, it had been known by various informal titles. In 1971, reflecting a shift toward theme park redevelopment and evolving business goals, management renamed it Hersheypark.

Amusement rides and attractions

The first amusement ride added was a Herschell-Spillman carousel in 1908, followed by the Miniature Railroad in 1910 which operated until 1971. Since 1923, roller coasters have been a continuous feature at the park. Early additions also included boat rides and dark rides. The introduction of kiddie rides began in 1926 with a Ferris wheel and Airplane Swing. Over nearly 120 years, Hersheypark has developed more than 160 rides in total and currently offers 76 rides and water attractions, reinforcing its leadership position in family entertainment and leisure industries.

Roller coasters

Hersheypark debuted its inaugural roller coaster, the Wild Cat, in 1923 to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the town of Hershey. This wooden coaster, stretching nearly a mile, operated until 1945 before being succeeded by the second wooden coaster, Comet, which opened in 1946. Over the next five decades, from 1946 to 1996, the park introduced six additional coasters, including the groundbreaking SooperdooperLooper (1977), recognized as the East Coast's first modern steel coaster featuring a loop. In 1996, the third wooden coaster named Wildcat, paying homage to the original Wild Cat, was added to the lineup.

Between 1996 and 2015, Hersheypark significantly broadened its collection of roller coasters by adding nine new rides. Among these were prominent models such as the hypercoaster Skyrush (2012), the thrill ride Fahrenheit (2008), the launch coaster Storm Runner (2004), and the inverted coaster Great Bear (1998). These enhancements demonstrate a deliberate strategy to diversify attractions and elevate both market positioning and guest satisfaction.

The park has retired five roller coasters over time: the dual-track Toboggan, the water-based Roller Soaker, the children's coaster Mini-Comet, as well as both the 1996 version of Wildcat and the original Wild Cat. The removal of Roller Soaker facilitated expansion of water attractions like the Shoreline Sprayground, reflecting changing visitor preferences.

Currently, Candymonium stands as Hersheypark's tallest, fastest, and longest roller coaster, highlighting ongoing dedication to premier attractions. The newest addition is Wildcat's Revenge, a hybrid coaster that replaced Wildcat in 2023. Featuring advanced elements such as Zero-G stalls and rolls, it aims to sustain competitive advantage and stimulate business growth.

Pools

The earliest pool at Hersheypark was situated adjacent to Spring Creek in Comet Hollow and operated from 1908 until 1911. This facility included a toboggan-slide ride known as Shoot-the-Chutes. In 1912, it was replaced by a cement pool that remained in service until 1928. Subsequently, a larger pool complex was established on the park’s western boundary, featuring two pools, a bathhouse, a beach-like area, and a lighthouse; this complex operated until 1971 during Hersheypark’s evolution into a theme park.

After a period without pools, Hersheypark reintroduced aquatic amenities with The Boardwalk at Hersheypark in 2007. The initial offering was Bayside Pier, a children's wave pool, followed by The Shore—a larger wave pool—added in 2009.

Themed areas of the park

Hersheypark’s approach includes developing themed zones designed to enrich visitor engagement and enhance market appeal. The first themed sections debuted in 1972 with Carousel Circle, Der Deitsch Platz, and Animal Garden. These were followed by Tower Plaza in 1975; Pioneer Frontier in 1985; Midway America in 1996; and The Boardwalk in 2007—a $21 million expansion focused on water attractions.

In 2014, several areas—Tudor Square, Rhineland, Founder's Circle, and Music Box Way—were merged into Founder's Way. At that time, Minetown was renamed Kissing Tower Hill. Initially, each zone featured unique musical styles tailored to its theme; however, this was later standardized to uniform music throughout most of the park except within The Boardwalk and Pioneer Frontier.

The park expanded again in 2020 with Hershey’s Chocolatetown, unveiling a new entrance plaza alongside an ice cream shop, flagship retail store, and the Bolliger & Mabillard hypercoaster Candymonium. This expansion also introduced Hersheypark’s first Starbucks outlet, broadening its range of food and beverage options.

