The park’s mountainside setting gives many of its slides extra vertical drop compared to flatland waterparks, and its lineup has expanded steadily since opening, adding attractions like High Noon Typhoon in 2018 and Rival Racer in 2023. With more than 37 slides, a wave pool, and a lazy river, Camelbeach remains a cornerstone attraction of the Pocono Mountains resort region.

Stats at a Glance

• Location: Tannersville, Pennsylvania
• Opened: 1998
• Size: About 30 acres
• Waterslides: Over 37
• Owner: Camelback Mountain Resort
• Season: Memorial Day to Labor Day
• Notable attraction: Kahuna Lagoon wave pool (waves up to 6 feet)

The Ride Experience

Camelbeach’s slide collection ranges from family raft rides to high-thrill mat racers. The Titan, an eight-story family raft slide, carries up to four riders at once, while Rival Racer, added in 2023 as the successor to the old Checkered Flag Challenge, sends riders down an eight-lane mat course through twisting enclosed tubes. High Noon Typhoon, a ProSlide Tornado-style funnel ride that opened in 2018, is among the park’s more intense additions.

For riders who prefer a slower pace, the Blue Nile Adventure River offers a lazy float on single or double tubes, and Kahuna Lagoon’s wave pool produces surf-style swells up to six feet high. A Flowrider surfing simulator, added in 2006, and Pharaoh’s Phortress, a family play structure with its own set of eight slides, round out the park’s attraction mix for younger visitors.

Part of a Year-Round Resort

Camelbeach operates as the seasonal summer complement to Camelback Mountain Resort, which runs as a ski and snowboard destination in winter. This dual identity has helped the resort attract visitors year-round, and Aquatics International magazine recognized Camelbeach with a ‘Best Commercial Waterpark’ award for parks in its visitor-attendance category. The resort has continued to invest in the outdoor park even as it built out its indoor Aquatopia waterpark for colder months.

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Camelbeach Mountain Waterpark FAQs

When did Camelbeach Mountain Waterpark open?

Camelbeach opened in 1998 as the summer operation of Camelback Mountain Resort in Tannersville, Pennsylvania.

How many water slides does Camelbeach have?

The park features over 37 waterslides, along with a wave pool, a lazy river, and family play areas.

Is Camelbeach open year-round?

No, Camelbeach is an outdoor waterpark that typically operates seasonally from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Camelback Resort also operates the separate indoor Aquatopia waterpark for colder months.

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Today the park operates as Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom, combining a 200-acre mix of thrill rides and water attractions under Six Flags ownership. Its coaster lineup ranges from Thunderhawk, a 1924 wooden classic, to Steel Force, a towering Morgan hyper coaster that once claimed the title of tallest and longest coaster on the East Coast.

Stats at a Glance

• Location: Allentown / South Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania
• Founded: 1860 (as a trout hatchery and resort); opened as an amusement park in 1884
• Owner: Six Flags Entertainment Corporation (since July 2024)
• Size: About 200 acres
• Rides: Around 44 rides, including 8 roller coasters
• Signature coaster: Steel Force (200 ft tall, 75 mph, 5,600 ft long, opened 1997)
• Oldest coaster: Thunderhawk, a Philadelphia Toboggan Company wooden coaster opened in 1924
• Season: Operates seasonally, roughly May through October

The Ride Experience

Dorney Park’s coaster collection spans generations of ride engineering. Thunderhawk, designed by Herbert Schmeck and built by Philadelphia Toboggan Company, has been thrilling riders with its out-and-back wooden layout since 1924 and was later recognized as an ACE Coaster Landmark. On the modern end, Steel Force delivers a 205-foot first drop and 75 mph speeds along 5,600 feet of steel track, while inverted and floorless machines like Talon, Possessed, and Hydra the Revenge round out the park’s extreme lineup.

Beyond coasters, the adjoining Wildwater Kingdom water park has been included with general admission since 1995, giving visitors dozens of water slides and pools alongside the dry-land thrill rides.

A Trolley Park That Endured

Dorney Park is one of only a handful of surviving 19th-century trolley parks in the U.S. — amusement grounds originally built by streetcar companies to drum up weekend ridership. After the Traction Company purchased the park from the Dorney family in 1901, it steadily expanded through the 20th century, eventually joining the Cedar Fair chain and, as of the 2024 Six Flags-Cedar Fair merger, becoming part of the combined Six Flags Entertainment Corporation portfolio.

