User:Hmich176/Timeline of Hersheypark

This is a timeline of Hersheypark.

20th Century

1900-1909

1905

• Milton S. Hershey surveys area as a leisure park for employees of the Hershey Chocolate Corporation.

1906

• May 30 - Hershey dedicates the park as Hershey Park. This is considered the first day in the history of the park, although in 1955, the park celebrated it's 50th anniversary. In 2007, the park celebrated it's 100th anniversary. However, newspaper reports show the Park was formally opened on this date.

1908

• Herschell Spillman Merry-Go-Round installed.

1910-1919

1910

• The park installs the Miniature Railroad, a fixture at the park for the next 60 years.

1950-1959

1950

• The 66 foot tall twin Ferris Wheels are installed in Comet Hollow, adjacent to the new station for the Miniature Railroad and the back end of the Mill Chute.

1970-1979

1971

• A gate is built surrounding Hershey Park.
• Hershey Park is renamed Hersheypark in May 1971.
• Hersheypark opens with an entry fee for fist time.

1972

• Carrousel Circle opens:
  • Scrambler (new)
  • Twin Towers Toboggans (new)
  • Monster (new)
  • Space Age (relocated)
  • Helicopters (relocated)
  • Traffic Jam (relocated)

• Der Deitschplatz opens.

• Animal Garden opens.

1975

• The park installs it's tallest ride - Kissing Tower - which rises 330 feet above Tower Plaza, the newest themed area of the park. Below the Kissing Tower, the Twin Turnpike was also installed, replacing Turnpike. Himalaya was installed in Comet Hollow, replacing the Twin Ferris Wheels.

1977

• SooperDooperLooper was installed, becoming the first looping roller coaster on the East Coast of the United States. The station is located where Himalaya stood; Himalaya was relocated to Tower Plaza, where the Whip was located. The Whip was removed from the park.

1978

• Fender Bender was installed, replacing the Skooter. However, the building was built in the former Kiddieland area where the Golden Nugget building stood. That building was torn down and replaced by the new Fender Bender building. A Mini-Skooters kiddie ride was installed in the lower level. Also removed, Round Up, which was replaced by Trabant (later called Rodeo). Flying Bobs was also installed, in the location of Toboggan in Carrousel Circle, which was removed.

1980-1989

1980

• The park is expanded for the first time since 1973, and the Dry Gulch Railroad is rerouted to open the space for it. Added for the new section is Pirat and Cyclops.

1982

• Wave Swinger was installed in the location of The Bug, which was removed. Balloon Flite was installed in the location of the Flying Bobs, which was removed.

1983

• Tilt-a-Whirl was installed in the location of Monster, which was removed.

1984

• A new section of the park is opened: Pioneer Frontier (called Old West in 1984). The first two rides installed are Conestoga and Timber Rattler.

1986

• Cinemavision is converted into Frontier Meeting House.

1987

• Canyon River Rapids is installed in Pioneer Frontier. It is the most expensive ride put in since sooperdooperLooper ten years earlier. Mini-Himalaya, then called Snow Ball Express, was installed in the location of Balloon Flite in Carrousel Circle. Balloon Flite was moved to the location of Rodeo, next to Fender Bender. Rodeo was moved to the Pioneer Frontier food court.

1988

• Frontier Chute-Out is installed across from Canyon River Rapids. Rodeo was moved to the location of Timber Rattler, which was removed.