Future of Hersheypark

I will agree with Tekno there.

They were changing Carousel Circle to Founder's Circle and giving it a more "traditional" / "Nostalgic" look (circa 1920's I believe), but yet they were planning on putting their newest (and most odd looking?) coaster there? That never made sense.

HAD Turbulence actually gone in as planned, I always thought it would be good in the spot that is now occupied by the Ferris Wheel in Midway America with the wheel being relocated to GIANT Wheel's old location. What could be more "traditional" / "Nostalgic" than a Carrousel and Ferriswheel combo?

What I would ove to see would be the returnof the Coal Shaker (Cuddle up). I thought I read somewhere that it is in storage. It coudl be relocated anywhere (its cars, shaped like pieces of coal, might have to be re-themed or unthemed). However, the reasons why I heard that it was removed in the first place was 1) it was TOO LOUD! and / or 2) it was so old (and thus, rare in the late 20th century) that parts were hard to come by. I guess those problems would still exist.

As for the "Dark Ride" idea... There were several dark attrations at Hersheypark. The best remembered today is probably "The Lost River" (formerly the "Old Mill") that sat by the creek in Comet Hollow (actually predating the Comet by some 16 years. Hurricane Agnes ravaged it so bad in 1972 that it never re-opened and was removed. Of course, considering its age and all, it probably would have been removed eventually anyway. I remember seeing this ride in my first trip to Hersheypark, but I never rode it. Its "mountain" and lift hill / drop dominated the hollow between the Comet and the creek. My wife remembers it too... she never rode it, but she has pictures of her brother riding it.

Back in the 1930's, one of Hershey Park's fun houses was located right next to it in the hollow.

Another one of its dark attractions sat where the current bumper cars now are located. This attraction started life as a walk through, but was later changed to a ride through. In its last "renovation" it was changed to the two story "Gold Nugget" dark ride (Western Themed). It was removed sometime in the early 1970's. This one I do remember riding once. Not extremly scary, even for my (then) young eyes, but I still wish it were there... any dark ride is better than no dark ride.

*** Edited 5/12/2005 1:46:59 PM UTC by SLFAKE***

I remember riding the Coal Shaker when I first started going to Hershey in the early 90s. I was loud but a lot of fun- the two-table Crazy Daizy rides can't compare to the "chaos" of a large Cuddle-Up. I was wondering if that ride was still in storage- I'd be happy to know that it is! As for parts, doesn't PTC still offer new Cuddle-Ups for sale? I would think that they could have provided parts, unless the ones they are willing to sell are of a different design and use different parts?

SLFAKE, wasn't Lost River located about where the Paddlewheel Cafe is now? Of course, that was a dark boat ride, which I guess explained why it was next to the creek. Obviously, a waterless dark ride would be better and could be located anywhere. I don't remember if I rode it or not. I may be confusing it with Dorney's Journey to the Center of the Earth.

I also remember The Bug being located down there as well-- around where the Wave Swinger is, I think.

I wouldn't consider the whole Turbulence thing a mistake, either. Back in September, no one would have predicted it would have turned out the way it did. So you just pick up and move on, which it appears Hershey is doing, ready for the next move.

RGB, Yes... the Old Mill (actually called Mill Chute) / Lost River was located basically where the Paddle Boat Cafe is currently located. The map that I have in front of me (from C.Jacques book) predates the Bug... but from memory (and from reading) that ride was located where Wave Swinger now stands.

Going by this map, and a photo from Laugh in the Dark (http://www.laffinthedark.com/articles/hershey/hershey.htm)

It looks like the location of the Mill Chute stretched from across the midway from the Comet's station (near where the one little gift stand now sits), ran parallel to the creek, past the Bug, and then made its turn around somewhere near the bend in the creek. In the photo listed above, you can see the double ferris wheels sitting by the creek. They occupied the space basically where the sooperdooperlooper's station not stands. The turn around of the Old Mill may have taken up part of this area as well.

*** Edited 5/12/2005 5:49:04 PM UTC by SLFAKE***

SLFAKE,

I was comparing the picture that's on the title page with the picture that had been posted here showing basically the same area (Comet Hollow) during the flood from Hurricane Ivan. Wow, talk about then and now!

Just some observation on the above comments:

The Cuddle-Up (1947)/(Coal Shaker)(1978) is not in storage, at least not at Hershey. It was sold "somewhere in New England" when it was removed for the Minetown revamp in 1990. I'm convinced it still exists somewhere, just don't know where. For the record, that was built NEW in 1978 by PTC and all of the new parts put into the old building. (PTC still lists them for sale, but hasn't built one in very many years.) While Cuddle-Ups have a high capacity (1200/hr), they are noisy and can be a maintenance headache. The frogs require constant maintenance and welding. Talk is that Twin Grove Park is planning on installing the old Rocky Springs machine, but we'll have to wait and see about that.

As for the Old Mill (1929)/(Lost River)(1963), the loading platform was between the creek and the retaining wall below the Sky View, with the splashdown running parallel to the creek about where the Great Bear swoops into the pit. It ran around the Bug (1932)and behind the Skooter Building (194?)(Paddleboat Cafe) (1978) and turned around just before the current bridge, running back up along the creek, with enough room for the Miniature Railway (1910)(this was shortened at some point in time to the area of the current Paddleboats). Agnes pretty much came in one end and broke her way out the other, taking most of the stunts and all of the boats along with her. Some of the items were found in the Swatara near Middletown. After the flood, what parts and boats were left were gathered up and sold (given?) to Dorney, since theirs was one of the few left operating.

I personally would love to see the return of the Bug. Whalom Park's is still around (I think) at Edaville RR. The unique thing is that the cars on it are actually Hershey's--sold to them in 1989. Unfortunately, management isn't seeing the value in this. Think about it--all three "operating" Bugs located in PA! Just a dream, I guess....

As for funhouses, actually TWO were located in the Hollow: Whoops!, which was built inside the old bathhouse, located where the Comet station is today, and Death Valley/LaffLand, located where the Amphitheatre is today. Whoops! was removed in 1945 when the Comet was installed and the gimmicks and gadgets moved up to the new Fun House, located about where the Flying Falcon is today. LaffLand was removed sometime in the early 1960's to allow room for more rides. It had the crooked room, air jets, etc. All were PTC products. In fact, come to think of it, everything mentioned above (except the Miniature Train) was built by PTC, including the Skooter Building. For that matter, they owned the Comet and Mill Chute for a number of years....

Anyway, hope this was of some value....

Very informative, Comet Rider.
Do you or anyone else know if there are any pictures of the park during or in the aftermath of Agnes?