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Dorney Park FAQs

How old is Dorney Park?

Dorney Park’s history dates to 1860, when Solomon Dorney opened a trout hatchery and resort on the site; it developed into a full amusement park by 1884, making it one of the oldest operating parks in the country.

Who owns Dorney Park now?

Dorney Park is owned by Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, following the 2024 merger of Cedar Fair and Six Flags.

What is the tallest roller coaster at Dorney Park?

Steel Force is the park’s tallest and fastest coaster, standing 200 feet tall with a top speed of 75 mph and a 5,600-foot-long track.

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Owned and operated by Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company, the park is home to 14 roller coasters and 73 total rides and attractions, ranging from family-friendly classics to record-setting thrill machines. The 2020 opening of the $150 million Hershey’s Chocolatetown expansion — anchored by the hypercoaster Candymonium — cemented the park’s status as a premier destination, while the 2023 debut of Wildcat’s Revenge, a hybrid coaster by Rocky Mountain Construction, earned the Golden Ticket Award for Best New Roller Coaster of that year.

Stats at a Glance

• Location: Hershey, Pennsylvania
• Opened: May 30, 1906
• Owner: Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company
• Acreage: 121 acres (49 ha)
• Roller Coasters: 14
• Total Rides & Attractions: 73
• Annual Attendance: About 3 million (2024)
• Ranking: 9th most visited theme park in North America

Thrills From Classic to Cutting-Edge

Hersheypark’s coaster lineup spans nearly a century of ride engineering. The park’s signature thrill is Candymonium, a Bolliger & Mabillard hypercoaster that opened in 2020 standing 210 feet tall, reaching 76 mph, and stretching 4,636 feet of track — the tallest, fastest, and longest coaster on property. At the other end of the spectrum, the vintage Comet wooden coaster has been running since 1946, offering a beloved throwback experience for families and coaster historians alike.

The most recent addition, Wildcat’s Revenge, opened June 2, 2023, as an RMC hybrid conversion of the old Wildcat wooden coaster. The reimagined ride stands 140 feet tall, hits 62 mph, and delivers four inversions including what is billed as the world’s largest underflip. It earned the Amusement Today Golden Ticket Award for Best New Roller Coaster of 2023, further raising Hersheypark’s profile in the enthusiast community.

Beyond the Coasters

Hersheypark is more than roller coasters. The Boardwalk, an expansive water park within the park’s grounds, features 15 water rides and slides for warm-weather relief. Adjacent ZooAmerica spans 11 acres and is home to more than 200 North American animals, making it a natural complement for families looking to extend their visit.

The park’s deep roots in the Hershey brand give it a unique identity no other theme park can replicate. From Hershey’s Chocolatetown — the sweeping 2020 expansion themed to the iconic candy brand — to chocolate-themed food offerings throughout the grounds, every visit feels like a sweet celebration of American confectionery history. The park won the prestigious Applause Award in 2000, the theme park industry’s highest honor for overall excellence.

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Hersheypark FAQs

When did Hersheypark open?

Hersheypark officially opened on May 30, 1906, when Milton S. Hershey created it as a leisure park for his chocolate factory employees. It was known as Hershey Park until 1971, when a major redevelopment campaign rebranded it as Hersheypark and shifted it to an all-inclusive admission model.

How many roller coasters does Hersheypark have?

As of 2025, Hersheypark has 14 roller coasters, ranging from the 1946 Comet wooden coaster to the 2023 Wildcat’s Revenge hybrid coaster by Rocky Mountain Construction. The lineup includes steel, wooden, and hybrid coasters spanning a wide range of thrill levels.

What is the tallest and fastest ride at Hersheypark?

Candymonium, a Bolliger & Mabillard hypercoaster that opened in July 2020, is the tallest and fastest coaster at Hersheypark. It stands 210 feet tall, reaches a top speed of 76 mph, and runs along 4,636 feet of track as part of the Hershey’s Chocolatetown expansion.

