The sooperdooperLooper opened at Hersheypark in Hershey, Pennsylvania on May 8, 1977, and it made history as the first roller coaster on the East Coast to feature a vertical loop. Designed and built by German manufacturer Anton Schwarzkopf, the ride introduced generations of Hersheypark visitors to the sensation of going upside down, and its popularity was strong enough that more than 200,000 t-shirts proclaiming ‘I survived the sooperdooperLooper’ sold within its first five years.
Set in Hersheypark’s Hollow section, the steel coaster replaced the park’s Twin Ferris Wheels and Alpine Flyer attractions. It reaches a height of 70 feet and sends riders through a single 57-foot vertical loop at speeds up to 45 mph. A 150-foot tunnel with lights and sound effects was added for the 1979 season, adding another layer of surprise to the short but intense ride.
Stats at a Glance
- Park: Hersheypark, Hershey, Pennsylvania
- Manufacturer: Anton Schwarzkopf
- Opened: May 8, 1977
- Height: 70 feet
- Top speed: 45 mph
- Length: 2,614 feet
- Inversions: 1
The Ride Experience
Riders climb a 28-degree chain lift hill before dropping 75 feet and racing into the coaster’s signature 57-foot vertical loop, the ride’s only inversion. The layout then carries trains through the added tunnel, complete with lighting and sound effects, before returning to the station. The full circuit takes about 1 minute and 45 seconds, and the ride can move roughly 1,175 riders per hour with its current two-train operation.
A Hersheypark Milestone
When it debuted in 1977, the sooperdooperLooper cost more than $3 million to build and used about 500 tons of steel, an enormous investment for its era. Its claim as the first inverting coaster on the East Coast made it an instant sensation, and Hersheypark has kept the ride running for nearly five decades, a rare feat for an early-generation looping coaster from the Schwarzkopf era.
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sooperdooperLooper FAQs
When did the sooperdooperLooper open?
It opened to the public at Hersheypark on May 8, 1977, following a soft opening on May 6.
Who manufactured the sooperdooperLooper?
It was designed and built by German coaster manufacturer Anton Schwarzkopf.
How many loops does the sooperdooperLooper have?
It has one inversion, a 57-foot vertical loop, which was groundbreaking for an East Coast coaster in 1977.
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Photo: Paulo Ordoveza from Washington, DC / CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.