Hershey Park
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Hershey Park (also known as Hersheypark), was opened in 1909 as a leisure park for the employees of Hershey's, an American confectionery company. Later, the company decided to open the park to the public. Today the park has over 110 acres (450,000 m²) and over 60 rides and attractions. It is located in Hershey, Pennsylvania.
HersheyPark features over 60 rides and attractions, including 10 rollercoasters. Its latest rollercoaster is Storm Runner, opened in 2004.
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Admissions
Regular one day admissions prices are based on age:
- Regular (ages 9-54):$39.95
- Junior (ages 3-8):$22.95
- Senior (ages 55-69):$22.95
- Senior Plus (70+):$15.95
- Children (ages 2 and under):free
At the local GIANT (a grocery store) you can get tickets at a reduced rate:
- Regular (ages 9-54):$29.95
- Junior (ages 3-8):$21.95
- Senior (ages 55-69):$21.95
For 2 day tickets, 3 day tickets, and other deals, see Admission Plans (http://www.hersheypa.com/attractions/hersheypark/admission/index.html).
Hours
Most days the park is open from 10 am to 10 pm, although somedays (mostly weekend days) it is open 10 am to 11 pm and somedays (mostly weekdays) it is open 10 am to 8 pm or 5 pm to 10 pm.[1] (http://www.hersheypa.com/attractions/hersheypark/hours/index.html) Though the gates open at 10 am, the rides may not open until 10:30 am. Additionally, for guests of Hershey Resorts (people staying in The Hotel Hershey, Hershey Lodge, or Hershey Highmeadow Campground) there is a Sweet Start program where they are allowed in the park one hour early, at 9 am.
Rides
Coasters
Hershey Park has ten rollercoasters of varying types:
- Comet
- Wooden coaster built in 1946 and remodeled in 1978
- Great Bear
- Looping, inverted steel coaster installed in 1998
- Lightning Racer
- Wooden dueling coaster installed in 2000
- Roller Soaker
- Steel coaster with the spectators able to spray water at the riders
- Sooperdooperlooper
- Looping steel coaster installed in 1977
- Storm Runner
- Hydraulic launch steel coaster with inversions, installed in 2004
- Sidewinder
- Steel coaster installed in 1991 which takes you forward through a series of inversions and then through it backward
- Trailblazer
- Steel coaster installed in 1974
- Wild Mouse
- Wild Mouse coaster installed in 1999 which gives the illusion of falling off the track
- Wildcat
- Wooden coaster installed in 1996
Other Rides
Besides the coasters, Hershey Park has other rides ranging from kiddie rides to thrill rides.
- THE CLAW is a swinging pendulum ride installed in 2003, replacing the old Cyclops ride.
- The Kissing Tower takes riders on a trip upwards 250 feet while rotating clockwise, providing a panoramic view of Hershey through windows shaped like Hershey's Kisses.
- The Ferris Wheel's wheel is 88 feet in diameter and sends riders nearly 100 feet in the air. It was installed in 1997.
- The Tidal Force was installed in 1994. It is a splash-down ride, with splashes reaching onto the pathway.
Food
In Hershey Park there are many options for what to eat. They discourage bringing in outside food, but it can be done. For inside food options there is a causal sitdown restaurant just outside the park called Tudor Grill, group catering served in one of six private picnic areas in side the park, food bought from shops with adjacent tables (such as the two Famous Famiglia pizzarias and the two Subways, food bought from small stands such as the Dippin' Dots stands throughout the park, and popcorn, cottoncandy, lemonades bought from traveling vendors.
Employment
Hershey Park employs a wide range of employees, from teenagers from local highschools to senior citizens. It offers full time, part time (also called seasonal) and internships. It offers part time jobs such as:
- Ride operator
- Ride attendant
- Retail clerk
- Games
- Greeter
- Sweeps (sweeps the pathways)
- Musician
- Costume performer
- etc.
Employment gives such perks as free admission to Hershey Park, ZOOAMERICA, and Dutch Wonderland, company sponsored events and parties, and discounts on retail and food items in Hershey Park. Also there is a Reciprocal Admissions Program that employees can take part in to gain entry to other amusement parks such as Dorney Park (located in Allentown, Pennsylvania), Camelbeach Waterpark (located in Tannersville, Pennsylvania), and Six Flags Great Adventure (located in Jackson Township, New Jersey) for free.
External links
- Hershey Park (http://www.hersheypa.com/attractions/hersheypark)
- GIANT (http://www.giantpa.com/)
- Famous Famiglia Official Site (http://www.famousfamiglia.com/)
- Subway (official site) (http://www.subway.com/)
- Dippin' Dots - "Ice Cream of the Future" (http://www.dippindots.com/)