Here is your Hersheypark Update for November 9, 2017. Hersheypark In The Dark occurred in October, while work for Sweet Lights got underway, and the park undertook the yearly tradition of setting up Christmas Candylane. More markers have appeared around the front of the park, while construction continues in The Boardwalk for the 2018 attractions.
Hersheypark In The Dark
Last month featured the 20th season for the Hersheypark In The Dark event, which began in 1998. It originated as Creatures of the Night, an event at ZooAmerica which began in 1979. This event has continued again this year, making it the 38th season for Creatures of the Night. To learn more about the history of these events, click here.
For the last several seasons, Hersheypark has offered “dark” rides on roller coasters (rides with the lights turned off). This year, BBLz and Chick-Fil-A (on Fridays and Saturdays), both which opened in 2017, are open for Hersheypark In The Dark. The new Hershey Triple Tower is also open for Hersheypark In The Dark. It will be open during Hersheypark Christmas Candylane, as well.
Sweet Lights
Set up for Sweet Lights, an annual drive-through attraction that operates from November to January 1, is under way. Sweet Lights was first offered in 2003, making this the 15th season for the attraction.
Christmas Candylane
The reindeer arrived just a couple days in advance of the opening of the 2017 Hersheypark Christmas Candylane season.
Who’s ready for Hersheypark’s Christmas Candylane?
The Boardwalk: Racer Corner
Construction has continued in The Boardwalk for the 2018 attractions. Drillers have appeared on site to presumably dig footers for the new attractions. Some of the tubes for Whitecap Racer have been assembled and stored in Sandcastle Cove’s area.
The photos below are courtesy of Matthew Meckley.
History
There have been three previous phases of construction for The Boardwalk at Hersheypark:
- 2007: The original Boardwalk opened, including four slides on Coastline Plunge.
- 2009: The Boardwalk SeaQuel opened, which replaced Canyon River Rapids.
- 2013: The third phase opened, which included finishing Coastline Plunge and adding Shoreline Sprayground.
2018 will mark the fourth phase of Boardwalk construction. If you want to see videos of what Whitecap Racer and Breakers Edge Water Coaster will look like, click here.
Out Front
With Park Boulevard being rerouted in 2016, a segment of old Park Boulevard was abandoned that is adjacent the main entrance of Hersheypark. Since then, a large area of this land has been fenced off, and survey markers have appeared all over the vicinity – from the old pool area along old Park Boulevard all the way into Founders Way by Carrousel Circle.
Maps of markers in Hersheypark
More work has been done at the front of the park since September. Surveyors have been seen working on weekends in mid-September, and there have been new markers placed by companies including UGI. Orange markers, representing communications lines, have been placed behind the Ticketing Services building.
What this means for this area of what now is directly part of Hersheypark’s property remains unknown for the time being.
Take a look at the map below to see pictures provided by Matthew Meckley in the Disney Lovers at Hersheypark group on Facebook. One photo was also provided by W Geoffrey Miller who was at Hersheypark on July 10. It is a photo of surveyors doing sampling work.
This article is part of a series of Hersheypark Update articles which will be added when necessary. The updates to this area are pretty historically significant given that Hershey Park Pool, Starlight Ballroom, and Hershey Creamery used to be in this area. However, with the construction going on in The Boardwalk, in the area where Roller Soaker used to stand, I will also have updates on that area as necessary. Keep checking back for more!
