Storm Runner is a steel launched roller coaster at Hersheypark in Hershey, Pennsylvania, built by Intamin Amusement Rides and opened on May 8, 2004. Using a hydraulic launch system, it rockets riders from a standstill to 72 mph in about two seconds — one of the fastest accelerations of any coaster on the East Coast.
Reaching a height of 150 feet before a 180-foot plunge, Storm Runner was the first Accelerator Coaster model to feature inversions and the first to incorporate a dual-loading station with switch tracks. Two decades later, it’s also become something rarer still: one of only a handful of hydraulic launch coasters left operating in the United States.
Quick Answer
Storm Runner hits a top speed of 72 mph (116 km/h) in about two seconds via hydraulic launch, reaches 150 feet at its top hat, and requires riders to be at least 54 inches (137 cm) tall. It’s not Hersheypark’s fastest coaster overall (Candymonium tops out at 76 mph), but it is the park’s quickest off the mark by a wide margin.
How Fast Does Storm Runner Go?
Storm Runner’s top speed is 72 mph (116 km/h), reached almost instantly off the launch track. Rather than climbing a lift hill, the train sits in a hydraulic launch zone where a catapult system fires it from 0 to 72 mph in roughly two seconds — the entire acceleration is over before most riders finish their first scream.
That speed comes from a genuinely unusual mechanism: high-capacity accumulator tanks store hydraulic oil and nitrogen gas, separated by a free-floating piston. When the launch triggers, that stored energy surges through a hydraulic motor into a gearbox and winch drum, which yanks a steel cable attached to a catch car under the train — transferring enough force to fling the entire train up the launch track in about two seconds flat.
That launch speed carries the train straight up the 150-foot top hat, the vertical spike that gives Storm Runner its signature airtime moment, before the 180-foot drop back toward the ground. Because the speed is generated hydraulically rather than by gravity from a tall lift hill, Storm Runner delivers highway-speed acceleration in a footprint far smaller than most coasters with comparable top speeds.
Storm Runner Height Requirement
The height requirement for Storm Runner at Hersheypark is 54 inches (137 cm). Riders below that height are not permitted to board, in line with most launched coasters that use over-the-shoulder restraints and pull noticeable g-forces through the top hat and inversions.
Storm Runner uses over-the-shoulder restraints rather than simple lap bars — it was actually the first Intamin Accelerator Coaster model to use this restraint style — so riders should also expect a snugger, more secure fit than on family-style rides. Hersheypark’s own guest guidance also flags Storm Runner among rides where guests approaching 300 pounds or taller than 6 feet may have difficulty fitting the restraints comfortably; ride entrances post sizing signage so guests can check before waiting in line. As with all Hersheypark attractions, exact measurement policies (shoes on, standing fully upright) are enforced at a height-check station near the entrance.
The Ride Experience
Storm Runner begins with a tense pause in the launch zone before a hydraulic catapult fires the train to 72 mph in about two seconds. The train blasts up the iconic top hat element — a towering 150-foot vertical spike — where riders experience intense airtime at the crest before dropping 180 feet back toward the ground.
Beyond the top hat, the train threads through three inversions in rapid succession: a 135-foot cobra loop, a heartline roll, and a flying snake dive — a combination element that blends a heartline-style roll with a half-Immelman-style twist as the train shoots back toward the station past the park’s monorail track. Each element arrives with minimal recovery time, keeping the adrenaline constant from launch to brake run. The full ride lasts under a minute — short, but relentlessly intense — with much of that time spent in the launch queue and restraint checks rather than in motion.
One of America’s Last Hydraulic Launch Coasters
Storm Runner isn’t just fast — it’s a mechanical rarity. According to Hersheypark’s own maintenance team, it’s one of only three hydraulic launch coasters still operating in the United States, and the last one running on the East Coast. Most modern launch coasters use linear synchronous motors (LSMs) instead, so Storm Runner’s catch-car-and-cable system is a genuine holdover from an earlier generation of launch technology.
Keeping that system running takes real specialization: a dedicated four-person crew handles Storm Runner’s upkeep, split between two technicians who focus on the trains and two who oversee the hydraulics. During the off-season, that team fully disassembles the trains for cleaning, inspection, and non-destructive testing. Once the park is open, a two-person crew runs daily four-hour inspections covering restraint systems, track walks, hydraulic checks, and test launches before the ride opens to guests.