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Reaching a height of 150 feet before an 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. Its combination of raw launch speed and aerial acrobatics made it an instant landmark in Hersheypark’s coaster lineup.

Stats at a Glance

• Park: Hersheypark, Hershey, Pennsylvania
• Manufacturer: Intamin Amusement Rides
• Model: Accelerator Coaster
• Opened: May 8, 2004
• Height: 150 ft (46 m)
• Drop: 180 ft (55 m)
• Top Speed: 72 mph (116 km/h)
• Length: 2,600 ft (790 m)
• Inversions: 3

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. The combination of speed and hang-time at the top of the top hat ranks among the most memorable moments on any Intamin accelerator coaster.

Beyond the top hat, the train threads through three inversions in rapid succession: a cobra loop, a heartline roll, and a flying snake dive. Each element arrives with minimal recovery time, keeping the adrenaline constant from launch to brake run. The full ride lasts around 40 seconds — short, but relentlessly intense.

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.

Designed in part by legendary coaster engineer Werner Stengel, Storm Runner cost approximately $12.5 million and 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.

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Storm Runner FAQs

How fast does Storm Runner go?

Storm Runner reaches a top speed of 72 mph (116 km/h), hit in roughly two seconds via a hydraulic launch system.

How many inversions does Storm Runner have?

Storm Runner features three inversions: a cobra loop, a heartline roll, and a flying snake dive.

What is the height requirement for Storm Runner?

Riders must be at least 54 inches (137 cm) tall to board Storm Runner at Hersheypark.

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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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The stadium’s story began long before its 1960 opening. The original steel structure from Beaver Field, which dated to 1909, was physically disassembled and moved half a mile to its current location during the 1959–60 offseason, then bolted onto a modern grandstand to create Beaver Stadium. That history of bold engineering set the tone for a venue that has since expanded ten times, growing from 46,284 seats at its 1960 debut to more than 106,000 today. The stadium is officially known as West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium following a 15-year naming-rights deal announced in March 2025.

Stats at a Glance

• Team: Penn State Nittany Lions (NCAA FBS)
• Location: University Park, Pennsylvania
• Opened: September 17, 1960
• Capacity: 106,304 (as of 2025)
• Surface: Natural grass
• Named for: James A. Beaver, Governor of Pennsylvania (1887–91)
• Attendance record: 111,030 — vs. Ohio State, November 2, 2024
• Permanent lighting: Installed 1984

A Stadium Built on Big Ten Atmosphere

Beaver Stadium consistently ranks among the most intimidating venues in college football, earning the top spot in a 2016 USA Today fan poll. The horseshoe-style bowl traps crowd noise from over 100,000 fans, creating a wall of sound that opposing offenses have struggled to communicate through for decades. Night games under the lights — made possible by permanent lighting added in 1984 — transformed White Out contests into some of the most electric atmospheres in all of American sport.

The stadium underwent a major renovation cycle beginning in 2024 that added LED videoboards and began a broader modernization push projected to run through 2027, ensuring the venue remains competitive with newer facilities while preserving the historic bones of a structure that has watched Penn State football evolve across more than six decades.

Engineering Marvel and Expansion History

Few stadiums carry the engineering lore of Beaver Stadium. Its 1978 expansion raised the existing structure eight feet on hydraulic jacks so that new precast concrete seating could be inserted underneath — adding more than 16,000 seats in a single offseason without demolishing what already stood. That project exemplified the inventive approach Penn State has applied across ten total expansions spanning 1969, 1972, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1985, 1991, 2001, 2011, and the ongoing 2024–2027 phase.

The original construction cost of roughly $1.6 million (equivalent to about $17.4 million in 2025 dollars) looks almost quaint given the scale of the modern facility. Beaver Stadium also earned a footnote in digital history as the first stadium to have its interior included in Google Street View, a testament to how widely the venue is recognized beyond the world of college sports.

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Beaver Stadium FAQs

What is the current capacity of Beaver Stadium?

As of 2025, Beaver Stadium has an official seating capacity of 106,304, making it the second-largest stadium in the Western Hemisphere and the fourth-largest in the world.

What is the all-time attendance record at Beaver Stadium?

The all-time attendance record is 111,030, set on November 2, 2024, when Penn State hosted Ohio State.

