West Derry Road | Inside Hersheypark
West Derry Road
Hersheypark entrance | 1973 – 2019
Hersheypark’s most well known entrance was Tudor Castle. The castle – constructed between 1972 and 1973 – opened on May 20, 1973. It operated for its final time on January 1, 2019. Why a new entrance? Tourism was growing quickly in Hershey. The Hershey Company, then Hershey Foods Corporation, anticipated that they would have one …
Opening Day for Hersheypark
One question that often comes up is over the years, what date was Hersheypark’s first operating day of the new year. Of course, the answer is not simple: Hersheypark has had its opening day on different days, whether it was May 30, April 21, March 30, or even July 3. Learn more about the Opening …
Whip | 1997 – 2022
In 1997, Hersheypark expanded Midway America. One of the rides added was The Whip. Manufactured by Sarasota, Florida based Rideworks, Inc., this ride was an homage to the park’s first Whip. The back wall of Whip featured historic photos of Hersheypark. The picture to the left was of the Twin Ferris Wheels while the picture …
The Restaurants at Hersheypark’s Entrance
Since 1973, when Tudor Square was constructed, Hersheypark has had a restaurant at the entrance of the park. The restaurant was constructed on the south side of the Tudor Square midway, with the back of the restaurant up against Park Boulevard. There have been five different restaurants to operate in this location. Hersheypark’s current restaurant …
Hersheypark entrance | 2019
On January 1, 2019, the main entrance of Hersheypark was used for its last time. Within a few days, the demolition of the 45 year old Tudor Castle began. Shortly thereafter, the remainder of the former Tudor Square region of the park was razed. Springtime to Halloween By April, a temporary entrance was set up …
Merlin C. Crawford
Merlin Cless Crawford was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on May 4, 1895, to Walter B. (W. B.) Crawford and Laura Crawford née Cless. He was a co-founder of the Banjo-Saxo Orchestra of Harrisburg, and a founding member of the Hershey Orchestra (a predecessor to the current Hershey Symphony and the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, …
Hersheypark’s pinwheel logo turns 50
On May 7, 1972, Hersheypark opened for it’s second season as Hersheypark. This was the first season Hersheypark would operate as a theme park – featuring three new themed regions: Carrousel Circle, Der Deitsch Platz, and Animal Garden. Hersheypark also included a new primary logo: the pinwheel. Local Harrisburg newspaper, The Patriot News, printed a …
Traffic Jam at Hersheypark
Traffic Jam is a kiddie ride in Hersheypark manufactured by Hampton Amusement Company. The ride, sold as a Kiddie Variety Ride in the 1960s, was installed in Hersheypark in 1968. The ride is registered with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Amusement Ride Safety Division as PA Ride ID 76, under the name Motorcycles. …
Starship America at Hersheypark
Starship America is one of Hersheypark’s oldest rides. It was originally called Aero Jets and purchased used from Pontchartrain Beach amusement park, which was located north of New Orleans, Louisiana. Pontchartrain Beach Roto Jet At Pontchartrain Beach, Starship America was known as Roto Jet. It was purchased from the ride manufacturing company Kaspar Klaus of …
Minty Bees at Hersheypark
Minty Bees is a Hampton Amusement Company kiddie Super Jet ride which was installed in Hersheypark in 1961.
Pennsylvania’s Amusement Ride Inspection Act
On June 14, 1984, an act – providing for the inspection of amusement rides and attractions; granting powers and imposing duties on the Department of Agriculture; creating the Amusement Ride Safety Advisory Board; and imposing civil and criminal penalties – was entered into Pennsylvania law as P.L. 384, No. 81, the Pennsylvania Amusement Ride Inspection …
Dizzy Drums at Hersheypark
Dizzy Drums is a kiddie ride that operates in Founder’s Way across from Fender Bender. It was manufactured by Hampton Amusement Company, and it has been operating in Hersheypark since April or May of 1961. The ride is registered with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Amusement Ride Safety Division as PA Ride ID …
Garbrick Amusements, Inc.
Lewis Henry Garbrick operated a dairy in his hometown of Centre Hall, Pennsylvania. This dairy, called Garbrick & Son Dairy, closed in 1937. Garbrick left the dairy business to start a new manufacturing company called Garbrick Manufacturing Company. This company would go on to be best known as Garbrick Rides. History Garbrick’s son, Lewis Ardell …
Aerial Joy Ride at Hersheypark
Aerial Joy Ride existed in Hersheypark from 1941 to 1961. It operated at the 1939 World’s Fair in New York City, and was the second ride the park purchased that operated at a world’s fair. The first ride purchased from a World’s Fair was The Bug, purchased from the Century of Progress World’s Fair in Chicago …
Space Age at Hersheypark
Space Age is an umbrella kiddie ride, installed in Hersheypark in 1965 and is still operating today in the Founder’s Way region of Hersheypark. The ride has maintained the same theme throughout its 56 year history at Hersheypark. The ride is registered with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Amusement Ride Safety Division as …
The entrances of Hersheypark
Hersheypark’s entrances have had a variety of locations since the park opened in 1906. Changes occured in 1971, 1972, 1973, twice in 2019, and 2020.
