Hersheypark
A major amusement and theme park in Hershey, Pennsylvania, operated by Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Company.
Last updated October 7, 2026
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Overview
Hersheypark is an amusement and theme park in Hershey, Pennsylvania, created as a recreational destination connected with the Hershey chocolate-making community. It opened in 1907 after Milton S. Hershey established a leisure area near the factory town that bore his name. The original park was intended primarily as a place for employees and local residents to relax, with natural scenery, picnic areas, music, and modest amusements. Over time, it developed into a large commercial entertainment destination serving regional and visiting guests. The park's evolution followed the broader history of North American amusement parks. Water-based recreation, midway attractions, family rides, and increasingly sophisticated mechanical rides were added as visitor expectations changed. Later expansions introduced major roller coasters and more elaborate themed areas, transforming Hersheypark from a company recreation ground into one of Pennsylvania's best-known amusement parks. Its identity remains closely associated with Hershey's chocolate heritage, but the visitor proposition extends beyond confectionery branding to include thrill rides, family attractions, seasonal entertainment, food, and water recreation. Hersheypark is operated by Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Company, a hospitality and leisure affiliate associated with The Hershey Company. The broader Hershey destination includes attractions and services beyond the main ride park, while Hersheypark itself is the principal amusement-park brand. Its offerings commonly include roller coasters, family and children's rides, live entertainment, games, dining, retail, and seasonal programming. The Boardwalk at Hersheypark provides water-park attractions, and ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park is connected with the destination and presents regional and North American wildlife. The park is strongly seasonal, with its operating calendar typically centered on spring, summer, and autumn visits, supplemented by special holiday programming. Admission products include single-visit tickets and season-pass options, although prices and operating arrangements vary by season. The official brand presents Hersheypark as a destination for families as well as thrill-seekers, balancing large coasters with rides and experiences designed for younger visitors. Hersheypark's importance within the Hershey destination rests on the way it combines place branding, leisure, and corporate heritage. It is not simply a branded ride venue: it is part of the physical community and tourism infrastructure developed around Hershey. Its long operating history, association with Milton Hershey's town-building project, and continuing investment in rides and guest amenities have allowed the park to remain an active entertainment brand while retaining a recognizable connection to the Hershey name.
History
Hersheypark began as part of Milton S. Hershey's effort to create a pleasant community environment around the chocolate factory and town of Hershey, Pennsylvania. The park opened in 1907 as a recreational area associated with the Hershey industrial community. Its early form emphasized outdoor leisure, including landscaped space, picnicking, music, and simple amusements, rather than the highly engineered thrill-ride portfolio that defines the modern park. As Hershey grew as a company town and tourism destination, the park gradually expanded its entertainment offer. Attractions were added and renewed over successive decades, and the venue increasingly welcomed visitors from outside the employee and local-community base. Water recreation and family attractions became important parts of the experience, while mechanical rides and midway entertainment gave the park a stronger identity within the regional amusement-park market. The postwar amusement-park era brought larger rides and more specialized attractions. Hersheypark's later development included the addition of major roller coasters and themed areas, helping it compete for guests seeking both traditional family rides and high-intensity experiences. The park also developed a closer relationship with the wider Hershey tourism complex, including accommodation, dining, retail, educational attractions, and wildlife experiences. The name is commonly written today as Hersheypark, although the attraction was historically also referred to as Hershey Park. The modern brand uses the Hershey identity as a setting and storytelling asset while operating as a diversified leisure destination rather than as a confectionery product line. The Boardwalk water-park area and ZooAmerica broaden the range of activities available to visitors, and seasonal events help extend the destination beyond the core summer period. Hersheypark is operated by Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Company, which manages leisure and hospitality activities connected with the Hershey destination. The park remains active as a ticketed attraction in Hershey, Pennsylvania, with a product mix built around coasters, thrill rides, family rides, children's attractions, water rides, entertainment, food, retail, and annual passes. Its historical significance comes from the continuity between its original role as a community recreation ground and its present role as a large-scale theme-park destination.
- 1970
The park adopts the Hersheypark spelling
[3]The attraction's modern one-word brand styling, Hersheypark, is introduced after decades in which Hershey Park was commonly used.
- 1907
Hersheypark opens
[2]The recreational park opens in Hershey, Pennsylvania, as a leisure destination associated with Milton S. Hershey's company town and chocolate business.
Products and positioning
A destination amusement park combining family entertainment, major thrill rides, water recreation, and the heritage of the Hershey chocolate community.
Amusement-park attractions
Roller coasters and thrill rides
Hersheypark's core attraction portfolio includes large roller coasters and other high-intensity rides designed for older children, teenagers, and adults. The thrill offering is balanced with multiple ride types and varying intensity levels, allowing the park to serve experienced coaster enthusiasts as well as families seeking a broader day of entertainment. Ride availability, operating schedules, and height requirements vary by season.
Amusement-park attractions
Family and children's rides
Family and children's attractions provide lower-intensity experiences for younger guests and multigenerational groups. This part of the offer includes rides with age- and height-appropriate formats, themed areas, and attractions intended to complement the park's larger coasters. The family portfolio is central to Hersheypark's positioning as a destination rather than a coaster-only venue.
Water park
The Boardwalk at Hersheypark
The Boardwalk is Hersheypark's water-focused area, offering aquatic attractions within the larger park destination. Its experiences include water slides, pools, and other recreational features, giving visitors an alternative to dry rides during the warmer operating season. Access and attraction availability are governed by the park's seasonal operating arrangements.
Wildlife attraction
ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park
ZooAmerica is a wildlife park connected with the Hersheypark destination. It presents animals and habitats associated with North America and adds an educational and observational component to a visit that otherwise centers on rides. Its presence broadens the destination's appeal for families and visitors who want non-ride attractions alongside the amusement park.
Admission product
Season Pass program
Hersheypark offers seasonal admission products for repeat visitors. Season-pass benefits and entitlements can include admission privileges and selected discounts or partner benefits, with details determined by the applicable program year. The pass program supports local and regional visitation beyond a single day-trip purchase.
Controversies
2020
Lawsuit filed against Hersheypark over alleged ride negligence
A father filed a lawsuit against Hersheypark alleging negligence after staff allegedly failed to address his son's malfunctioning safety harness on the Storm Runner roller coaster. The lawsuit seeks unspecified financial damages.
Recent events
Reported
Hersheypark opens two new sweet shops[6]
Hersheypark opened two new culinary experiences, Milton’s Ice Cream Parlor and The Sweeterie Confectionery Kitchen, in its Hershey’s Chocolatetown region.
- Unconfirmed
Reported
Lawsuit filed against Hersheypark over alleged ride negligence[5]
A father filed a lawsuit against Hersheypark alleging negligence after staff allegedly failed to address his son's malfunctioning safety harness on the Storm Runner roller coaster. The lawsuit seeks unspecified financial damages.
Sources6 sources
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