Why is it called Beaver Stadium?

The stadium is named in honor of James A. Beaver, a Civil War brigadier general, Pennsylvania governor (1887–91), and long-serving president of Penn State’s Board of Trustees.

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What set Twister apart from the day it opened was its inventive split lift hill — a two-stage system where the train climbs halfway, executes a 180-degree turn, and then continues up a second lift stacked above the first. The track crosses itself 36 times through a dense web of wooden lattice, and a sweeping double helix wraps directly around the curved station building before the train glides to a stop. Costing $3 million to construct, Twister earned a spot in the Golden Ticket Award top-15 wooden coasters in just its first full year of operation and has remained a fan favorite ever since.

Stats at a Glance

• Park: Knoebels Amusement Resort, Elysburg, Pennsylvania
• Designer: John Fetterman (based on John C. Allen’s Mister Twister blueprints)
• Trains: Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters (PTC); structure by Adams Construction Co.
• Opened: July 24, 1999
• Height: 101.5 ft (30.9 m)
• Drop: 89.6 ft (27.3 m)
• Top Speed: 51 mph (82 km/h)
• Length: 3,900 ft (1,200 m)
• Inversions: 0

The Ride Experience

After departing the curved station, the train threads down through the structure before tackling Twister’s signature split lift hill. Rather than a single straight climb, riders ascend halfway, curl through a 180-degree turn, and then finish the climb on a second lift parallel to the first — a design that immerses the train in the wooden structure before the descent even begins.

From the swoop curve at the top, the train drops 89.6 feet and races through a relentless series of turns, airtime hills, and tight crossovers. The 36 instances where the track passes over or under itself create the classic ‘headchopper’ effect that fans of Golden Age wooden coasters prize. An underground tunnel near the end houses the on-ride photo location before the train sweeps through the double helix and glides back into the station.

A Living Tribute to Mister Twister

Knoebels originally hoped to physically relocate and restore the original Mister Twister from Elitch Gardens’ old Denver site after the park closed in 1994, but inspections revealed the wood was too deteriorated to save. The park instead acquired the original engineering drawings and asked Fetterman to adapt them — mirroring sections of the layout to fit a new footprint while preserving the ride’s spirit. A bolt salvaged from the original Mister Twister was ceremonially installed in Twister’s swoop curve, physically linking the two coasters.

The homage paid off critically. Twister debuted at No. 15 on the Golden Ticket Awards’ top wooden coaster list in 2000 and has continued to place inside the top 25 through 2025, cementing its reputation as one of the finest traditionally styled wooden coasters still in operation.

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Twister FAQs

Where is Twister located?

Twister is located at Knoebels Amusement Resort in Elysburg, Pennsylvania, USA.

When did Twister open at Knoebels?

Twister opened on July 24, 1999, after roughly eight months of construction at a cost of approximately $3 million.

What makes Twister’s lift hill unique?

Twister uses a split lift hill: the train climbs halfway up, executes a 180-degree turn, and then completes the ascent on a second lift stacked above the first — a rare design that sends riders deep into the coaster’s wooden lattice before the main drop.

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What sets Ravine Flyer II apart from any other coaster on earth is its 165-foot arch bridge, which carries riders twice over Pennsylvania Route 832, a four-lane highway. That singular engineering feat, combined with the coaster’s consistent presence in top-ten wooden coaster rankings — including a peak of fifth place in Amusement Today’s 2016 Golden Ticket poll — has cemented its status as one of the most celebrated wooden coasters in the United States.

Stats at a Glance

• Park: Waldameer & Water World, Erie, Pennsylvania
• Manufacturer: The Gravity Group (design); Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters (trains)
• Opened: May 17, 2008
• Height: 80 ft (24 m)
• Drop: About 120 ft (37 m)
• Top Speed: About 60 mph (97 km/h)
• Length: About 2,900 ft (884 m)
• Inversions: 0
• Duration: 1 min 30 sec

The Ride Experience

Riders board at the station and ascend the chain-lift hill before cresting and diving into the ravine for the signature first drop. The plunge below grade — the coaster descends beneath the level of the surrounding terrain — is what creates a drop distance far exceeding the height of the lift hill, a design trick that delivers sustained airtime and forceful positive G’s in the valley.