The Bug at Hersheypark | 1933 – 1981
The Bug was one of Hershepark’s most classic rides, located in the Hollow, adjacent to Comet.
Skyview at Hersheypark
Skyview has operated in Hersheypark since 1966. It is a scenic, round-trip gondola ride. This should not be confused with Sky Ride (1973-1991).
Hersheypark’s Carrousel Fair
The Carrousel Fair was an event at Hersheypark that can trace its roots to the 1978 season. The event was last held in 1999. It started out as a promotional pay-as-you-ride event advertised as “October Days.” It was an extension of the summer season and the park operated during AACA’s Eastern Region Fall Swap Meet …
Hersheypark in 1960
60 years ago, Hersheypark operated for it’s 54th season. The season began on April 24, 1960, and operated through September 11, 1960. The park was closed on Mondays. Hersheypark remained open on Sundays in September due to popular demand. The park opened at 1:00pm on these Sundays. The park remained open until demand no longer …
Hersheypark 1910 | Memorial Day
In 1910, Hersheypark opened for its fifth season on May 30, Memorial Day. At the time, Memorial Day was also commonly called Decoration Day, which was the original name of the Federal holiday. This was the traditional opening day of the park, which began in 1906 when the park first opened, and continued into the …
Banjo-Saxo Orchestra of Harrisburg
Hersheypark has had many jazz orchestras and bands appear at the park throughout the years, especially between the 1910s to 1960s. One regularly scheduled resident performer for the first half of the 1920s was a group called Banjo-Saxo Orchestra of Harrisburg. The name of the band came from two of its prominent instruments, and they …
Alanson Wood | Inventor of the Roller Coaster
The featured image above is courtesy of the Jim Abbate Collection. Alanson Wood was an inventor who was born in the State of New York in 1829. He married Lovinia H. Wood (her maiden name is unknown), born in 1830, and had one child, a daughter named Lucy. Roller Skates and the Circular Gravity Railway …
Valley Video Cable Company
Valley Video Cable Company (VVC) was a company founded by Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Company on October 27, 1966 (at the time the company was named Hershey Estates). The president of the company was Arthur Whiteman, chief executive of Hershey Entertainment & Resorts at the time. Establishment of VVC On February 21, 1967, VVC had …
History of Hersheypark Maps
Hersheypark had not produced any maps of the park until 1972, when a map of the park produced by a third party was put into the park’s rack brochure and a “Welcome to Hershey” handout that was likely an additional rack brochure that was only available in Hershey. In 1973, Hersheypark produced another map for …
The Statue at the Entrance of Hershey Park Zoo
There is a postcard that Hersheypark has sold since approximately 1970 that shows the Monorail, installed in 1969, crossing over the entrance of Hersheypark and its main feature – the famous Elk statue. In the background of this picture is something rarely noticed. It is located in front of the entrance of Hershey Park Zoo, …
Happy Fourth of July!
Happy Fourth of July from The Amusement Parkives! Have a great day and thanks for checking out the website! There’s a lot more new content the works. If you’d like to support The Amusement Parkives, consider giving a donation so new content can be more easily created. Click here if you are interested. Here are a bunch …
Hershey Park Pool | 1908 – 1928
Before the pool at the intersection of Park Boulevard and West Derry Road was opened in 1929, there was another major pool in Hersheypark – the original Hershey Park Pool, which operated from 1908 to 1928 in what we know today as The Hollow. History In August 1907, Harry Herr and his subordinates began surveying …
What Could Have Been | Hersheypark in 2005
In 2005, Starship America and Balloon Flite were installed in Founder’s Circle (what was previously called Carrousel Circle from 1972-2004 and later Founder’s Way). These two rides took the place of the iconic Giant Wheel, which was closed in 2004. However, a different ride was supposed to be installed in that location: Turbulence. This is …
Hersheypark’s Carrousel | 1945 – present
The featured photo above is courtesy of Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Company. Ride The New Carrousel On Sunday, May 20, 1945, a mere twelve days after Germany surrendered to the Allies in World War II, the venerable carousel known as PTC #47, began to operate in Hersheypark. This carousel was much more impressive than its …
Hersheypark’s Springtime in the Park starts this Saturday
Springtime in the Park is open Saturday. There will be a new temporary main entrance for the park this year.
