Fahrenheit at Hersheypark stands 121 feet tall and sends riders over a 97-degree first drop — steeper than straight down — before unleashing six inversions across 2,700 feet of Intamin steel. Located in the Pioneer Frontier section of Hersheypark in Hershey, Pennsylvania, the coaster opened on May 24, 2008, and immediately set a world record as the steepest roller coaster on the planet.
Built by Swiss manufacturer Intamin and designed by legendary coaster engineer Werner Stengel, Fahrenheit cost $12.1 million to construct and reaches 58 mph through a sequence that includes a rare Norwegian Loop, a cobra roll, and a double corkscrew. More than 15 years after opening, it remains one of Pennsylvania’s most technically ambitious steel coasters and a signature thrill at Hersheypark.
Quick Answer
Fahrenheit at Hersheypark is 121 feet (37 meters) tall. Its first drop plunges from the top of the 121-foot lift hill at a 97-degree angle — past vertical — reaching 58 mph at the bottom. The minimum height requirement to ride is 54 inches (137 cm).
How Tall Is Fahrenheit at Hersheypark?
Fahrenheit’s lift hill rises to 121 feet (37 meters), making it one of the taller steel coasters at Hersheypark. For comparison, Candymonium reaches 210 feet and is faster, but Fahrenheit’s 97-degree drop angle is the steepest of any coaster in the park — nothing else at Hersheypark tilts riders past vertical the way Fahrenheit does.
The 97-degree drop angle is what separates Fahrenheit’s height from an ordinary 121-foot stat. A perfectly vertical drop would measure 90 degrees; Fahrenheit’s 97-degree pitch means the track curves back over the train as it falls, tilting riders slightly backward over empty air before the descent begins. The drop height — from the crest of the lift hill to the valley floor — is the full 121 feet, all compressed into a few violent seconds before the train reaches 58 mph. The lift hill itself feels almost vertical on the way up, adding to the sensation before the train even crests the top.
Stats at a Glance
Park: Hersheypark (Hershey, PA) | Manufacturer: Intamin | Designer: Werner Stengel | Opened: May 24, 2008 | Cost: $12.1 million | Height: 121 ft (37 m) | First Drop Angle: 97° | Top Speed: 58 mph (93 km/h) | Track Length: 2,700 ft (820 m) | Ride Duration: 85 seconds | Inversions: 6 | Height Requirement: 54 in (137 cm) | Hourly Capacity: 850 riders | Train Config: 3 trains × 3 cars × 4 riders | Location in Park: Pioneer Frontier | Track Color: Orange with blue supports
Six Inversions, Broken Down
Fahrenheit’s six inversions are packed into a compact layout with almost no flat track between elements. Here is every inversion in sequence after the drop.
Norwegian Loop (inversions 1 and 2): The ride’s rarest and most distinctive element, standing 107 feet tall. The Norwegian Loop combines a dive loop — where the track rolls and arcs downward through a half loop — followed immediately by an Immelmann inversion, which pulls the train back up and rolls it to exit in a new direction. This single flowing element delivers two consecutive inversions and is one of only a handful of Norwegian Loops operating in North America. Its height and sustained arc produce the most prolonged head-over-heels sensation on the ride.
Cobra Roll (inversions 3 and 4): The train is flung upward through a half loop, twisted sideways through a half corkscrew, then reversed through another half corkscrew and half loop before exiting in the opposite direction. The cobra roll snaps through two inversions in rapid succession with a brief directional reversal in the middle — at 58 mph, the transitions are sharp.
Double Corkscrew (inversions 5 and 6): The final two inversions are a pair of barrel-roll corkscrews that snap the train left and then right before the brake run. They run lower to the ground than the earlier elements, but the train’s speed at this point of the layout keeps them crisp. After six inversions in 85 seconds, the slanted brake run leads back to the station.
The Ride Experience
Fahrenheit begins with a near-vertical chain lift that hauls the train slowly to 121 feet. The steep angle of the lift means riders are leaning back noticeably before the top — and from the front row, the track disappears from view entirely as the train crests, leaving nothing but sky ahead. At the peak, the track bends to 97 degrees: riders hang slightly over the void for a suspended moment before the drop releases.
