Michael Darling said: Was the Giant Wheel victim of low ridership....
The rumors of GIANT Wheel's departure have been around for serveral years. Most of them point to the fact that parts for this 32 year old Intamin ride are very hard to get. In another thread it was also stated that there seems to be some major maintenance issues that need to be addressed for this ride. Since ridership is not the highest, and since there are some major maintenance issues, and since parts are very rare and hard to find, I would think the departure is a combination of all of this.
ALSO... according to the press release that was linked to the thread in the News section, it stated that Carrousel Circle is undergoing a make over. Two years ago the Star Light Arcade was removed and replaced by a fountain and a statue of Milton Hershey. The press release states that next season Carrousel Circle will be given a face lift and renamed Founder's Circle. If you are going to replace a major ride, during the make over of its area is the best time to do it.
Could this be ushering in a new phase of the park's development? Who knows. When the park underwent its make over from "traditional Amusement Park" to "modern style amusement / theme park", carrousel circle was one of the first areas completed. That was 30+ years ago. Could we be seeing the first steps of a new phase of the park... to go back and upgrade / refurbish different areas? Who knows.
gomez said:It's like saying I'm not going to buy a new car because the flying cars will be out in 10 years.
Hey... you mean my order for the new Jupiter VI Sportster from Jetson Motor Works may not be filled?
And why, oh why, doesn't Hershey have a darkride?
Look at all of Hershey's areas and how they meet their "theme" or at the very least their "Name":
Tudor Square = Tudor english style buildings - no rides - park enterance
Rhineland = Bavarian style buildings - no rides
Carrousel Circle = no real style - rides and attractions in a "circle" around the carrousel.
NEW Founder's Circle = Replaces Carrousel Circle. reported nostalgic look - rides and attractions in circle around Carrousel and statue of Milton Hershey
Comet Hollow = No theme - rides and attractions occupy the midway running length of Comet along the creek "hollow"
MineTown = Hill section anchored by Great Bear, Coal Cracker, Flying Falcon, Kisisng Tower. Theme is old Mining town, but with the removing of Coal Shaker (cuddle up) and renaming of Minetown Vittles, the only trace of this theme is the name Coal Cracker and the mine shaft that the sooperdooperlooper runs through. The area around the base of the Kissing Tower is sometimes referred to as Tower Plaza, but this does not appear on the current Hersheypark maps. The park has existed in this area for many years, but the look of this area has changed greatly and is relativley "new" since the early 1970's.
Pioneer Frontier = Next to Rhineland and Tudor Square, probably the most themed area. Western style buildings and western sounding names (Trailblazer, Sidewinder, Storm Runner, Canyon River Rapids, Dry Gulch RR, etc)
Midway America = Theme of an "traditional" amusement park. Ride stations are themed to look like classic architecture of early 20th century style (LR station, WM station, WC station as well as the pavilion over top of the Whip)
Music Box Way = Named for the Music Box Theater (is that still there?)... the walk"way" by this theater. No theme to rides etc. Next to Comet Hollow, this is one of the older sections of the park. The last HP dark ride (Gold Nugget dark ride) used to be in this area. The reason I heard that this was removed was, like many theme parks in the 1970's and 1980's, a capacity problem.
Years ago Der Duetzplaz was also another area of the park, small as it was. This was anchored by the "barn" (wher the old time picture place is now located) that sits near Carrousel Circle. It was a show case for local PA Dutch crafts and the like. However, like Tower Plaza, it no longer seems to be a named area.
SO... of the remaining named areas... 4 have central themes (Tudor Square, Rhineland, Pioneer Frontier, Midway America), one started to have a theme but seems to have lost it (Mine Town), and two received their names simply because of their location (Comet Hollow and Music Box Way). Carrousel Circle, with its make over, seems like it will be getting a little more theming (nostalgic themeing reminicent of the time of Milton Hershey).
