Rumor Upcoming Ride Removals?

[paintervision]

Hersheypark's Whip is still up for sale, and we know that the Whip building is now home to Dark Nights' fifth haunted house.

Looks like Tiny Tracks, the Zamperla Rio Grande train ride, is next on the chopping block to become queue for haunted house. It would connect behind the Music Express on the service road. Funnily enough, that space was original overflow queue for Lightning Racer. This ride was installed in 2015, previously up where Tilt-a-Whirl is before spending some time in storage.



Tiny Tracks hasn't been open much this past season and has been removed from the Hersheypark app. On the website, it looks like it was moved to Spring operations only, which may mean it could come back in a temporary location next season.

Tidal Force is one that's still on the App and Website, but has been closed for weeks. Not sure if this is due to an incident or parts, but there has been rumors for a while now that it was on the way out. Not a good look for a water ride to be closed during the hottest part of the Summer, and It takes up a huge footprint that would be clear waterpark expansion space.

My speculation is that The Boardwalk will get some love next. The old Wave Rider (surfing simulator) 2-ish years ago without a replacement, and the water park is undersized for the crowds it draws in. There's still no body slides, or large family raft riders (6 riders max). Also, trap door/drop slides are missing, and the park could do with more lounge space. There's also a persistent rumor that a B&M Dive would come in there and reuse a bit of the existing station and infrastructure, but I'm skeptical.

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[CoasterAuditor]

I was imagining if they removed Tidal Force, they could go the ProSlide Mammoth route for the Boardwalk right there which would be extremely strong for that waterpark.

 

[paintervision]

I was imagining if they removed Tidal Force, they could go the ProSlide Mammoth route for the Boardwalk right there which would be extremely strong for that waterpark.

There's a lot of space to work with. The midway in front of Tidal Force could be reworked and maybe even a flat ride could be added between Wildcat's Revenge and Fahrenheit's cobra roll - a Zamperla Super Air Race would be great, and give Hersheypark a real inverting flat ride for the first time in years. Probably would need to build a retaining wall because of the grade change and remove the Pepsi stand that dates back to Tidal Force's debut, but it would look good.

Then, I could picture one tower going where the maintenance bay for Tidal Force was, with 2 body slides and a trap door slide. Another tower could go behind the Pizza place with a Mammoth and TurboMammoth slides, plus raft lifts. Finish it off with some new food options in the area (Seafood or Chinese Food), and that would be a good addion.

 

[warfelg]

I despise the way HP handled the expansion and the ride removal that’s coming. Hershey is becoming an overstuffed CP with Disney prices and chain food.

 

[rswashdc]

While Tidal Force may come down for maintenance issues, my gut is that Lightning Racer’s days are numbered just for the real estate it sits on. There‘s no other realistic spot to expand the water park and the attendance volumes probably justify it, particularly if HP ever goes towards making the water park a separate ticket or gate.

 

[warfelg]

While Tidal Force may come down for maintenance issues, my gut is that Lightning Racer’s days are numbered just for the real estate it sits on. There‘s no other realistic spot to expand the water park and the attendance volumes probably justify it, particularly if HP ever goes towards making the water park a separate ticket or gate.

I would really hate if that happens.

 

[CoasterAuditor]

Yeah if Hershey axes Lightning Racer for water park stuff that would be a massive downgrade but it seems popular enough and can take a lot of capacity when the other rides are slammed.

 

[Zachary]

Yeah, I can't imagine Lightning Racer coming down. I know it offers valuable water park real estate, but there are other, less abrasive avenues to pursue first in my opinion—Tidal Force, the mouse, etc.

 

[warfelg]

Yeah, I can't imagine Lightning Racer coming down. I know it offers valuable water park real estate, but there are other, less abrasive avenues to pursue first in my opinion—Tidal Force, the mouse, etc.

They should take TF down. Even when it’s up its ridership is kinda low outside the absolute worst days.

And I’ve given this hot take: Fahrenheit should move in the park. That with their maintenance department being relocated to new land they own would give a new pathway to the Midway and so much real estate to the Boardwalk.

Heck that would let them do two gates if they really wanted to. Boardwalk back is a new park. Everything south still Hersheypark. Heck I’m still mad about Candymoniums layout basically cutting off that expansion land they had without some convoluted path between that and Skyrush’s turnaround.

 

[paintervision]

And I’ve given this hot take: Fahrenheit should move in the park. That with their maintenance department being relocated to new land they own would give a new pathway to the Midway and so much real estate to the Boardwalk.

I don't see why a pathway from where Playdome Arcade to Wildcat couldn't go in, build behind Fahrenheit. I don't see Fahrenheit being moved any time soon. (Wild Mouse, on the other hand, could be moved for more Boardwalk space, easily.) While that would eat into the catering areas, I question the need to have so much space for that in the first place. Company picnics aren't as big these days, and I could see some of that capacity moving to behind Candymonium and being a more multi-purpose space for seasonal events, such as the popular Reindeer during Candylane or more Dark Nights infastructure.

 

[CoasterAuditor]

Honest question does anyone know how successful arcades really are at parks? I feel like they’re the only place I see them nowadays but I assume there’s a reason they’re still everywhere at parks except basically Dollywood.

 

[paintervision]

Honest question does anyone know how successful arcades really are at parks? I feel like they’re the only place I see them nowadays but I assume there’s a reason they’re still everywhere at parks except basically Dollywood.

Not entirely sure, but it's one of the few places in the park that thrives in bad weather, so that's a positive. The Overlook Arcade was built back in 1990, and does a decent business.

The Playdome Arcade at Hersheypark was the old CinemaVision dome theater, then became the Frontier Meeting House until 1989 (with an Arrow-Huss ride system). The last few times I was inside this space, the AC was off and it looked bad on the inside. I think I'd rather see that turned into a new covered outdoor theater or ride, personally.

 

[Crunchewy]

Yeah, during rain you can go to the arcade to kill time until the rain stops. That's the only reason I'd ever go to one.

 

[CoasterAuditor]

Shows how little thought I give them when I remember “oh they get you out of the rain” probably very useful for those with kids. Yeah I’m a tough sell on arcades with a PS5 and Switch at home but that checks out.

 

[paintervision]

Shows how little thought I give them when I remember “oh they get you out of the rain” probably very useful for those with kids. Yeah I’m a tough sell on arcades with a PS5 and Switch at home but that checks out.

It also used to be a place to waste some pocket change, but with the park going cashless, now it uses the play cards. Kind of a hard sell when there's games on your cell phone (or other ways to waste time).

 

[Crunchewy]

Well, HP at least used to have pinball, and nothing on your phone or console compares to the real thing... assuming they keep them in good shape, which may or may not be the case.

 

[paintervision]

Update: Tiny Tracks is removed, while Tidal Force was actually testing today around 2PM with Maintenance team on platform:

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[paintervision]

Tidal Force opened a few days ago and seems to be running regularly. However, I did find two new markings nearby:

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[b.mac]

white is indicative of plumbing and drainage, call me when yellows, reds, and oranges start showing up.

 

[Gavin]

That's a whiteline, used by excavators to indicate area of planned excavation.

APWA Color Code

Red	electric power lines, cables, conduit, and lighting cables
Orange	telecommunication, alarm or signal lines, cables, or conduit
Yellow	natural gas, oil, steam, petroleum, or other gaseous or flammable material
Green	sewers and drain lines
Blue	potable (drinkable) water
Purple	reclaimed water, irrigation, and slurry lines
White	proposed excavation limits or route

Source: What Markings Mean - VA 811

Pink can also be used for survey marks and such.