Cocoa Cruiser is a steel kiddie roller coaster at Hersheypark in Hershey, Pennsylvania, designed as a gentle introduction to coasters for young riders and the families who join them. It opened on May 10, 2014, taking the place of the old Tiny Timbers log flume, and today sits in the park’s Founder’s Way area.
Built by Italian manufacturer Zamperla using its Family Gravity Coaster 80STD model, Cocoa Cruiser pairs a short chain lift with a single helix and an oval-shaped layout. It carries riders at a top speed of around 16 mph across roughly 260 feet of track, making it one of the tamest rides in Hersheypark’s extensive coaster lineup.
Stats at a Glance
- Park: Hersheypark
- Manufacturer: Zamperla
- Opened: May 10, 2014
- Height: about 13 feet
- Top speed: about 16 mph
- Length: about 260 feet
- Inversions: 0
The Ride Experience
Cocoa Cruiser’s single train has six cars arranged two-across, giving each run a capacity of about a dozen riders. After a brief chain-lift climb, the train glides through a mid-course helix and a few gentle curves before coasting back to the station, with the whole cycle lasting under two minutes.
Because the ride sits at the lower end of Hersheypark’s height requirements, it’s typically open to guests at least 36 inches tall when accompanied by an adult, or 48 inches to ride solo. The modest car size still comfortably seats adults, so parents often ride alongside kids experiencing their first taste of a roller coaster.
Why It Matters at Hersheypark
Hersheypark is known for record-setting thrill machines like Candymonium and Fahrenheit, but Cocoa Cruiser fills an essential role as a stepping-stone attraction. Its placement in the family-oriented Founder’s Way section puts it near other mild rides, helping parents build a day that mixes big thrills with rides the youngest guests can enjoy too.
The coaster’s name and candy-colored track fit neatly into Hersheypark’s chocolate-themed branding, reinforcing the park’s identity as it introduces a new generation of riders to the coaster hobby before they graduate to its larger steel and wooden rides.
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Rub-on sunscreen that fits in a pocket — reapply in the queue without greasy hands on the lap bar.
Folds into its own pocket. Pop it on when the storm rolls in and the rides reopen to short lines.
Cocoa Cruiser FAQs
How tall do you need to be to ride Cocoa Cruiser?
Riders must be at least 36 inches tall when accompanied by an adult, or 48 inches to ride without an adult.
What replaced the Tiny Timbers log flume?
Cocoa Cruiser was built in its place and opened on May 10, 2014; it’s now located in Hersheypark’s Founder’s Way area.
Who manufactured Cocoa Cruiser?
Zamperla built the ride using its Family Gravity Coaster 80STD model, a compact kiddie coaster design.
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Photo: JCSkipper / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.