Hercules

I only rode it twice in 2000. I thought the layout was good (I liked the small turn around before the lift hill) but it is the only coaster to ever give me a headache. After the first drop, that banked turn rattled so much it really hurt my head. I prefer Hydra over Hercules but wish another wooden coaster would have been built in the spot instead since Dorney really could have used a good wooden coaster (Thunderhawk is ok but I only ride it because it's almost always a walk on).

---

Gary B said:
why do people have to be analitical @$$holes

---

There are a lot of adjectives I'd use to describe Moosh, but I don't think those are any of them.

---

DorneyDante said:

Moral: Good idea, bad engineering, unique layout, tragic fate, legendary ride

---

You have a very unique concept of the word "legendary" I think.

Was it as rough as the Rattler or is the Rattler in a league of its own because I find that very rough and brutal.

Glad they tore it down.

---

matt. said:

---

DorneyDante said:

Moral: Good idea, bad engineering, unique layout, tragic fate, legendary ride

---

You have a very unique concept of the word "legendary" I think.

---

Hercules has no signifigance in rollercoaster history, you're right.....hhmm, nah I think you're wrong ;) *** Edited 8/12/2006 11:29:48 PM UTC by DorneyDante***

And I quote:

"At the other end of the poll, California's Grizzly finished with a perfect 0-171-0
record, just one spot behind the late Hercules (Hercules won the mutual rider comparison
between the two of them 32-17...its only win) in last place."

http://www.ushsho.com/wcprs03.htm

So yes, "legendary" if by "legendary" you mean "almost universally despised." Or "violently disliked." Or "reviled by almost everyone."

When we rode Hercules in the early years (96?), it was pretty good. But in 2001? I actually came off having chest pains. If's funny, when I went to the ER this summer they asked me if I had ever had this pain before on a coaster and I said "Yeah, on Hercules at Dorney Park." And with glee I said "They tore it down."

I know many of you keep wondering which coaster it was and I will reveal all soon. I've gotten one statement (but no bill), and I'm still waiting for the ambulance bill--and this was in the middle of June! I'll have to make a call next week as I doubt it was "on the house.":) I'm really curious to see if anyone will pony up for my expensive trip on their "abusement" ride. *** Edited 8/13/2006 12:58:52 AM UTC by Intamin Fan***

---

matt. said:
And I quote:

"At the other end of the poll, California's Grizzly finished with a perfect 0-171-0
record, just one spot behind the late Hercules (Hercules won the mutual rider comparison
between the two of them 32-17...its only win) in last place."

http://www.ushsho.com/wcprs03.htm

So yes, "legendary" if by "legendary" you mean "almost universally despised." Or "violently disliked." Or "reviled by almost everyone."

---

Would you build a bridge and get over it? Legendary for good or bad, Hercules is legendary IMO.

*** Edited 8/13/2006 1:41:30 AM UTC by DorneyDante***

Hence, my first post on the subject. ;) *** Edited 8/13/2006 1:53:51 AM UTC by matt.***

Clearly, I'm in the minority, but that's ok. I'm used to that. I thought Hercules was a top 5 coaster the first year, and liked it the 2nd year. Once they started the trim braking and the reprofiling, they ruined it for me. By the end, while I thought the run to the lift was outstanding, and I liked the visuals of the first drop, and loved the speed of the turn over the lake (not the roughness in later years, which I attributed to the conversion to more unforgiving steel structure there), the rest of the ride was just poor because it lacked the speed it was supposed to have to run through the rest of the track. However, that doesn't mean I am glad it was removed, and I personally am boycotting the park (and notified them of that fact, not that they can make business decisions on the feelings of one prospective guest) because they tore down a wooden coaster and didn't replace it with a wooden coaster. I don't think much of Dorney Park because I don't have much fondness for B&M, and I like wood. The Thunderhawk has never been a favorite of mine since my first ride back in the 60's. Since then, it's been braked and lost a lot of its "charm". While many improvements have taken place at Dorney Park, and while it was the site of my first date with my wife, I still stay away until another woodie is built to replace Hercules. I can understand removing the ride and building another wooden coaster even elsewhere in the park. Oh, and by the way, on one of my rides when it ran well, I was riding alone and happened to get in with someone who'd not ever ridden it. He said he'd ridden the Coney Cyclone and knew nothing could top that (wasn't an "enthusiast"). But when we got to the top and he looked to the left down to that long curve over the water, he kind of shrieked and freaked!

Bob Hooley

From the top of that 150 ft hill, that turn over the lake always looked impossible to manuveur. The original design of the ride called for the ride to go way out further over the lake. The neighbors werent havin it though and complained. I have an original artists' rendering of the ride and you can see how far the turn goes out on the lake.

Legend has it that Charlie Dinn, tried to convince Harris Weinstein (then park owner) to make the first big drop a giant double down that led into a giant upward fan turn. Harris Weinstein didn't budge though, he wanted it like he wanted it: a giant 157' drop that led into a flat highly banked turn over the lake. Well, he got what he wanted.