News Project 2026: Hershey Inn & Suites, Water Park Additions, and More
- Thread starter paintervision
- Start date
Not exactly sure yet. Maybe I'll go this week to check it out further.
According to ABC27, the Stadium is adding twelve portable "cabins" to the back of it as a part of 16 new structures (also a Kitchen building, Laundry, and a new First Aid structure). I'm not sure if these are more like rentable cabanas for concerts, or if these are some kind of back-of-house facilities for concerts/events (green rooms? VIP rooms?). Interesting at least:
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I've heard rumor that these are going to be upcharge 'suites' for concerts - but nothing firm.
I don't have much but it looks like construction is still rolling through the Boardwalk. Sandscastle Cove is still on the web site, but it's completely demolished now - maybe it will be rebuilt?
I don’t know if this fixes the problem with the The Boardwalk, but it visually looks like a downgrade from what came before it, and that art looks like a city park splash pad. Not really what the waterpark needs right now, not really what the park as a whole is missing.
Thank goodness I wasn't the only one thinking that. I've never been into The Boardwalk during water park season personally so I don't feel very qualified to speak on it, but the concept art and honesty even just the substance of the water park announcements looks... incredibly lackluster and sorta just all-around aesthetically ugly. Was definitely something expecting more and certainly something nicer.
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I absolutely agree on both accounts. The waterpark badly needs more capacity, and a second kiddie splash-around area in addition to a refresh on the other one isn't it. The Boardwalk gets absolutely slammed on summer days; the last time I tried to experience it, albeit before the water coaster was put in, I had hour-long waits for the tube slides, a 45-minute wait to get into the wave pool (!), and a two-hour wait for the lazy river (!!!).
I'm prepared to get flamed for this, but IMHO if the park is not willing to put in the work to retrack Lightning Racer so that it's actually enjoyable, it should be torn down for a massive waterpark expansion. I don't think removing Tidal Wave or even Wild Mouse too would provide enough space to really get the job done.
As much as I’d hate to lose the coaster, I agree. Honestly, it’s not like LR is anything more than a station wait most days anyway. It makes the most logical, practical sense (rather than the pipe dream, RCT-level ideas of building a ground-up, standalone water park across the street).
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Additional reading on the Facebook page points out: the older Sandcastle structure had a proper slide, where this new one will not. I'm not the best person to ask because I don't have kids and never set foot in this the demolished section myself. People are mad though as this does sound like a downgrade to me.
Best of both worlds: build a new single rail RMC on half of Lighting Racer's layout (maybe up/over/under a slide tower for added space), and 4-6 new slides on the other half (plus a few amenities).
Red: Coaster
Green: New dedicated Dark Nights building?
Blue: Waterpark expansion
(The park also owns the land Turkey Hill sits on; that could be worked in if they need more room for a coaster. But the priority should be to balance/expand both the coaster lineup and the waterpark in the future).
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I agree it's unlikely, but where is there evidence of this so-called "war" outside of thoosie forums? Haven't seen it bleed over to marketing at all.
Hersheypark needs to work on a lot, compared to the parks it competes with, and not just coaster count. Operational efficiency, staffing and employee housing options, live entertainment, food and upgraded dining spaces, themeing, parking and traffic flow, etc. If they want to compete with Six Flags flagship parks, Herschend's parks like SDC and Dollywood, Universal, Disney, etc... they need to make up a lot of ground.
This year is a bit of an off year, so hoping they get a jump start on 2027 additions, or some smaller projects that aren't as buzzworthy about get done over the offseason into the Summer.
Hersheypark animals in the snow
Ocean Connections
Direct Link to Embedded Media Source
ZooAmerica
Direct Link to Embedded Media Source
Aerial drone video and pics of the park
Direct Link to Embedded Media Source
Direct Link to Embedded Media Source
Ocean Connections
Direct Link to Embedded Media Source
ZooAmerica
Direct Link to Embedded Media Source
Aerial drone video and pics of the park
Direct Link to Embedded Media Source
Direct Link to Embedded Media Source
Plans popped up for an addition of a Spa to the Hershey Lodge as well as another building addition, and pool upgrades. The area for a new spa building are currently used as tennis and basketball courts.
HE&R already operates a spa at the Hotel Hershey and off Chocolate Ave; no timetable was given for this but we can assume this is either for this year or 2027:
Also wanted to throw out that the Hershey Gardens expansion (which is technically run by the Milton S Hershey Foundation, not Hershey Entertainment and Resorts) is coming along and should be open in Fall 2026:
HE&R already operates a spa at the Hotel Hershey and off Chocolate Ave; no timetable was given for this but we can assume this is either for this year or 2027:
Also wanted to throw out that the Hershey Gardens expansion (which is technically run by the Milton S Hershey Foundation, not Hershey Entertainment and Resorts) is coming along and should be open in Fall 2026:
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ACE's Eastcoaster event presentation:
Direct Link to Embedded Media Source
They did mention a Semiquincentennial-themed show coming to the park for 2026. I was hoping they'd update food and beverage in the park itself for this year, as it's been a while since we got a new offering (or update an existing restaurant to the more modern Six Flags-style serving lines with better food), but at least for now, not much was said.
Attendees also got a chance to walk around Chocolate World's ride with a lights-on tour:
Direct Link to Embedded Media Source
They did do a light tease for 2027, but so far this is most of what I can dig up:
Direct Link to Embedded Media Source
Direct Link to Embedded Media Source
They did mention a Semiquincentennial-themed show coming to the park for 2026. I was hoping they'd update food and beverage in the park itself for this year, as it's been a while since we got a new offering (or update an existing restaurant to the more modern Six Flags-style serving lines with better food), but at least for now, not much was said.
Attendees also got a chance to walk around Chocolate World's ride with a lights-on tour:
Direct Link to Embedded Media Source
They did do a light tease for 2027, but so far this is most of what I can dig up:
Direct Link to Embedded Media Source
Hershey Social Restaurant and Bar sets opening on March 11th:
Here's a look at the new hotel today:
A little bit of work going on in the parking lot and Stadium yet, but it's hard to see from public areas. Some equipment is still behind Candymonium, seems to be an ongoing utility project:
I didn't see any progress for the Spa by the Lodge (that I could tell driving by), but the Campground was getting some work. Looks like they are going to do some repaving as there are a few asphalt paving machines sitting by the toll booths.
A little bit of work going on in the parking lot and Stadium yet, but it's hard to see from public areas. Some equipment is still behind Candymonium, seems to be an ongoing utility project:
I didn't see any progress for the Spa by the Lodge (that I could tell driving by), but the Campground was getting some work. Looks like they are going to do some repaving as there are a few asphalt paving machines sitting by the toll booths.