Rides

Hersheypark features a total of 73 rides and water-based attractions spread over seven themed areas, with ZooAmerica serving as the eighth zone. The park's oldest attraction is the Carrousel, crafted by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company in 1919 and installed in 1945. The latest addition slated to open in 2025 is Twizzlers Twisted Gravity, a pendulum-style "screaming swing" ride manufactured by S&S Worldwide.

Within the park lies The Boardwalk at Hersheypark, a waterpark containing 15 attractions that are seamlessly integrated into the main park layout. Launched in 2007 as part of a $21 million expansion, it blended existing water features with new installations such as East Coast Waterworks and Sandcastle Cove. The most recent expansion occurred in 2018 with the debut of Breakers Edge Water Coaster—the park’s inaugural water coaster—and Whitecap Racer, which holds the title as the world’s longest six-lane mat racing slide complete with competitive timing leaderboards.

Height categories

To determine ride eligibility, Hersheypark utilizes height classifications named after popular Hershey Company products. This system was first introduced in 1993 and has undergone updates through 2005.

All heights are measured in inches:

Category	Height Range	Details
Miniatures	Below 3 feet (91 cm)	The newest category established in 2005.
Kisses	3–3+1⁄2 feet (91–107 cm)	Permitted on certain coaster rides.
Reese's	3+1⁄2–4 feet (107–122 cm)	Access to most family-friendly and kiddie rides.
Hershey's	4–4+1⁄2 feet (122–137 cm)	Eligible for nearly all rides except some thrill and children's attractions.
Twizzler	4+1⁄2–5 feet (137–152 cm)	Allowed to ride without supervision; restricted from most kiddie rides.
Jolly Ranchers	At least 5 feet (152 cm)	Previously known as Cookies 'N' Creme and originally Bar None.

Ride Rating System

Hersheypark categorizes its rides by intensity level to assist guests in making informed choices:

Rating	Classification	Description
1	Children's Ride	Gentle, slow-paced rides designed for young children; often permit accompaniment by adults.
2	Mild Thrill Ride	Rides with low to moderate speeds featuring elevation changes; require some rider participation; not suitable for unsupervised toddlers.
3	Moderate Thrill Ride	Medium-speed rides incorporating twists, turns, bumps, spins, and loops; demand moderate rider control.
4	High Thrill Ride	Fast-moving attractions with intense twists, turns, bumps, spins, and loops; require full rider control.
5	Aggressive Thrill Ride	High-velocity rides with rapid changes in speed, direction, and elevation; necessitate complete rider control; not advised for individuals with physical or medical constraints.

This classification framework underpins Hersheypark’s commitment to guest safety and enjoyment, bolstering its competitive position within the theme park sector.

Entertainment

Hersheypark provides diverse entertainment options across several venues such as the Aquatheatre and Music Box Theatre, along with roaming performances throughout the grounds. The park hosts twelve resident shows complemented by seasonal productions during Spring, Summer, Halloween, and Christmas periods. A highlight event is the annual Christmas Candylane celebration held from November through January. In 2025, the park removed its amphitheater to accommodate the construction of the new Twizzlers Twisted Gravity attraction.

Dining

Hersheypark caters to various dietary requirements by offering choices such as a kosher dining option through Central PA's Kosher Mart and selections suitable for gluten-free diets. Visitors can arrange catering services in advance for groups at any of the six designated private picnic areas. Bringing outside food or beverages into the park is not permitted. The former Hersheypark Place restaurant, which operated from 1973 until 2018, was replaced in 2021 by several new establishments as part of the Chocolatetown expansion—these include The Chocolatier restaurant, Milton's Ice Cream Parlor, and The Sweeterie Confectionery Kitchen. This development faced delays from its original 2020 opening due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Well-known dining brands within the park include Chickie's & Pete's, introduced in 2014, and Chick-fil-A, which opened in 2017 but remains closed on Sundays. Subway has maintained a presence at multiple locations throughout the park since the 1980s.

Previous dining venues that have since closed include the Chicken House (1966–1976), Minetown Vittles (1977–1998), Welch's Refreshment Pavilion (1976–1980s), Taco Bell (1992–mid-2000s), and Moe's Southwest Grill (2015–2024).

