Fahrenheit at Hersheypark stands 121 feet tall — a lift hill that climbs almost straight up before tipping riders over a first drop of 97 degrees, seven degrees past vertical. It isn’t the tallest coaster in the park, but no other ride at Hersheypark drops its riders past straight-down the way Fahrenheit does.
This guide breaks down exactly how tall Fahrenheit is, how that height compares to Hersheypark’s bigger coasters, what the drop actually feels like at 97 degrees, and every stat riders search for before getting in line.
Quick Answer
Fahrenheit at Hersheypark is 121 feet (37 meters) tall. Its first drop falls the same 121 feet at a 97-degree angle — past vertical — reaching a top speed of 58 mph. The minimum height requirement to ride is 54 inches (137 cm).
How Tall Is Fahrenheit at Hersheypark?
Fahrenheit’s lift hill rises 121 feet (37 meters) above Pioneer Frontier. That makes it a mid-sized coaster by Hersheypark’s current standards: Candymonium, which opened in 2020, towers 210 feet, and Skyrush reaches roughly 200 feet at its high point. Fahrenheit is shorter than both, and it isn’t trying to compete on height — it competes on angle.
What Fahrenheit has that neither of those taller coasters has is a drop that goes past vertical. A 90-degree drop is straight down; Fahrenheit’s is 97 degrees, meaning the track curves backward over the train before it falls, so riders are briefly hanging over open air rather than looking straight down a slope. Height numbers alone don’t capture that — it’s the combination of 121 feet and a 97-degree pitch that makes the drop feel far bigger than its number suggests.
Fahrenheit’s Drop Height and Angle, Explained
The drop itself covers the full 121 feet, from the crest of the lift hill down to the bottom of the first valley, all at a 97-degree angle. Neither Hersheypark nor the ride’s manufacturer, Intamin, publishes a separate ‘drop height’ distinct from the coaster’s overall height — on a coaster like Fahrenheit, where the lift hill leads almost directly into the first drop, the two numbers are effectively the same.
The 97-degree angle is the more meaningful stat here. It made Fahrenheit the steepest roller coaster in the world for about six weeks after it opened in 2008, and it remains the steepest drop of any ride at Hersheypark today — steeper than Candymonium, Skyrush, or anything else in the park, despite those coasters standing taller.
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 x 3 cars x 4 riders | Location in Park: Pioneer Frontier
For the park’s official, always-current specs and operating details, see Hersheypark’s official Fahrenheit page.
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. It combines a dive loop — where the track rolls and arcs downward through a half loop — followed immediately by an Immelmann inversion that pulls the train back up and rolls it out 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.
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. It snaps through two inversions in rapid succession with a brief directional reversal in the middle.
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 keeps them crisp.
The Ride Experience
Fahrenheit begins with a near-vertical chain lift that hauls the train slowly to 121 feet. The angle is steep enough that riders lean 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, and riders hang slightly over the void for a suspended moment before the drop releases and the train hits 58 mph within seconds.
From there the train goes straight into the 107-foot Norwegian Loop with no recovery time, followed immediately by the cobra roll and double corkscrew, keeping riders inverted for all six inversions before the brakes engage around 85 seconds after launch. The compact layout was intentional on Intamin’s part — there’s almost no breathing room between elements, which makes Fahrenheit feel considerably longer and more intense than its 2,700-foot track length suggests.
Seating changes the experience noticeably. Front-row riders get an unobstructed view of the 97-degree drop as the track curves away below them, which is 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. The trains use over-the-shoulder harness restraints that hold securely through all six inversions; riders near the upper end of the size range should expect a snug fit and can test a seat before boarding if unsure.
Records and Legacy
When Fahrenheit opened on May 24, 2008, it was the steepest roller coaster in the world at 97 degrees. That record lasted about six weeks before Steel Hawg at Indiana Beach opened on July 5, 2008, with a steeper 111-degree drop. The brief tenure didn’t diminish the achievement — the 97-degree angle is still the steepest drop at Hersheypark today, and Fahrenheit remains one of the few coasters anywhere with a Norwegian Loop.
Fahrenheit replaced the Western Chute-Out water ride that previously occupied the same footprint, transforming that corner of Pioneer Frontier into one of the park’s most technically ambitious steel-coaster installations. More than 15 years after opening, its 121-foot height and 97-degree pitch still make it Hersheypark’s steepest ride, even as newer coasters like Candymonium have since claimed the height record.
fahrenheit hersheypark height FAQs
How tall is Fahrenheit at Hersheypark?
Fahrenheit stands 121 feet (37 meters) tall, measured from the ground to the top of its lift hill.
What is Fahrenheit’s drop height and angle?
The first drop covers the full 121 feet at a 97-degree angle — seven degrees past vertical — reaching 58 mph by the bottom.
Is Fahrenheit the tallest roller coaster at Hersheypark?
No. Candymonium (210 feet) and Skyrush (around 200 feet) are both taller. Fahrenheit is Hersheypark’s steepest coaster, not its tallest.
How fast does Fahrenheit go?
Fahrenheit reaches a top speed of 58 mph (93 km/h), hit within seconds of the first drop.
How many inversions does Fahrenheit have?
Six: a Norwegian Loop (two inversions), a cobra roll (two inversions), and a double corkscrew (two inversions).
What is the height requirement to ride Fahrenheit?
Riders must be at least 54 inches (137 cm) tall to ride.
Where is Fahrenheit located at Hersheypark?
Fahrenheit is in the Pioneer Frontier section of Hersheypark in Hershey, Pennsylvania.
Why is it called Fahrenheit?
The name plays on the temperature scale, a fitting theme for a ride built around setting a world record for steepness rather than size.
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