Omnivision, Inc.
Omnivision, Inc., was a company that was incorporated in Sarasota, Florida, from 1976 until 1994. Omnivision existed as a subsidiary of Omni Films International, Inc., a successor company to Omnivision. The successor company existed until 1994, when the company was purchased by Iwerks Entertainment, Inc., of Burbank, California. Cinema 180 history Fred Hollingsworth III began …
Hersheypark 2019 season opens May 3
On March 7, Hersheypark announced some new information about the 2019 season. Reese’s Cupfusion will open in the summer of 2019, while the summer season will begin on May 3. Reese’s Cupfusion theming Two kiddie rides adjacent to the new Reese’s Cupfusion will be taken over by ride characters Mint the Merciless and the League …
Cinema Vision theater
Cinema Vision operated in Hersheypark from 1982 to 1985 in what is the Pioneer Frontier region, today.
Ladybug | Hersheypark
In 1976, Hersheypark added a new ride: Ladybug. This replaced the Sailboats kiddie ride which had been in the park since 1928.
2018 in Review
Happy New Year’s Eve! As done in 2017, here is a look back at the top 10 articles published on The Amusement Parkives during the year. These are ranked by number of views. There is also a list of other notable articles worth reading. The Top 10 Hersheypark plans to expand 23 acres Hersheypark to introduce Reese’s …
Hersheypark in 1968
The featured photo above is courtesy the Hershey-Derry Township Historical Society. If you are interested in looking at more photos in their collection, check out the Historical Society’s Online Collections Database after reading this article! On April 21, it was the 50th anniversary of the opening of Hersheypark for its 1968 season. This was Hersheypark’s …
Tear Gas from Police Training Drifts into Hersheypark
Just down the road from Hersheypark, on Hersheypark Drive, is the Pennsylvania State Police Academy. It is located on the same hill as The Hotel Hershey and Catherine Hall, part of Milton Hershey School. On Wednesday, December 19, tear gas from a training drill at the Academy blew into the Midway America section of Hersheypark. …
Tear Gas from Police Training Drifts into Hersheypark Read More »
Hersheypark Update | December 17, 2018
Here is your Hersheypark update for December 17, 2018. Digging is underway in the old Hershey Park Pool area.
The First Hersheypark Christmas Candylane
Hersheypark’s first Christmas Candylane was held 35 years ago in 1983.
A Brief History of the Rotor
The Rotor was invented in Europe in the 1940s and was brought to the United States in 1951. Kennywood Park installed a Rotor in 1955, and Hersheypark installed a Rotor in 1970.
Hersheypark Update | November 8, 2018
Construction of the perimeter gate for the expanded area of Hersheypark has continued. Fence poles have been installed on part of the fence line. It is set a handful of feet away from Park Boulevard, presumably to allow a public right-of-way for a fire lane, similar to what can be seen along Hersheypark Drive behind …
Hersheypark Update | October 23, 2018
Hersheypark’s Hershey’s Chocolatetown preliminary construction is underway.
Hersheypark in the Dark turns 20
On October 23, Hersheypark in the Dark will turn 20 years old. The first season the event occurred was in 1998. Creatures of the Night originally began as a single night event on October 31, 1979 in ZooAmerica. In 1992, Creatures of the Night expanded into Minetown (today, Kissing Tower Hill) and several kiddie rides …
Hershey’s Chocolatetown to open in 2020 at Hersheypark
Hershey’s Chocolatetown, the first theme region added to Hersheypark since 2007, was announced on October 3, 2018. It will open in Summer 2020.
When the Last Home on West Derry Road Was Sold
West Derry Road was a public road that existed until 1980 that cut through what is today Hersheypark. One of the former homes on West Derry Road exists in Hersheypark today – The Lingle House in Pioneer Frontier Food Court. This house was sold to Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Company (the owner of Hersheypark, then …
Hersheypark teases major October 3 announcement
On September 12, Hersheypark posted on social media a teaser for the park’s “biggest announcement ever” in their history. This is more than likely related to the proposed 23 acre expansion of Hersheypark which was submitted to Derry Township for necessary approvals in the late spring. This proposed expansion includes a relocation of the main …
Castelli’s Hotel | Inside Hersheypark
Now inside Hersheypark, Castelli’s Hotel was a restaurant that operated from 1940 to 1964 on West Derry Road in Hershey.