ZooAmerica

Admission to Hersheypark includes entry to ZooAmerica. This smoke-free wildlife preserve spans 11 acres and operates year-round, showcasing more than 200 animals representing five distinct North American habitats. Visitors can participate in guided tours, celebrate birthdays, or engage in educational programs offered at various price points, including options for seasonal passes.

Themed regions

Hersheypark is divided into seven distinct themed zones: Hershey's Chocolatetown located at the main entrance; Founder's Way, which leads to a central hub connecting Kissing Tower Hill, The Hollow, and Pioneer Frontier situated in the middle and southern parts of the park; and Midway America along with The Boardwalk positioned in the northern section.

Hershey's Chocolatetown

On October 3, 2018, Hershey Entertainment and Resorts revealed plans for Hershey's Chocolatetown, marking the park’s largest-ever capital project with an investment of $150 million. This expansion covers 23 acres of land that had previously been unused and features Candymonium—a hypercoaster designed by Bolliger & Mabillard—as its centerpiece. Additional attractions include a Chocolatier-themed restaurant complete with a bar and outdoor patio, The Sweeterie confectionery kitchen, a flagship retail store named Hersheypark Supply Co spanning 10,000 square feet, Milton's Ice Cream Parlor, a Starbucks location measuring 2,200 square feet, and the park’s largest kettle corn vendor. A signature fountain shaped like Hershey’s Kisses adds to the area's distinctive appeal.

The development introduced a new entrance granting direct access to Chocolatetown. The historic Carrousel was also relocated here from Founder's Way. Although originally planned to open earlier, the debut was postponed until July 3, 2020, due to COVID-19-related delays. The Chocolatier Restaurant, Sweeterie kitchen, and Milton’s Ice Cream Parlor began operations in 2021. These dining venues along with the main retail shop remain open throughout the year even when the park itself is closed.

Chocolatetown replaced what were formerly known as Tudor Square and Rhineland—themed areas dating back to retheming efforts in the 1970s. Some Rhineland-era structures still stand near Founder's Way at the rear of this new district.

Founder's Way

Founder's Way represents Hersheypark’s second themed section. Prior to the opening of Hershey's Chocolatetown, this area extended beyond the main gate near Tram Circle and combined several previous zones: Tudor Square (1973–2013), Rhineland (1973–2013), Founder's Circle, and Music Box Way. Several buildings from Rhineland remain intact here—including retail shops, the former Sky Ride station, Nathan’s hot dog stand, and Dispatch Pizzeria Express.

Following Chocolatetown’s completion, the previously steep incline in this area was leveled for easier access. At the central circle stands a statue of Milton S. Hershey accompanied by a commemorative fountain honoring him. This circle once housed the carousel before it was moved to Chocolatetown; however, its red, white, and blue pavilion still remains on site. From 1972 until 2004 this spot was known as Carousel Circle before being renamed Founder's Circle in 2005; it later merged with Music Box Way, Rhineland, and Tudor Square in 2013.

Beyond Carousel Circle lies what was once called Der Deitsch Platz—a section featuring the 1906 Grille restaurant, a souvenir photo booth, and a Subway outlet.

The combined Music Box Way area contains attractions such as the Music Box Theater—the first enclosed stage within the park—and rides including Fender Bender bumper cars, Pirate, Reese's Cupfusion, along with several children's rides. This zone provides convenient connections to The Hollow, Pioneer Frontier, and a footbridge leading to Kissing Tower Hill.

The Hollow

Initially called "Comet Hollow" in honor of Hersheypark's oldest coaster, the Comet, this historic zone lies adjacent to Spring Creek. Over time, it has transformed significantly, with many rides supplanting earlier attractions: the pioneering water ride Mill Chute (1929) once occupied the site now taken by Great Bear; original bumper cars were positioned where SooperDooperLooper Sandwich Stop currently stands; large slides previously covered the hill that is now home to Hersheypark Amphitheater; and a Streco turnpike operated beneath the Spring Creek bridge leading to Minetown. A 1932 Traver Tumble Bug was replaced by Wave Swinger in 1981. The carousel originally stood beside the creek near Comet’s station before its relocation to Carousel Circle in 1972. Other former attractions included a Himalaya ride, twin Eli Bridge Ferris wheels, a whip ride, and an Electric Railroad station.