The course then climbs back up to cross Pennsylvania Route 832 on its celebrated arch bridge before diving again, producing a secondary 105-foot drop. Four tunnels and constant changes in speed, direction, and elevation round out a 90-second layout that rides hard from start to brake run. The minimum height requirement is 48 inches.

Awards and Legacy

Ravine Flyer II captured 52 percent of the vote for Amusement Today’s 2008 Golden Ticket Award for Best New Ride in the World. It has ranked in the top ten wooden coasters in that poll every year since 2009, peaking at fifth in 2016. In spring 2025, USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards voted it the second-best wooden coaster and fourth-best coaster overall in the United States.

For a regional park like Waldameer, operating a world-class wooden coaster that consistently out-ranks attractions at far larger parks is a remarkable achievement. The ride draws enthusiasts from across the country to Erie and has become the defining reason many visitors make the trip to Pennsylvania’s Lake Erie shoreline.

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Ravine Flyer II FAQs

Where is Ravine Flyer II located?

Ravine Flyer II is located at Waldameer & Water World in Erie, Pennsylvania, near the shores of Lake Erie.

What makes Ravine Flyer II unique among wooden coasters?

It is the only coaster in the world to cross a four-lane highway — Pennsylvania Route 832 — on a 165-foot arch bridge. It crosses that road twice during the course of a single ride.

How tall is the drop on Ravine Flyer II?

The first drop is approximately 118–120 feet, which is actually larger than the 80-foot lift hill because the coaster plunges into a real ravine, descending below grade.

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Below is the exact answer to how tall Skyrush is, why its drop is actually taller than the ride itself, and every other stat, design detail, and 2024 update worth knowing before you ride.

Quick Answer

Skyrush is 200 feet (61 m) tall, but its first drop measures 212 feet (65 m) — taller than the lift itself — because the track plunges past ground level into the ravine cut by Spring Creek. Riders take that 212-foot drop at an 85-degree angle and hit a top speed of 75 mph almost immediately.

Skyrush Height vs. Drop: Why the Numbers Don’t Match

Skyrush’s cable lift hoists the train 200 feet into the air — that’s the ride’s official “height.” But the first drop is measured differently: it’s the vertical distance from the top of the drop to the lowest point of the track, and Skyrush’s layout dives into a low-lying ravine above Spring Creek that sits below the base of the lift. That extra descent pushes the drop measurement to 212 feet, 12 feet more than the ride’s stated height.

The discrepancy isn’t a typo — it’s actually tied to local zoning. Derry Township’s height limit for structures was 200 feet, so Hersheypark and Intamin engineered the lift and drop crest to top out exactly at that limit, then let the track dip lower than ground level on the way down to add extra drop distance without adding extra height. The result is a first drop that’s deeper than the ride is tall, taken at a steep 85 degrees — just 5 degrees off vertical.

Skyrush Stats at a Glance

Park: Hersheypark, Hershey, Pennsylvania. Manufacturer: Intamin. Opened: May 26, 2012. Construction cost: roughly $25 million. Height: 200 ft (61 m). First drop: 212 ft (65 m) at 85 degrees. Top speed: 75 mph (121 km/h). Length: 3,600 ft (1,100 m). Ride duration: 63 seconds. Inversions: 0. Max G-force: 5.0. Capacity: about 1,350 riders per hour across two 32-passenger trains.

For comparison, Hersheypark’s tallest and fastest coaster overall is Candymonium at 210 feet and 76 mph, with its own 210-foot drop. Skyrush’s 212-foot drop is actually deeper than Candymonium’s despite Skyrush being 10 feet shorter overall — a quirk that trips up a lot of first-time visitors comparing the two rides.

The Ride Experience

The cable lift pulls the train up Skyrush’s 200-foot incline at roughly 26 feet per second, noticeably faster than a standard chain lift, so the crest arrives with almost no warning. The 85-degree drop that follows slams the train to 75 mph within the first few seconds — one of the quickest accelerations of any coaster in the northeastern U.S.