Could the changes in Carrousel Circle be a sign of more changes in places like Comet Hollow and Music Box Way? Who knows.
Going way off on a tangent... in PA there are four main things that Hershey is known for... Hershey Chocolate, Milton Hershey, Hersheypark, Hershey Bears Hockey. The "Park" theme is tapped (The entire park itself as well as "Midway America"). Founder's Circle seems to be geared toward Milton Hershey. Chocolate World seems to anchor a chocolate theme in the area (though out side of the gates of the park and a separate attraction). Do something with Music Box Way toward a Hockey theme... considering that the east wall of the Hersheypark Arena forms the boundary of that section of the park? Who knows.
Jeff said:
Yeah, weird how everything "confirmed" doesn't actually "materialize."
Yeah...really wierd!
*snicker*
I think it was located in what is now Comet Hollow, where the Wave Swinger and Paddlewheel Cafe are. The Bug was also down there, which was a bigger version of the little bug that's up in Music Box Way.
Good recollection about the entrance, SLFAKE. What a lot of people probably don't know is that there was a regular public street between the Arena and the Stadium. That's where the buses would drop people off to go to the park or Arena. The sharp curve in the road behind Tudor Square-- where the height measuring stands are-- used to be a regular T-intersection where this road came out. The other side met Route 743 about where the Trailblazer hill is. The other leg of the intersection is still there, where 743 takes that weird jog.
(If anyone's familar with USGS maps, look on the map for Hershey and you'll still see this street shown, along with a number of houses that are smack in the middle of where Pioneer Frontier is today.)
Anyway, now that I rambled like Grandpa Simpson, the whole point is that years ago, the park went only from the front of the Arena back to the rr tracks. Of course, back then you got to tour the REAL factory.
SLFAKE: When I was at Hershey on Sunday, I couldn't help but think of how much better that carousel would look with a more classic-style building (like the one that Lake Compounce built last year). I'm curious to see what they do with that section of the park. Maybe they'll move those out-of-place flats and allow people to stroll up to the last leg of the Comet! I think a midway running alongside the coaster would be a great idea.
The removal of the Giant Wheel is a shame. It was the last one left in this country.
I agree that some of the "themed" areas lack theming, especially Music Box Way. Comet Hollow could easily be made a boardwalk theme. *** Edited 9/29/2004 1:06:18 PM UTC by super7****
Too bad they can't get Mike Brady to draw up a few sketches for them.
I do remember seeing the Lost River in operation, but I never rode it (I was only 6 or 7 at the time).
As for the old entrance and the road that ran past it... I don't really remember it myself, but my parents commented on it. When they would go to hockey games in the 1960's they said that is the way they would go in.
The Main entrance that predated that one I believe was located somewhere around what is now Tower Plaza, though I could br wrong as I have only seen it on maps and in the Jacuqes book.
As far as lamenting the loss of family rides. This is just one ride leaving.
While I would like to see GIANT Wheel stay, it is 32 years old and parts are nearly impossible to get. A few older rides exist at the park (namely the Comet, Dry Gulch and Sky View along with possibly some of the kiddie rides) but I would assume replacement parts for those rides are easier to come by. Considering that Comet had a make over in 1978, I assume that much of its machinery was updated then. As for structure... wood is wood. With GIANT Wheel, as parts wear out and any existing stock piles dissapear, I can see where keeping this thing running would be rough. Sentimentality says "I want it to stay", but logic says "I understand why it isn't". *** Edited 9/29/2004 6:21:52 PM UTC by SLFAKE***
I really can't get too upset over the loss of the Giant Wheel. If you look at the ride, it looks like a BRAND NEW machine, so its obvious that Hershey did everything they could up to keep it operating. They held onto it longer than most other parks would have. As for the loss of a family ride, I take comfort in the fact that the park makes a habit of replacing a family ride with a family ride. I'm willing to bet that the new coaster isn't the only ride being added in '05.
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