Hersheypark 'Heats Up' 2008 Season With New Roller Coaster

Hershey, PA -- Hersheypark plans to heat up the 2008 season as they begin construction of the park's 11th roller coaster, Fahrenheit. This brand-new $12.1 million attraction is scheduled to open at the theme park next May.

Known in the industry as a "vertical lift inverted loop coaster," Fahrenheit will position riders on their backs as the roller coaster train begins a 90-degree ascent to the summit of a 121-foot lift. As the cars crest the hill, riders will lean forward and see no track visible below, before plummeting down a staggering 97-degree beyond vertical first drop.

Hersheypark says it is the deepest drop of any roller coaster in the United States.

To enhance the ride for all riders the coaster cars on Fahrenheit will feature stadium seating. Riders seated behind the front row of each car will be seated in elevated seats that offer them an unobstructed view of the steep first drop.

According to Hersheypark at the bottom of the first drop Fahrenheit will be traveling at 58 mph as it begins as ascent that will then drop riders into a 107-foot inverted loop. Coming out of the inverted loop, the track will twist through an inverted corkscrew roll, a cobra, an airborne inverted S-roll and a second inverted corkscrew.

The roller coaster doesn't end just there. As riders think they are slowing down, they will experience an airtime hill, a high-speed, banked curve, a second airtime hill and a final high-speed, banked curve before returning to the station.

Fahrenheit will travel over more than 2,700 feet of steel roller coaster track in 85 seconds and accommodate a total of 850 people per hour.

This latest attraction is designed and being built by Intamin, the same company that brought the popular Storm Runner roller coaster to Hersheypark in 2004. Fahrenheit will be located adjacent to The Boardwalk section of the park.

To adhere to the park's philosophy of offering something for every member of the family, a second new ride is also set to debut for Hersheypark's 101st season.

"Howler" a Tornado ride that allows riders to spin their cars and create their own ride experience will also open. This new ride has eight four-passenger, sphere shaped cars that rotate counter clockwise from a center base. As the rotation reaches 10 rpm, the ride lifts 7 1/2 feet into the air at a 20-degree angle.

Howler is manufactured by Wisdom Industries and will accommodate about 750 passengers per hour. Hersheypark will locate this new ride adjacent to the Rodeo ride in the Pioneer Frontier area.

Hersheypark will open for its 101st season on May 2, 2008. Fahrenheit is planned to debut on Saturday, May 24.

For more information, see Hersheypark, Fahrenheit or visit Hersheypark.com.

Fahrenheit artwork courtesy of Hersheypark. All rights reserved.