From there, the 3,600-foot layout sweeps through four high-banked turns and five distinct airtime hills, threading directly above Spring Creek for most of the ride. Because riders sit in wing seats cantilevered outside the track, there’s no floor, no train body, and nothing in their peripheral vision — every hill and turn feels fully exposed to open air. The whole circuit is over in about 63 seconds, and the ride sustains G-forces up to 5.0, among the highest of any modern steel coaster.

Wing Coaster Design & Seating

Skyrush was the first Wing Coaster Intamin ever built, serving as a prototype for the model before other installations followed elsewhere in the world. Each of the two 8-car trains seats 32 riders in a staggered arrangement: odd-numbered rows sit toward the middle of the car, even-numbered rows sit out toward the wings, so every seat gets a slightly different view and airtime intensity — rear wing seats are generally considered the most extreme.

There are no inversions anywhere on the layout. Skyrush’s intensity comes entirely from speed, the steep 85-degree drop, sustained airtime, and G-forces, not loops or corkscrews.

2024 Seat and Restraint Overhaul

For years, Skyrush’s original trapezoidal restraints earned the ride an unflattering nickname among enthusiasts — “Thighcrush” — for how tightly they clamped down on riders’ upper legs. Ahead of the 2024 season, Hersheypark and Intamin retrofitted the existing trains with redesigned seats and restraints shaped to fit around the thighs rather than press into them, along with a refreshed station featuring new paint, lighting, and sound design.

The upgrade kept the ride’s stats — height, drop, speed, and layout — completely unchanged, but it resolved the single biggest complaint riders had about the experience, and it’s been well received by the enthusiast community since debuting.

Recognition and Records

Skyrush was ranked among the top new rides in Amusement Today’s Golden Ticket Awards the year it opened and has continued to place on the publication’s top steel coasters list in most years since. Within Hersheypark itself, community rankings and enthusiast polls consistently put Skyrush at or near the top of the park’s coaster lineup, typically ahead of Fahrenheit and Storm Runner, thanks to its combination of steep drop, sustained speed, and exposed wing seating.

skyrush height and drop stats FAQs

How tall is Skyrush?

Skyrush is 200 feet (61 m) tall, measured from the ground to the top of its cable lift hill.

How tall is the Skyrush drop?

The first drop measures 212 feet (65 m) — 12 feet more than the ride’s overall height — because the track descends below ground level into the ravine above Spring Creek before leveling out.

Is Skyrush the tallest coaster at Hersheypark?

No. Candymonium is Hersheypark’s tallest coaster at 210 feet. Skyrush is 200 feet tall, but its 212-foot first drop is actually deeper than Candymonium’s 210-foot drop.

How fast does Skyrush go?

Skyrush reaches a top speed of 75 mph (121 km/h), hit within the first few seconds of its 85-degree first drop.

What type of roller coaster is Skyrush?

Skyrush is a steel Wing Coaster built by Intamin — the first Wing Coaster the company ever produced. Riders sit in seats cantilevered outside the track on both sides of the train, with no floor or train body in view.

Does Skyrush have any inversions?

No. Skyrush has zero inversions. Its intensity comes from its steep drop, sustained speed, five airtime hills, and G-forces up to 5.0.

How long is the Skyrush ride?

The ride lasts about 63 seconds and covers a 3,600-foot track layout.

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The secret isn’t raw statistics. Phoenix tops out at 45 mph, which any modern family coaster can match. What it delivers instead is relentless, out-of-your-seat airtime on nearly every hill, powered by a faithfully preserved Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters layout and a style of lap-bar restraint that barely holds you in the train. Once you ride Phoenix, the rankings make perfect sense.

Quick Answer

Phoenix at Knoebels is a 78-foot wooden out-and-back coaster originally built in 1947, relocated from San Antonio, Texas to Pennsylvania in 1985. It is widely regarded as one of the greatest wooden roller coasters on Earth, celebrated above all for its sustained ejector airtime and old-school buzz-bar lap restraints that let you genuinely leave the seat on every hill.

