Previously known as Hershey Park (1909-1971) | |
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![]() Hersheypark Entrance | |
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Location | Hershey, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
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Coordinates | 40°17′17″N 76°39′25″W / 40.28806°N 76.65694°W |
Status | Operating |
Opened | May 30, 1906[3][4] (as Hershey Park) |
Owner | Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company |
General manager | Vikki Hultquist |
Theme | Hershey's Chocolate, Pennsylvania's heritage[1][2] |
Slogan | Hersheypark Happy |
Operating season | Easter Weekend, late April– mid-late September, Halloween, and Christmas |
Attendance | 3,321,000 (2023)[5] |
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 (known as Hershey Park until 1970) is a family theme park in the eastern United States in Hershey, Pennsylvania, about fifteen miles (25 km) east of Harrisburg, and 95 miles (155 km) west of Philadelphia. The park was founded in 1906,[3][4][6] by Milton S. Hershey[7] as a leisure park for the employees of the Hershey Chocolate Company. It is wholly and privately owned by Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company. Hersheypark has won several awards, including the Applause Award.[8]
The park opened its first roller coaster in 1923, the Wild Cat, an early Philadelphia Toboggan Company coaster. In 1970, it began a redevelopment plan, which led to new rides, an expansion, and its renaming. The 1970s brought the SooperDooperLooper, an early complete-circuit looping roller coaster, as well as a 330-foot-tall (100 m) observation tower, the Kissing Tower. Beginning in the mid-1980s, the park rapidly expanded. Between 1991 and 2008, it added eight roller coasters and the "Boardwalk at Hersheypark" water park. As of 2020[update], the park covers over 121 acres (49 ha), containing 76 rides and attractions, as well as a zoo called "ZooAmerica". Adjacent to the park is Hershey's Chocolate World, a visitors' center attraction that contains shops, restaurants, and a chocolate factory-themed tour ride, where visitors can get their picture taken and receive a piece of chocolate at the end of the ride.
Prior to the reduction in worldwide theme park attendance due to the COVID-19 pandemic,[9] the park saw an average attendance of over 3.3 million visitors each year.[10] In 2020, the park hosted 1.7 million visitors.[9] It is the most visited theme park in Pennsylvania and the ninth most visited theme park in North America, as well as the largest theme park in North America not located in Ohio, Florida or California.[9]
Patrice Alexander, a Hersheypark spokeswoman, said the park's theme "traces the evolution of the people of this area," including the Pennsylvania Dutch, coal miners and the pioneers.
Hershey Estates' multi-million dollar five-phase expansion program, scheduled for completion by 1976, will see the evolution of the 65-acre facility from amusement park to mini-world of wide ranging lifestyles with emphasis on the rich heritage of the Pennsylvania Dutch.
"Hershey Park will be formally opened to the public on Memorial Day, May 30th.
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