A Record-Setting Accelerator Coaster
When Storm Runner debuted in 2004, it broke new ground for Intamin’s Accelerator Coaster lineup. It was the first of its model to feature inversions, the first to use over-the-shoulder restraints, and the first to employ a dual-loading station with switch tracks — upgrades that boosted both ride variety and throughput to approximately 1,200 riders per hour across two 20-rider trains.
Designed in part by legendary coaster engineer Werner Stengel, Storm Runner cost approximately $12.5 million and replaced Balloon Flite, a children’s ride that had operated in the same spot for over two decades. It was integrated into Hersheypark’s Pioneer Frontier section with careful attention to sight lines, so that the top hat and inversions are visible from neighboring attractions like the Dry Gulch Railroad and the park’s monorail.
Storm Runner sat out the 2020 season while the park waited on replacement parts delayed by pandemic-era supply issues, then returned for the 2021 season and has run every year since — making it one of the longer-tenured launch coasters still spinning up riders in the park’s lineup.
Planning Your Visit to Storm Runner
Storm Runner operates during Hersheypark’s regular seasonal schedule, which typically runs from spring weekends through the fall, with hours varying by day and season. Because operating hours, ticket pricing tiers, and any weather-related closures change throughout the year, check the official Hersheypark Storm Runner page for the current schedule and status before you go, and the main Hersheypark website for park-wide hours and ticket options.
Tickets are sold as single-day admission, multi-day passes, and season passes, generally priced by date and demand rather than a flat rate, so it’s worth booking through the official site to lock in current pricing. Storm Runner is located in the Pioneer Frontier section — arriving early or riding during a meal-break lull tends to mean shorter waits, since the launch-and-check process limits how many trains cycle per hour compared to continuously-loading coasters.
Stats at a Glance
Park: Hersheypark, Hershey, Pennsylvania. Manufacturer: Intamin Amusement Rides. Model: Accelerator Coaster. Designer: Werner Stengel. Opened: May 8, 2004. Height: 150 ft (46 m). Drop: 180 ft (55 m). Top Speed: 72 mph (116 km/h), reached in about 2 seconds. Length: 2,600 ft (790 m). Inversions: 3 (cobra loop, heartline roll, flying snake dive). Height Requirement: 54 in (137 cm). Restraints: Over-the-shoulder harnesses. Capacity: Approximately 1,200 riders per hour. Location: Pioneer Frontier. Storm Runner is an Intamin creation — see our full Intamin profile for the company’s history and signature coasters.
Storm Runner height requirement and top speed FAQs
How fast does Storm Runner go at Hersheypark?
Storm Runner reaches a top speed of 72 mph (116 km/h), hit in roughly two seconds via a hydraulic launch system rather than a traditional lift hill.
Is Storm Runner the fastest ride at Hersheypark?
No — Candymonium has a higher top speed at 76 mph. Storm Runner isn’t the outright fastest, but it accelerates faster than any other coaster in the park, hitting 72 mph in about two seconds from a dead stop.
What is the height requirement for Storm Runner?
Riders must be at least 54 inches (137 cm) tall to board Storm Runner at Hersheypark.
Are there weight or size restrictions on Storm Runner?
Hersheypark notes that guests approaching 300 pounds or taller than 6 feet may have difficulty fitting Storm Runner’s over-the-shoulder restraints comfortably. Sizing signage is posted at the ride entrance so guests can check before waiting in line.
How many inversions does Storm Runner have?
Storm Runner features three inversions: a 135-foot cobra loop, a heartline roll, and a flying snake dive.
Is Storm Runner one of the last hydraulic launch coasters in the U.S.?
Yes. According to Hersheypark, Storm Runner is one of only three hydraulic launch coasters still operating in the United States and the last one running on the East Coast — most newer launch coasters use magnetic (LSM) launches instead.
Where is Storm Runner located in Hersheypark?
Storm Runner is located in the Pioneer Frontier section of Hersheypark, on the site of the former Balloon Flite ride.
Has Storm Runner ever been closed?
Storm Runner sat out the 2020 season while Hersheypark waited on pandemic-delayed replacement parts, then reopened for the 2021 season and has operated each year since.
How can I check Storm Runner’s current hours or ticket prices?
Ride hours follow Hersheypark’s seasonal operating calendar and can change day to day, so check the official Hersheypark website for current hours, ticket pricing, and ride status before your visit.
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