Hersheypark to introduce Reese’s Cupfusion ride in 2019
Reese’s Cupfusion is new for summer 2019. It will replace Reese’s Xtreme Cup Challenge, which will permanently close on September 3.
Hersheypark and Knoebels experience continued flooding – both parks closed July 25 and 26
Hersheypark and Knoebels are experiencing continued flooding since Monday – both parks announced they would be closed on July 25 and July 26.
Hersheypark and Knoebels closed on July 23 due to localized flooding
Hersheypark and Knoebels closed on July 23 due to localized flooding. Hersheypark is scheduled to reopen on July 24. Knoebels has not yet announced their plans for tomorrow.
Steelers Country to open in Kennywood Park in 2019
On July 19, 2018, Kennywood Park and the Pittsburgh Steelers announced a collaboration that has resulted in a new themed region being added to the park, which will be called Steelers Country. The main fixture of the region, which is roughly where Log Jammer used to stand, is The Steel Curtain, which will be the …
Steelers Country to open in Kennywood Park in 2019 Read More »
Hersheypark adding something new for 2019
The mission begins on August 2, 2018. What will it be? #Hersheypark2019
Chickie’s & Pete’s
In 2014, Hersheypark added a new branded food stand, one that was local to the Philadelphia and Jersey Shore area – Chickie’s & Pete’s. Chickie’s & Pete’s opened up a location inside Hersheypark in the Midway America region of the park. A new structure was built adjacent to the Midway America Subway stand across from Midway …
Hersheypark in 1908
One hundred and ten years ago, Hersheypark opened for its third season of operations on May 30, 1908. This season was the year Hersheypark added its first amusement park attractions. On the evening of May 19, 1908, the Patriotic Order Sons of America (P.O.S. of A.) Hall, built by Milton S. Hershey for the Camp …
The Wild Cat | 1923-1945
The Wild Cat operated in Hersheypark from 1923 to 1945. It was manufactured by Philadelphia Toboggan Company and The Wild Cat was the first roller coaster designed by Herbert P. Schmeck.
Hersheypark plans to expand 23 acres
Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Company presented Plat #1298 to Derry Township Planning Commission.
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Hersheypark Update | February 15, 2018
Today’s Hersheypark update features news of an upcoming improvements and updates to Hersheypark over the next two seasons, as well as updates on the construction of the new Racer Corner rides being installed in The Boardwalk at Hersheypark for the 2018 season. Hersheypark Entrance Improvements and 2020 Attraction According to recent Dauphin County records, Hersheypark …
Waagner-Biro | Double and Triple Wheels
This is a special article about the history of Waagner-Biro’s double and triple wheels. For more information about Giant Wheel at Hersheypark see here and here. Waagner-Biro produced a new kind of Ferris Wheel in the 1970s through the 1980s that were twin or triplet wheels attached to a swivel bar to raise the wheel into …
Miniature Railroad | 1910-1971
One of the earliest rides purchased by Hersheypark, the Miniature Railroad debuted in 1910 and was operated to the 1971 season. This is a detailed review of the history of the Miniature Railroad.
Hersheypark’s Carrousel | 1912 – 1944
After the 1911 season, the popularity of the park’s first carousel required the park to purchase a larger carousel for the park. The original carousel, often called the Merry-Go-Round, was a smaller Hershchell-Spillman carousel. It simply didn’t meet the needs of Hersheypark’s operation in 1911, and so the ride was slated to be replaced. For …
What Could Have Been | Hersheypark in the mid-1980s
In 1983, Hersheypark began drafting operations capital requirements for the years 1984 to 1988. What was created wasn’t a plan for the park to follow, just an idea of what future operating budgets may need to be. To understand the motivation for this projection, we need to look back at the previous five years 1978 …
What Could Have Been | Hersheypark in the mid-1980s Read More »
Randall A. Duell
This is a biographical profile of Randall A. Duell, one of the preeminent amusement park designers of the 20th Century. But not only was he distinguished for that – he was also a long time art director for MGM Studios from the 1930s to the 1950s, being nominated for several Academy awards. Randall A. Duell …
Rudy Vallee at Hershey Park Ball Room, 1930
In 1913, Hershey Park Ball Room opened. Seventeen years later, the ballroom gained national notoriety when Rudy Vallee, one of music’s first teen idols, performed to a sold out crowd. According to the Hershey Community Archives in a Spring 2011 Derry Township newsletter, John Sollenberger was responsible for booking Vallee: Hershey Ballroom typically paid $250-$300 …
Pittsburgh’s first roller coaster
The City of Pittsburgh got its first roller coaster in 1885, at the Penn Incline Resort. This was not only Pittsburgh’s first roller coaster, it was one of the first three roller coasters constructed in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The first roller coaster constructed in Pennsylvania, The Roller Coaster, appears to have operated in Philadelphia …
Schenley Park Pleasure Railway in Pittsburgh | 1894 – 1897
On April 24, 1894, the Schenley Park Pleasure Railway Company announced that a roller coaster was being built near the entrance of Schenley Park, on Forbes Street, opposite the Carnegie library. The roller coaster was constructed inside a two story building that included a restaurant and a dessert bar, as well as a barber and a …
Schenley Park Pleasure Railway in Pittsburgh | 1894 – 1897 Read More »
The Opening of West View Park
West View Park opened on May 23, 1906, a Wednesday. Learn more about how the park was developed and who was on the first Board of Directors.
