Comet is a wooden roller coaster at Hersheypark in Hershey, Pennsylvania, built by Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters and designed by Herbert Paul Schmeck. It opened on May 30, 1946, making it the oldest operating roller coaster in the park and one of the last rides personally added by park founder Milton S. Hershey.
True to its PTC pedigree, Comet runs a classic double out-and-back layout through Hersheypark’s Hollow section, next to Skyrush. The ride stands 84 feet tall, drops 78 feet, and sends riders along 3,360 feet of track at speeds up to 50 mph over a run lasting about a minute and 45 seconds.
Stats at a Glance
- Park: Hersheypark
- Manufacturer: Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters
- Opened: May 30, 1946
- Height: 84 feet
- Top speed: 50 mph
- Length: 3,360 feet
- Inversions: 0
The Ride Experience
Comet’s double out-and-back design sends trains climbing a lift hill before diving into a series of airtime-filled hills and turnarounds typical of classic PTC wooden coasters. The ride runs two trains, each with four cars seating riders two across in three rows, for a capacity of 24 per train.
In 2014, Hersheypark rehabilitated and straightened the coaster’s lift hill, removing the distinctive kink it had for decades. For the 2024 season, the park debuted new PTC trains, replacing the long-serving cars nicknamed “Mork’s Comet” and “Halley’s Comet.”
A Hersheypark Landmark
Comet has anchored Hersheypark for nearly 80 years and is considered one of the last coasters Milton S. Hershey himself helped bring to the park before his death in 1945. In 1964, the ride was outfitted with 6,650 individual 10-watt chaser lights, a flashy upgrade that became part of its identity.
The coaster has repeatedly placed among the top wooden roller coasters in Amusement Today’s Golden Ticket Awards, a testament to its enduring layout and smooth-for-its-age ride quality after periodic re-tracking and maintenance over the decades.
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Comet FAQs
When did Comet open at Hersheypark?
Comet opened on May 30, 1946, making it the oldest operating roller coaster in Hersheypark.
Who built Comet?
Comet was built by Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters and designed by Herbert Paul Schmeck.
How fast does Comet go?
Comet reaches a top speed of about 50 mph during its roughly 1-minute-45-second run.
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Photo: Jrosenberry1 / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.