Along the bank of Spring Creek in May of 1906, Milton Hershey officially opened Hersheypark, one of Pennsylvania’s biggest amusement park attractions. With over 76 different rides, the park sees almost 3.3 million visitors each year. This begs the question: what are the best rides that Hersheypark has to offer?
Number 5: Candymonium
In July of 2020, Hersheypark opened its first true candy-themed coaster in the park, Candymonium. This coaster is a steel hyper rollercoaster, manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard. Candymonium is the first coaster that many guests stumble upon when first entering into the park, making it a popular first ride option. The ride seats four riders in each row, reaches top speeds of 76 miles per hour, and is one of the park’s largest coasters. The ride is fast and fun, making it the fifth best ride at Hersheypark.
Number 4: Storm Runner
Hershey’s very popular coaster, Storm Runner, has been around since May of 2004. This coaster launches riders from 0 to 72 miles per hour in mere seconds. The ride takes its riders through a 135-foot cobra loop on top of several barrel rolls and dives before coming to a screeching halt to conclude the ride. The quick take-off is one of the ride’s many appeals, making it both scary and thrilling to park guests. Although fun, the coaster is a short one, and with the feeling that the ride ends as quickly as it begins, Storm Runner lands in the number four spot.
Number 3: Laff Trakk
This indoor fun-house coaster was and is one of Hersheypark’s most popular rides to date since its opening in 2015. The ride, housed indoors, appeals to most visitors due to the air conditioning, making this ride a nice break from the sun on hot days. Although the wait time for this ride is typically a long one, the ride is overall worth the wait. Each cart holds four passengers: two passengers face forward, while two face backwards. These circular carts spin throughout the mostly dark track, which is lit with various colored neon lights along the way. These unique features are what makes this such a fun ride, earning it the third best ride at Hersheypark.
Number 2: Jolly Rancher Remix
The Sidewinder – originally opened in 1991 – got a new renovation in 2022 and transformed into the Jolly Rancher Remix. This coaster takes the riders both forward and backwards across the track. The ride soars through a scented tunnel, inverts 6 different times throughout 90 seconds, and even plays music. What makes this ride even more exciting? The ride is different every time; passengers have the chance to guess which Jolly Rancher scent they will be met with when they ride through the tunnel. With such interesting new features and upgrades, the Jolly Rancher Remix is back to being one of the more beloved rides in the park, earning it the second best ride.
Number 1: Great Bear
What’s the number one ride in Hersheypark? That would be Great Bear. First opened in 1998, Great Bear leaves riders’ feet dangling in the air the whole time, which makes it very different from any of the park’s other coasters. The coaster reaches speeds of 61 mph and a height of 124 feet. Each cart holds four riders in a row and takes them through drops, loops, and upside down curves, making this an exciting in-the-air coaster. This ride gives a view of so many of the park’s popular attractions while soaring through the air. It should be no surprise to long-time park-goers that Great Bear is Hershey’s top ride experience.