Pittsburgh Exposition roller coasters
The Greater Pittsburgh Exposition was an annual event which occurred in the fall of each year between 1889 and 1916. The exposition was located where Point State Park and PNC Park are in Pittsburgh today. The grounds were spread between downtown Pittsburgh and the city of Allegheny (today the North Shore). Twin Gravity Railway (1895 – …
Universal Mobility, Incorporated
Universal Mobility, Incorporated (UMI), was a company based out of Salt Lake City, Utah that existed from approximately 1967 to 1989. UMI was best known for constructing a handful of monorail systems in places such as Hershey, Pennsylvania, Magic Mountain in California, and the Louisiana World’s Fair in 1984. Other products UMI manufactured included tram …
Haunted Harvest | 2004
With various haunted attractions available within close distance of Hershey, Hersheypark didn’t try their hand at having a haunted attraction in Hersheypark. That changed in 2004 when park management decided to have one. This attraction was Haunted Harvest. I want to take a moment to thank Roy J. Brashears for his help with this article. …
Little Red Caboose (Lost Children’s Caboose)
In 1969, Hersheypark received a donation from Reading Railroad Company – a rare red caboose. It was briefly used as a children’s ride in 1970, and by the mid-1970s became the Lost Children’s Caboose. It served that function until 2006, and then remained in Hersheypark until March 2014, when it was donated to the Reading …
Flying Coaster at Hersheypark | 1964 – 1972
In 1964, Hersheypark installed several new rides (and remodeled one as well). One of these new rides was a Norman Bartlett-invented ride called Flying Coaster. Flying Coaster is a type of flat ride, not a roller coaster. Manufactured by Aeroaffiliates, Inc., of Fort Worth, Texas, this ride was only in the park for eight years. An example …
Canyon River Rapids | 1987-2008
Canyon River Rapids was installed in the Pioneer Frontier section of Hersheypark for the 1987 season. This was the first major ride added to the park since the addition of sooperdooperLooper for the 1977 season. Hersheypark added 5 acres of land with the addition of the new ride. History The ride was purchased at a …
Custer Car Ride
Hersheypark has had 5 different Turnpike rides over the years. This article is about the first Turnpike ride Custer Car Ride. History Hersheypark was increasing in popularity throughout the 1930s, and to meet the growing trend with rides in other amusement parks, Hersheypark installed a ride manufactured by the Custer Specialty Company. Known as the …
More on Giant Wheel
I wanted to cover a few more things on Giant Wheel that I really didn’t touch upon in my article last Thursday. I plan to do similar follow ups with other articles as I publish them on the blog. Astron International Corporation As I mentioned in the previous article, Giant Wheel was Waagner-Biro’s first double …
Giant Wheel | 1973-2004
When the Hersheypark renovations were drawn up by R. Duell & Associates, Phase I included Carrousel Circle – one of the biggest parts of the additions to Hersheypark planned. While the Carrousel was obviously the focal point of the area, another ride was planned to be installed but was part of Phase II. This ride …
Kiddie Ferris Wheels in Hersheypark
While the park doesn’t have a kiddie Ferris wheel today, Hersheypark has had three kiddie Ferris wheel’s in its history.
Twin Ferris Wheels | 1950-1974
Hersheypark has had a number of Ferris wheels in the park since 1926…
Hersheypark…A Happy Experience | May 7, 1972
Phase I Opens. Printed on May 7, 1972, in The Patriot-News, was a special features section all about the grand opening of the new Hersheypark (although it was renamed a year earlier in 1971). Below was the front page of that section which displays one of the first prominent appearances of the Hersheypark pinwheel logo. …
Big Dipper at Aloha Park | 1922 – 1925
This article is part of a short series on Aloha Park, which was located in the Waikiki section of Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii. This article is about the Church & Prior roller coaster at the park, Big Dipper. Aloha Park had one roller coaster, Big Dipper, which was designed by Church & Prior and construction …