Hersheypark
Hersheypark is another amusement park that has been on my list to visit for years. The Pennsylvania park, along with Kennywood and Knoebels, helps to show the evolution of amusement parks in America. But I also wanted to try all of the amazing roller coasters and the chocolate! I reached out the the Hershey media department and they did provide me with a ticket in exchange for this post and social media posts during my visit.
I visited Hersheypark on a very rainy and overcast day, but I still had an amazing time. The rain and clouds kept a lot of the crowds away; most of the coasters were walk-on and I was able to experience everything. The park was originally opened in 1906 by Milton Hershey, so I was thrilled to immerse myself in the historic grounds of the park. I always try to imagine how the park grew and, in this case, how it grew around the famous chocolate factory.
Even before you enter the gates, you’re greeted with the history of the park. It’s still hard to imagine the park as an un-gated property that was originally designed and created for the employees of the chocolate factory.
But the park is beautifully landscaped inside and outside.
Outside of the Founder’s Way courtyard is the Measure Up! area, which is a wonderful idea. Most parks offer wristbands, but Hersheypark offers wristbands and ride categories based on different types of candies. And for those wondering, I’m a Jolly Rancher…
Hersheypark offers wonderful maps throughout the park to help you find your way.
The historic Philadelphia Toboggan Coaster (PTC) Carousel #47 greets you in The Hollow, after the fountain. You can learn more about PTC by checking out my video, here!
Hersheypark does a wonderful job of celebrating their past, which I really appreciate. And I was drawn to these historical signs like a moth to a flame. Or like a theme park nerd to, well, a sign!
Even on a rainy day, there was still plenty to do, like the Reese’s Extreme Cup Challenge, a Sally Dark-Ride Shooter, that is fun for everyone. There were a few indoor attractions to do during the rain, but there are also some good food venues.
Laff Trakk is an indoor, spinning coaster that runs during rainy days, too.
Laff Trakk does have a historic Laughing Sal barker figure on display in the queue. She’s also the icon of the attraction.
The intersection of Cocoa Avenue and Chocolate Avenue makes a perfect photo opportunity inside of the park.
Again, I love the historic signs that are placed throughout the park.
Hersheypark ZooAmerica
ZooAmerica is an 11-acre zoo that is attached to Hersheypark and is included in your admission ticket. It’s a great diversion in the middle of the day and another look at how the park has grown and changed over the years. The ZooAmerica experience can take anywhere from an hour just to walk through or several hours if you stop to take in the exhibits.
The prairie dogs were the first animals on exhibit and were a gift to Milton Hershey. Behind the prairie dog exhibit are the 24 silos that used to hold the cocoa beans.
Hersheypark Monorail
Any park with a monorail gets instant awesome points. But, with everything that Hersheypark does right, it didn’t need the extra points. But, you still have to take the monorail trip.
The monorail is a round trip ride that takes you to the grounds of the original chocolate factory through ZooAmerica and the grounds of the park. There’s some history in the pre-recorded spiel and it’s a great overview of the park.
You get some wonderful overhead views of the park from the monorail.
Hersheypark Bottomline
Hersheypark is a brilliant amusement park with several fantastic coasters and fun rides for the family. I’ll do another post featuring the thirteen coasters. Even though my day was very rainy, I still got to experience twelve of the coasters and do a lot of the other attractions. And I got to experience the historic park. Hersheypark is very hilly, so be prepared to feel it by the end of the day. The park is also shaped like a crescent, so you can do a lot of back tracking throughout the day, depending on the lines.
With the major coasters and plenty of rides for the younger kids, Hersheypark is a great park for families. When you mix in the history of Milton Hershey and the Hershey Company, you have an amazing experience for amusement park fans.
Have You Visited Hersheypark? What’s Your Favorite Ride?
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