Stats at a Glance

Park: Knoebels Amusement Resort, Elysburg, Pennsylvania | Type: Wooden, double out-and-back (figure-8 layout) | Height: 78 ft (24 m) | Drop: 72 ft (22 m) | Track Length: 3,200 ft (980 m) | Top Speed: 45 mph (72 km/h) | Ride Duration: 2 minutes | Trains: Two PTC trains (yellow and orange), 24 riders each | Restraints: Buzz-bar single-position lap bar | Designer: Herbert Paul Schmeck for Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters | Originally built: 1947 | Opened at Knoebels: June 15, 1985

From San Antonio to Pennsylvania: The Resurrection Story

Phoenix didn’t begin life in Pennsylvania. It opened in 1947 as The Rocket at Playland Park in San Antonio, Texas — designed by Herbert Paul Schmeck and built by Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters, one of the most respected names in the history of wooden coaster construction. At its debut, The Rocket was promoted as one of the largest coasters in the world, boasting 3,200 feet of track and a 78-foot lift hill.

The Rocket ran for more than three decades until Playland Park closed in 1980. Rather than let this piece of coaster history be demolished, Knoebels Amusement Resort — a family-run park in central Pennsylvania — purchased the ride in 1984. What followed was one of the most remarkable preservation projects in amusement industry history. Because no original blueprints existed, workers numbered and cataloged every individual wooden board on-site before disassembly. The entire structure was loaded onto 34 trucks and transported to Pennsylvania, where crews rebuilt it board by board over several months.

The restored coaster reopened on June 15, 1985, rechristened Phoenix — a name chosen deliberately for a ride that had risen from the ashes. Knoebels didn’t simply move the coaster; they preserved its DNA. The track geometry, the pacing, the original PTC trains — all were maintained as faithfully as possible. That commitment to authenticity is central to understanding why Phoenix still rides the way it does nearly 80 years after its original construction.

The Ride Experience: Two Minutes of Airtime

Phoenix’s layout is a double out-and-back, which from above traces a figure-8 across its footprint. After the lift hill, a 72-foot first drop sets the rhythm, and what follows is a nearly unbroken sequence of airtime hills, sweeping turnarounds, and direction changes across two full straightaways. The ride never really lets up.

Midway through, a dark tunnel cuts off your senses just long enough to reset expectations before the second half launches into a double-up element and a rapid-fire finale of bunny hops that pop riders out of the seat in quick succession. The back row is a pilgrimage for enthusiasts — the whip and ejector forces from the rear are noticeably stronger than anywhere else on the train, producing some of the most intense airtime moments on any wooden coaster anywhere.

A night ride raises the experience further. With the tunnel blacking out completely and the airtime hills barely visible ahead, Phoenix after dark is a different animal — which is exactly why the park’s annual enthusiast event centers on exclusive late-night laps.

Why Buzz Bars Change Everything

Most modern roller coasters use ratcheting lap bars or over-the-shoulder restraints that lock progressively tighter as the ride runs, pressing against riders and limiting how much they can actually move. Buzz bars work differently. A single-position bar drops down and stays there — held securely but without the constant downward pressure of a ratcheting system. The result is a meaningful gap between rider and seat on every airtime hill.

On Phoenix, you don’t just feel airtime — you genuinely leave the seat. Repeatedly. For the full two minutes. This isn’t a subtle sensation; it’s the reason enthusiasts who have ridden coasters worldwide still point to Phoenix as a benchmark. The combination of Schmeck’s carefully spaced hill profiles and buzz-bar freedom creates an airtime intensity that modern restraint systems, however safe and sophisticated, largely prevent.

Buzz bars do require riders to hold on and remain aware — they offer more freedom than modern restraints and the ride rewards attentiveness. Knoebels has maintained this system for decades as part of the park’s broader commitment to preserving the classic experience Phoenix was designed to deliver.

Golden Ticket Awards and Enthusiast Recognition

The Golden Ticket Awards, published annually by the amusement industry trade magazine Amusement Today, are the most widely recognized ranking in the theme park world. Enthusiasts from across the globe vote across dozens of categories, and the Best Wooden Coaster title is among the most competitive. Phoenix began a dominant run in this category in 2018 and has won it every year since through at least 2024 — a consecutive streak unprecedented in the modern era of the awards.

That kind of sustained dominance reflects something real: Phoenix doesn’t degrade. Careful maintenance, consistent operation, and the fundamental soundness of a 1947 design that was built to last have kept the ride competitive decade after decade. New coasters rise, catch votes for a season or two, and then Phoenix reclaims the top.

