CoasterGallery.com -- Hersheypark

HERSHEYPARK Press Release

(Note from Joel: The park announced the name Storm Runner in November 2003.)

HERSHEY, PA (August 5, 2003)– The world’s first hydraulic launch coaster, featuring inversions, will race into HERSHEYPARK for the 2004 season, bringing the Park’s herd of roller coasters to a perfect ten.

Built by world renowned Intamin AG of Switzerland, the new high speed coaster will accelerate from 0 to 72 miles per hour in approximately 2 seconds! Climbing a nearly vertical incline to a height of 150 feet then plummeting approximately 180 feet at a 90 degree angle, the new coaster weaves its way through nearly four and one half acres on 2,600 of steel track and interacts with three HERSHEYPARK rides: Monorail, Dry Gulch Railroad, and the Trailblazer. It will also cross over Spring Creek twice. The station house for the new coaster will be located in the Pioneer Frontier section of the Park and will feature a dual rider loading/unloading operation. Coaster lovers will be treated to several customized, unique elements: Top Hat (150 feet), Power Drop (approximately 180 feet), Cobra Loop (135 feet), Barrel Rolls, and a dramatic Flying Snake Dive.

The new coaster features two trains, 20 passengers per train for a theoretical ride capacity of 1,200 riders per hour. Ride time is approximately 60 action packed seconds!

The management and staff of HERSHEYPARK are asking the public to help name the new coaster by participating in the HERSHEYPARK Name the Coaster Roundup. The search for a name has been narrowed to three choices: Steel Stampede, Renegade, and Storm Runner. The public is invited to help choose the final name for the 2004 coaster; information on voting is available at 1-866-HPK-2004 or Hersheypark.com. The contest runs August 5-19 and the winning name will be announced at a later date.