Storm Runner is a steel launched roller coaster at Hersheypark in Hershey, Pennsylvania, built by Intamin Amusement Rides and opened on May 8, 2004. Using a hydraulic launch system, it rockets riders from a standstill to 72 mph in approximately two seconds — one of the fastest accelerations of any coaster on the East Coast.
Reaching a height of 150 feet before an 180-foot plunge, Storm Runner was the first Accelerator Coaster model to feature inversions and the first to incorporate a dual-loading station with switch tracks. Its combination of raw launch speed and aerial acrobatics made it an instant landmark in Hersheypark’s coaster lineup.
Stats at a Glance
- Park: Hersheypark, Hershey, Pennsylvania
- Manufacturer: Intamin Amusement Rides
- Model: Accelerator Coaster
- Opened: May 8, 2004
- Height: 150 ft (46 m)
- Drop: 180 ft (55 m)
- Top Speed: 72 mph (116 km/h)
- Length: 2,600 ft (790 m)
- Inversions: 3
The Ride Experience
Storm Runner begins with a tense pause in the launch zone before a hydraulic catapult fires the train to 72 mph in about two seconds. The train blasts up the iconic top hat element — a towering 150-foot vertical spike — where riders experience intense airtime at the crest before dropping 180 feet back toward the ground. The combination of speed and hang-time at the top of the top hat ranks among the most memorable moments on any Intamin accelerator coaster.
Beyond the top hat, the train threads through three inversions in rapid succession: a cobra loop, a heartline roll, and a flying snake dive. Each element arrives with minimal recovery time, keeping the adrenaline constant from launch to brake run. The full ride lasts around 40 seconds — short, but relentlessly intense.
A Record-Setting Accelerator Coaster
When Storm Runner debuted in 2004, it broke new ground for Intamin’s Accelerator Coaster lineup. It was the first of its model to feature inversions, the first to use over-the-shoulder restraints, and the first to employ a dual-loading station with switch tracks — upgrades that boosted both ride variety and throughput to approximately 1,200 riders per hour.
Designed in part by legendary coaster engineer Werner Stengel, Storm Runner cost approximately $12.5 million and was integrated into Hersheypark’s Pioneer Frontier section with careful attention to sight lines, so that the top hat and inversions are visible from neighboring attractions like the Dry Gulch Railroad and the park’s monorail.
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Storm Runner FAQs
How fast does Storm Runner go?
Storm Runner reaches a top speed of 72 mph (116 km/h), hit in roughly two seconds via a hydraulic launch system.
How many inversions does Storm Runner have?
Storm Runner features three inversions: a cobra loop, a heartline roll, and a flying snake dive.
What is the height requirement for Storm Runner?
Riders must be at least 54 inches (137 cm) tall to board Storm Runner at Hersheypark.
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Photo: Coasterman1234 at English Wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.