Beyond the Golden Tickets, the American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE) designated Phoenix a Coaster Landmark in 2005 — one of a small number of rides to receive that designation, recognizing both its historical significance and the quality of its preservation. Knoebels itself has also been a multiple Golden Ticket winner for Best Food, cementing the park’s reputation as one of the most beloved in the country.

Phoenix Phall Phun Phest: An Enthusiast Institution

Every October since 1986, Knoebels has hosted Phoenix Phall Phun Phest, one of the oldest coaster enthusiast events in North America. The weekend gathering draws fans from across the country for exclusive night rides on Phoenix, a memorabilia swap meet, and the simple pleasure of riding one of the world’s best coasters in the crisp Pennsylvania fall. At its peak, events like this drew over 1,500 enthusiasts to a park that otherwise holds a few hundred on a quiet afternoon.

Phall Phun Phest running continuously since 1986 — nearly four decades without interruption — says something about both Phoenix and the park around it. Knoebels has cultivated a genuine relationship with the enthusiast community, and the community has repaid that with loyalty that most theme parks can only envy.

Visiting Phoenix: What to Know

Knoebels operates on a pay-per-ride model with free admission to the park grounds — an unusual arrangement that makes it easy to come specifically for Phoenix without committing to a full-day admission. Tickets for individual rides can be purchased, or visitors can buy ride books for better per-ride value. There is no gate fee, no parking fee, and no pressure to stay longer than you want.

The park is in Elysburg, Pennsylvania, roughly two hours from Philadelphia and three hours from New York City. The season generally runs from late spring through October, with Phoenix Phall Phun Phest taking place on a weekend in October — check Knoebels’ official site for the current year’s event dates. Weekday visits typically see shorter lines; summer weekends can see longer waits, though Phoenix’s two-minute cycle keeps things moving.

Seat selection is worth thinking about in advance. The back row delivers the strongest ejector airtime and is where most enthusiasts choose to ride first. The front offers a cleaner view down the first drop and slightly more floater-style lift on the hills. If a night ride opportunity presents itself — particularly during Phall Phun Phest — don’t skip it.

Phoenix at Knoebels FAQs

Why is Phoenix at Knoebels considered one of the best wooden coasters in the world?

Phoenix combines a historically significant 1947 Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters design with buzz-bar lap restraints that allow genuine ejector airtime on nearly every hill. That combination — faithful preservation of a classic layout plus restraints that actually let you feel it — produces an experience that enthusiasts consistently rank above newer and taller coasters.

What are buzz-bar restraints and why do they make Phoenix special?

Buzz bars are simple single-position lap bars that lock at one height rather than ratcheting progressively tighter during the ride. They hold riders safely in the train but leave real room above the seat, allowing you to actually leave your seat on airtime hills. Modern ratcheting restraints greatly reduce this sensation, which is why Phoenix — one of the few coasters still running the original buzz-bar style — feels so different from contemporary rides.

Where did Phoenix come from before Knoebels?

Phoenix was originally built in 1947 as The Rocket at Playland Park in San Antonio, Texas. When Playland Park closed in 1980, Knoebels purchased the coaster in 1984. Workers numbered every wooden board on-site (no blueprints existed), transported the structure to Pennsylvania on 34 trucks, and rebuilt it piece by piece. It reopened as Phoenix on June 15, 1985.

Is there an admission fee at Knoebels?

No — Knoebels charges no gate admission and no parking fee. The park operates on a pay-per-ride system, so you can visit solely to ride Phoenix without purchasing a full-day ticket. Individual ride tickets and ride books are both available.

What is Phoenix Phall Phun Phest?

Phoenix Phall Phun Phest is Knoebels’ annual coaster enthusiast event held every October, running continuously since 1986. It features exclusive night rides on Phoenix, a memorabilia swap meet, and a weekend gathering of roller coaster fans. It is one of the longest-running enthusiast events in North America.

What is the best seat on Phoenix at Knoebels?

The back row delivers the strongest airtime and is the preferred seat for most coaster enthusiasts — the whip through each hill from the rear is noticeably more intense. The front row provides a cleaner view down the first drop and a slightly gentler ride. Either way, a night ride during Phall Phun Phest is considered a must-do by serious coaster fans.

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