The train hits 58 mph within seconds and enters the 107-foot Norwegian Loop with no recovery time. The cobra roll and double corkscrew follow immediately, keeping riders inverted for all six inversions before the brakes engage at 85 seconds. Intamin’s compact layout was intentional — there is almost no breathing room between elements, making Fahrenheit feel significantly longer and more intense than its 2,700-foot track length suggests.
Seating choice noticeably changes the experience. Front-row riders get an unobstructed view of the 97-degree drop as the track curves away below them — visually the most dramatic moment on the ride. Back-row riders feel a sharper snap over the top and more forceful transitions through every inversion. Both are worth experiencing if wait times allow. The trains use over-shoulder harness restraints that hold securely through all six inversions.
Records and Legacy
When Fahrenheit opened on May 24, 2008, it was the steepest roller coaster in the world, with a 97-degree first drop. That record stood for about six weeks before Steel Hawg at Indiana Beach opened on July 5, 2008, with a steeper 111-degree drop. The brief tenure did not diminish Fahrenheit’s impact — the 97-degree angle remains a genuine engineering achievement and is still the steepest drop at Hersheypark.
Fahrenheit replaced the Western Chute-Out water ride that had occupied the same footprint and transformed that section of Pioneer Frontier into one of Hersheypark’s most-visited areas. Its distinctive orange track and blue supports made it a visual landmark from across the park from day one.
Among coaster enthusiasts, Fahrenheit holds a respected place as a compact, inversion-dense Intamin that maximizes thrills per square foot. Its Norwegian Loop remains one of fewer than a handful of such elements operating in North America, and the beyond-vertical drop still surprises riders who expect the standard 90-degree plunge found on most loop coasters.
Tips for Riding Fahrenheit
Fahrenheit is in the Pioneer Frontier section of Hersheypark, toward the back of the park from the main entrance. Head there early in the morning — summer weekend wait times typically run 30 to 45 minutes, while early morning and late afternoon lines tend to be shorter. A single-rider line is sometimes available and can cut waits significantly.
The height requirement is 54 inches (137 cm), which Hersheypark categorizes in its Twizzlers height tier. Guests planning visits with mixed-height groups should note that shorter riders in the 48–54 inch range will need an alternative while taller members ride Fahrenheit.
Fahrenheit is not a beginner coaster. The beyond-vertical drop and six rapid inversions make it one of the park’s most aggressive rides. If you are new to inverting coasters, try a single-inversion ride first. For experienced coaster riders, go back-row for intensity and front-row for views — both are excellent in different ways.
Fahrenheit roller coaster Hersheypark FAQs
How tall is Fahrenheit at Hersheypark?
Fahrenheit is 121 feet (37 meters) tall. The coaster’s lift hill rises to 121 feet before tipping riders over a 97-degree beyond-vertical first drop that descends to near ground level.
What is the drop height on Fahrenheit at Hersheypark?
Fahrenheit’s first drop falls from the top of its 121-foot lift hill to near ground level at a 97-degree angle — steeper than straight down. The train reaches 58 mph by the bottom of the drop.
How tall do you need to be to ride Fahrenheit at Hersheypark?
Riders must be at least 54 inches (137 cm) tall to board Fahrenheit. Hersheypark places this in its Twizzlers height category, covering riders 54 to 60 inches tall.
How many inversions does Fahrenheit have?
Fahrenheit has six inversions: a Norwegian Loop (two inversions — a dive loop and an Immelmann), a cobra roll (two inversions), and a double corkscrew (two inversions).
What is the Norwegian Loop on Fahrenheit?
The Norwegian Loop is a rare inversion type that combines a dive loop with an Immelmann inversion into one continuous element. On Fahrenheit, it stands 107 feet tall and delivers two inversions in a single flowing sequence. It is one of only a few Norwegian Loops in North America.
Did Fahrenheit hold a world record?
Yes. When Fahrenheit opened on May 24, 2008, it was the steepest roller coaster in the world with its 97-degree first drop. Steel Hawg at Indiana Beach claimed the record on July 5, 2008, with an even steeper 111-degree drop.
Where is Fahrenheit located in Hersheypark?
Fahrenheit is in the Pioneer Frontier section of Hersheypark, toward the back of the park from the main entrance. Look for the distinctive orange track and blue supports.
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