The 1972 flood caused by Hurricane Agnes severely damaged or destroyed several key rides such as the turnpike, Mill Chute (then known as Lost River), and giant slides. These were subsequently replaced by Coal Cracker (1973), Twin Turnpike (1975) situated on higher ground in Minetown, and Merry Derry Dip Fun Slide (1997) located in Midway America.

Today, The Hollow contains three roller coasters: Comet, Skyrush, and SooperDooperLooper. It also features Wave Swinger, Tea Cups, and Sweet Swing attractions. A significant portion of Great Bear’s track runs through this section.

During renovations beginning in 2012, the park reduced the amount of chocolate scent infused into building materials for safety considerations and shortened the name from "Comet Hollow" to simply "The Hollow."

Kissing Tower Hill

Previously known as Minetown until 2014, this area debuted in 1990 with rides such as Convoy, Red Baron, Flying Falcon, and Dinosaur-Go-Round. Of these original attractions, only Convoy remains today; Dinosaur-Go-Round was moved in 2007 to Founder's Circle, Red Baron was relocated to Pioneer Frontier, and Flying Falcon was removed after 2016 to make room for Hershey Triple Tower. Prominent features of this section include the Sunoco Twin Turnpike, Coal Cracker flume ride, Kissing Tower, and Great Bear. This area also contains the Overlook Arcade, Overlook Food Court (formerly Minetown Restaurant), Hersheypark Aquatheater, and serves as the entrance to ZooAmerica within Hersheypark. While Overlook Food Court was historically the only location serving alcohol here, alcoholic beverages are now also available in Pioneer Frontier and Midway America.

Pioneer Frontier

Themed with a southwestern motif, Pioneer Frontier hosts four roller coasters: Trailblazer—the park’s second oldest—Jolly Rancher Remix, Storm Runner, and Fahrenheit. Additional rides include Frontier Flyers, The Howler, Mini Scrambler, Livery Stables, and Red Baron. This section offers a varied food court and underwent expansion in 2007 to incorporate Pirate (a swinging ship), The Claw, and Dry Gulch Railroad from Music Box Way. Meanwhile, Tidal Force and Canyon River Rapids were reassigned to the Boardwalk area. Pioneer Frontier is also home to the Playdome Arcade—which was renovated in 2018—the Frontier Meetinghouse, and Cinema Vision.

Midway America

Established in 1996 to honor traditional fairground midways, Midway America features four roller coasters: Wildcat's Revenge, a steel hybrid coaster that debuted in 2023; Lightning Racer, a wooden dueling coaster; and two steel coasters—Wild Mouse and Laff Trakk, an indoor spinning family coaster illuminated with glow-in-the-dark effects. Additional attractions include Music Express, Merry Derry Dip Fun Slides, Ferris Wheel, along with children's rides such as Granny Bugs, Pony Parade, and Tiny Tracks.

The Boardwalk at Hersheypark

Opened in 2007, The Boardwalk at Hersheypark is a water park that launched with five new water-based attractions alongside three pre-existing rides: Roller Soaker, Tidal Force, and Canyon River Rapids. The latter two were reclassified from Pioneer Frontier to The Boardwalk area. In 2009, the Seaquel expansion replaced Canyon River Rapids with new features including Intercoastal Waterway, a lazy river; The Shore, a wave pool; and private cabanas. Roller Soaker was removed in 2013, with its former station converted into a children's spray area and seating zone. In 2018, Hersheypark introduced two additional water attractions: Breaker’s Edge, a hydro-magnetic coaster slide marking the park's 14th coaster, and Whitecap Racer, the world’s longest mat racer slide featuring twisting enclosed tubes. Breaker’s Edge occupies the previous Roller Soaker station.

Bus access

Seasonal direct transit service between Harrisburg and Hershey is provided by Capital Area Transit via the HP bus route, while year-round connections to downtown Hershey and Hershey Outlets are available through the 322 CAT route. Additionally, Lebanon Transit offers direct access to Harrisburg on Route 8.

External links

Official website (archived as of May 31, 2021)