Hersheypark facts for kids
| Previously known as Hershey Park (1909-1971) | |
 |
|
Hersheypark Main Gate
|
|
| Lua error in Module:Infobox_mapframe at line 185: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| Location | Hershey, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 40°17′17″N 76°39′25″W / 40.28806°N 76.65694°W |
| Status | Operating |
| Opened | May 30, 1906 (as Hershey Park) |
| Owner | Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company |
| General manager | Vikki Hultquist |
| Theme | Hershey's Chocolate, Pennsylvania's heritage |
| Slogan | Hersheypark Happy |
| Operating season | Easter Weekend, late April– mid-late September, Halloween, and Christmas |
| Attendance | 3,384,000 (2019) 1,717,000 (2020) |
| Area | 121 acres (49 ha) |
| Attractions | |
| Total | 75 (as of 2023) |
| Roller coasters | 14 |
| Water rides | 16 |
| Other rides | 45 |
| Website | http://www.hersheypark.com/ |
Hersheypark is a super fun theme park located in Hershey, Pennsylvania. It's about 15 miles east of Harrisburg. The park was started way back in 1906 by Milton S. Hershey, who also founded The Hershey Company. He wanted a nice place for his chocolate factory employees to relax and have fun. Today, it's still owned by Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company. Hersheypark has even won special awards, like the Applause Award!
The park got its first roller coaster, the Wild Cat, in 1923. In the 1970s, the park got a big makeover and changed its name from Hershey Park to Hersheypark. During this time, they added the SooperDooperLooper, which was an early roller coaster that went upside down! They also built the Kissing Tower, a tall observation tower. From the mid-1980s, the park grew a lot, adding many new roller coasters and even a water park called "Boardwalk at Hersheypark."
As of 2020, the park covers over 121 acres and has 76 rides. It also has a zoo called "ZooAmerica" right next door. You can also visit Hershey's Chocolate World near the park. It's a cool place with shops, restaurants, and a tour ride where you learn about chocolate and get a free piece! Before the COVID-19 pandemic, over 3.3 million people visited Hersheypark each year. It's the most visited theme park in Pennsylvania!
Hersheypark History
How the Park Began
In 1903, Milton S. Hershey was planning the town of Hershey. He wanted a special park for his chocolate factory workers. In 1905, a bridge and a pavilion were built. Mr. Hershey bought the land for the park in 1906. Soon after, a baseball field was made. The first baseball game was played on May 5, 1906. This was the first public event in Hershey.
The Park's Name
On May 30, 1906, Hershey's park officially opened to everyone. It was called Hershey Park. There was a baseball game and music from the Hershey Band. Before this, people called it "West-end" Park or Hershey's Park. The name "Hershey Park" was chosen to combine the words "Hershey" and "Park." In 1970, the park decided to become a full theme park. So, in 1971, its name changed to Hersheypark, and it's been that ever since!
Fun Rides and Attractions
The very first ride at the park was a carousel, added in 1908. People called it the "Merry-Go-Round." In 1910, a Miniature Railroad was added, which ran until 1971. The park has had bumper cars since 1926. They also had boat rides and fun houses. The first two rides for little kids were added in 1926. Since then, many more kiddie rides have been added.
Roller Coasters Through Time
Hersheypark got its first roller coaster, the Wild Cat, in 1923. It was built for the town's 20th anniversary. This coaster ran until 1945. In 1946, a new wooden coaster called Comet replaced it. Between 1946 and 1996, six more roller coasters were added. This included the SooperDooperLooper in 1977. It was the first modern steel coaster on the East Coast to go in a full loop! In 1996, the park added another wooden coaster, also named Wildcat, like the original. Between 1996 and 2015, nine more roller coasters joined the park!
Only five coasters that were once at Hersheypark are gone now. These include the original Wild Cat and the 1996 Wildcat. The tallest, fastest, and longest coaster at Hersheypark today is "Candymonium."
Park Pools
Hersheypark has had a few pools over the years. The first pool was open from 1908 to 1911. It even had a slide called Shoot-the-Chutes! A new cement pool opened in 1912 and was used until 1928.
Later, a big new pool complex was built. It had a large pool, a smaller pool, and a beach area. This pool was open until 1971. Hersheypark didn't get another pool until 2007. That's when The Boardwalk at Hersheypark opened. It has a small wave pool for kids called Bayside Pier. In 2009, a much bigger wave pool called The Shore was added.
