LBIJim

^^^^^ It looks like the general public can just buy a ticket at the gate for $45 on that buyout date. Season pass holders can for $15. I haven't seen the secondary entrance closed in at least 10 years. Sometimes it would be in the fall. I don't remember when that jughandle about 1/2 mile east of the entrance opened. When the secondary entrance was closed, you needed to go another mile and turn around at the Wawa/McDonald's jughandle.

The secondary entrance was open on Monday, September 30, (Rosh Hashana) which also was a BAFF day. Park was fairly quiet from 11 am opening until 1 pm, then hordes of people started pouring in. Weather was nice and I suppose many people decided to attend at the last minute. I may check out the park tomorrow, October 9. Open during Yom Kippur. Cooler weather and possible rain, so it should hold down attendance.

Skyrush at Hersheypark in late August. It was closed during my previous trip in May. I'm glad I returned and got to experience it.

The news story about a family buying tickets in advance and arriving to find the park closed is suspect. Only ONE family bought tickets for Customer Appreciation Day and showed up? No season pass holders or general public decided to attend that day? This was my local park growing up in the 60's and 70's. Sure, it was plenty of fun then. But I've only gone twice since graduating high school in 1977, when it was already on the decline. Once about 1995 when my employer had a picnic there, then again when the new Tsunami coaster opened about 2004.

I added several coasters to my count at Hersheypark this week. Storm Runner Laff Trakk Lightning Racer (both sides) Great Bear Fahrenheit Wild Mouse Skyrush was closed. Skipped the Wildcat and Sidewinder. I also rode the Comet, Trailblazer, and Sooperdooperlooper, but they were not new to me. I rode them decades ago. Estimated count is about 440.

The Comet-Hersheypark

For a boy, a simple name like Bob would pay homage to the great Bobs coaster at Riverview in Chicago. I never got to ride this awesome coaster. My family visited Riverview in August 1967, but my mother said I was too young to ride such a big coaster. My father and older brother rode it. Soon after the 1967 season ended, the park shockingly announced its closure.

The Chance Turbo mentioned above. I rode it at the old Marine Pier in Wildwood, NJ about 1972. The site is now Morey's Mariner's Landing. The Turbo replaced the Caterpillar at the pier.

Hersheypark had a two arm Sky Wheel.

Thanks for the opinions on the wooden coasters. Most likely I'll skip Wildcat but try Lightning Racer and The Comet.

The park closed early (4 pm, I think) on the last day of Fright Fest in 2012. It was the day before Hurricane Sandy hit and was rainy and miserable. A friend who was there said attendance was low.

Skyrush being closed is certainly disappointing news. I'm making my first visit to Hersheypark since 1984 next week and was hoping to ride it. I think the only coasters back then were The Comet, Superdooperlooper, Trailblazer, and maybe a portable Wild Mouse type coaster. At least this new Reese's Cupfusion is supposed to open this weekend Are the Wildcat and Lightning Racer rough woodies? If so, my wife probably won't ride them. Thanks.

Over the years I've found that Fridays generally have moderate attendance. It's probably the best day of the week to visit during the summer. Enjoy your day.

Over the years I've found that Fridays generally have moderate attendance. It's probably the best day of the week to visit during the summer.

If you want to count these as parks: Playland Castaway Cove, Ocean City, NJ-20 minute walk Gillian's Wonderland, Ocean City-2 miles ? Morey's Piers, Wildwood, NJ, <30 miles For real theme parks: Six Flags Great Adventure-about 70 miles Dorney Park Hershey Park Clementon Park is closer, but I haven't been there in over 10 years. (I moved from Long Beach Island to Ocean City, NJ in 2014. Maybe I should change my user name.)