Themed Areas of the Park
Hersheypark has different areas, each with its own theme. The first themed areas were Carousel Circle, Der Deitsch Platz, and Animal Garden, created in 1972. Later came Tower Plaza, Pioneer Frontier, Midway America, and The Boardwalk. In 2014, some areas like Tudor Square and Rhineland became part of Founder's Way. Minetown, which was themed like a coal mining area, became Kissing Tower Hill. In 2020, a brand new area called Hershey's Chocolatetown opened. It has a new entrance, an ice cream shop, a big store, and the huge Candymonium roller coaster! It even has the first Starbucks inside the park.
Park Attractions
Rides
Hersheypark has had 142 different rides in its history. Currently, there are 76 rides operating. The park has featured 18 roller coasters, but five of them are no longer there. The newest coaster is Wildcat's Revenge, a special hybrid coaster that opened in June 2023.
Height Categories
Hersheypark uses names from Hershey Company products to show height requirements for rides. This helps everyone know which rides they can go on safely.
| Category | Height Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Miniatures | Under 3 feet (91 cm) | This is the newest height group. |
| Kisses | 3–3+1⁄2 feet (91–107 cm) | These riders can go on some roller coasters. |
| Reese's | 3+1⁄2–4 ft (107–122 cm) | |
| Hershey's | 4–4+1⁄2 ft (122–137 cm) | They can ride most coasters, but need an adult on the Bumper Cars. |
| Twizzler | 4+1⁄2–5 ft (137–152 cm) | These riders can go on almost any ride by themselves. |
| Jolly Ranchers | 5 feet (152 cm) and above | This is the tallest height group. |
Thrill Ride Ratings
Hersheypark has a system to tell guests how exciting a ride will be. The "Ratings" help you choose your adventure!
| Rating | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Children's Ride | These are slow, gentle rides for young children. Adults can often ride with them. |
| 2 | Mild Thrill Ride | These rides are low to medium speed. They have some changes in height and speed. You might need to hold on a bit! |
| 3 | Moderate Thrill Ride | These are medium-speed rides with unexpected changes. They might have twists, turns, bumps, or spins. You need to be able to control your body. |
| 4 | High Thrill Ride | These are fast rides with sudden changes in speed, direction, or height. They can have big twists, turns, and loops. You need to be in full control of your body. |
| 5 | Aggressive Thrill Ride | These are very fast rides! You'll experience many quick and unexpected changes. You need full body control. These rides are not for guests with physical or medical limits. |
Entertainment
Hersheypark offers many shows at places like the Hersheypark Aquatheatre and the Music Box Theatre. There are also shows that walk around the park! They have 12 regular shows, plus special shows for Spring, Summer, Halloween, and Christmas. A popular event is Hersheypark's Christmas Candylane, which runs from November to January.
Dining Options
The park has many places to eat. They even have options for special diets, like a kosher restaurant. Groups can also arrange for private picnic areas inside the park. You can't bring outside food or drinks into the park. There's a casual restaurant called Hersheypark Place just outside the park. You can also find Chickie and Pete's Crab House, Chick-fil-A (closed Sundays), and a new restaurant called "The Chocolatier" in the new Chocolatetown area.
ZooAmerica
ZooAmerica is a zoo that's included with your Hersheypark ticket! It's open all year round. The zoo covers 11 acres and has over 200 animals from North America. It's a smoke-free place. You can take tours, have birthday parties, and learn about the animals.
Themed Areas
Hersheypark is divided into seven fun themed areas. When you enter, you'll find yourself in Hershey's Chocolatetown. From there, you can go to Founder's Way. This leads to a spot where three other sections meet: Kissing Tower Hill, The Hollow, and Pioneer Frontier. The northern part of the park has Midway America and The Boardwalk.
Hershey's Chocolatetown
On October 3, 2018, Hersheypark announced its biggest new area ever: Hershey's Chocolatetown! This area features Candymonium, a huge roller coaster. It also has The Chocolatier restaurant, a sweet shop called Sweeterie, and a big Hersheypark Supply Co. store. You can also find Milton's Ice Cream Parlor and a Starbucks here. Chocolatetown even has a special Hershey's Kisses fountain!
This new area cost about $150 million, making it the most expensive project in the park's history. It was built on 23 acres of new land. A new entrance to the park leads right into Chocolatetown. The park's Carrousel ride was moved here from Founder's Way. Chocolatetown opened on July 3, 2020, after a delay. The Chocolatier restaurant, Sweeterie, and Milton's Ice Cream Parlor opened in 2021. These places, along with the main gift shop, are open all year, even when the park is closed. This area replaced the old Tudor Square and Rhineland sections.
Founder's Way
Founder's Way is the second themed area you'll find. It used to include the old Tudor Square and Rhineland areas. Now, a few buildings from Rhineland are still there, like gift shops and the old Sky Ride station.
.jpg)
After Chocolatetown was built, a steep hill in this area was leveled out. In the main circle of Founder's Way, you'll see a statue of Milton S. Hershey and a fountain. This honors the park's founder. The red, white, and blue pavilion where the carousel used to be is still there. From 1972 to 2004, this area was called Carousel Circle.
A part of Founder's Way used to be called Der Deitsch Platz. Here you can find the 1906 Grille and a Subway restaurant.
Another part of Founder's Way, once called Music Box Way, has the Music Box Theater. It also has rides like the Fender Bender bumper cars, the Pirate, and Reese's Cupfusion. Many kiddie rides are here too. From this area, you can get to The Hollow, Pioneer Frontier, and Kissing Tower Hill.
The Hollow
This section was first called "Comet Hollow" because of the Comet roller coaster, which is the oldest operating coaster in the park. This is one of the oldest parts of Hersheypark, and many rides have been here over the years. The park's first water ride, the Mill Chute, was here in 1929. The original bumper cars were also located here.
In 1972, a big flood from Hurricane Agnes damaged many rides in this area. Some rides, like the Mill Chute, were replaced later. Today, The Hollow has three roller coasters: Comet, Skyrush, and SooperDooperLooper. You can also find the Wave Swinger, Tea Cups, and Sweet Swing rides here. Most of the Great Bear coaster's track goes through The Hollow. In 2012, this area's name changed from 'Comet Hollow' to 'The Hollow'.
Kissing Tower Hill
Until 2014, this area was called Minetown. It officially opened in 1990 with rides like Convoy, Red Baron, and Flying Falcon. Many classic Hersheypark rides are still here, including the Sunoco Twin Turnpike, Coal Cracker water ride, Kissing Tower, and Great Bear roller coaster. It also has the Overlook Arcade and the Overlook Food Court. This area is also where you can enter ZooAmerica from Hersheypark.
Pioneer Frontier
Pioneer Frontier is the park's southwestern-themed area. It has four roller coasters: Trailblazer (the second oldest in the park), Jolly Rancher Remix, Storm Runner, and Fahrenheit. Other rides include the Frontier Flyers, The Howler, and Mini Scrambler. You can also find many places to eat in this section. This area used to include Tidal Force, but that's now part of The Boardwalk. However, Pioneer Frontier expanded to include the Pirate (a swinging ship ride), The Claw, and the Dry Gulch Railroad.
Midway America
Midway America opened in 1996. It's designed to look like a classic fairground. This area has four roller coasters: Wildcat's Revenge, a steel hybrid coaster that opened in 2023, Lightning Racer (a wooden coaster where two trains race), Wild Mouse, and Laff Trakk, a glow-in-the-dark indoor spinning coaster. Other rides include Music Express, Merry Derry Dip Fun Slides, and a Ferris Wheel. There are also three kiddie rides: Granny Bugs, Pony Parade, and Tiny Tracks.
The Boardwalk at Hersheypark
The Boardwalk at Hersheypark, a water park, opened in 2007. It added five new water rides and kept three existing ones: Roller Soaker, Tidal Force, and Canyon River Rapids. In 2009, The Boardwalk expanded with the Seaquel area. This added a lazy river called Intercoastal Waterway and a large wave pool called The Shore. Roller Soaker was removed in 2013. In 2018, Hersheypark added two new water attractions: Breaker's Edge, a hydro-magnetic coaster slide, and Whitecap Racer, the longest mat racer slide in the world!
Getting to Hersheypark
You can get to Hersheypark by bus! Capital Area Transit (CAT) has a special HP bus that goes directly to/from Harrisburg during the summer. All year, the 322 CAT route goes to downtown Hershey and the Outlets at Hershey. Lebanon Transit also has a bus route (Route 8) that goes to/from Harrisburg.
See also
In Spanish: Hersheypark para niños
