Candymonium

Candymonium is a steel roller coaster located at Hersheypark in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Designed by Bolliger & Mabillard, the ride was announced in 2018 and opened on July 3, 2020. It was introduced with a newly-themed section of the park called Hershey's Chocolatetown.

Candymonium
Candymonium on its final airtime hill
Hersheypark
LocationHersheypark
Park sectionChocolatetown
Coordinates40.2863°N 76.6590°W / 40.2863; -76.6590
StatusOperating
Opening dateJuly 3, 2020 (2020-07-03)
General statistics
TypeSteel
ManufacturerBolliger & Mabillard
Track layoutOut and Back
Lift/launch systemChain Lift Hill
Height210 ft (64 m)
Length4,636 ft (1,413 m)
Speed76 mph (122 km/h)
Inversions0
Duration2:26
Max vertical angle77.3°
Height restriction54 in (137 cm)
Trains3 trains with 7 cars. Riders are arranged 4 across in a single row for a total of 28 riders per train.
Must transfer from wheelchair
Candymonium at RCDB
Pictures of Candymonium at RCDB

History

On October 3, 2018, Hershey Entertainment and Resorts revealed their "biggest announcement ever": a new 23-acre (9.3 ha) section of the park named Chocolatetown, as well as a new entrance plaza, both of which would open in 2020. The anchor attractions were scheduled to include a roller coaster, as well as a new shopping area and a fountain, built at a cost of $150 million.[1][2] The new coaster was planned to be a hypercoaster, over 200 feet (61 m) tall, which required approval from the Federal Aviation Administration.[3] According to the filing with the FAA, the coaster was to be, at most, 220 feet (67 m) above ground level.[4] The approval was later granted.[5]

In July 2019, Hersheypark officials announced that the new roller coaster would be called Candymonium, marketed as the "world’s sweetest coaster".[6] According to Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company CEO John Lawn, "the coaster was a key ingredient to the entire Hershey’s Chocolatetown". By that time, the first few track pieces and part of the station had been built.[5][7]

In an Instagram post in October 2019, Hersheypark posted an image showing that construction on the lift hill was partially complete.[8] In November 2019, Candymonium topped out when its lift hill was installed.[9][10] The final track piece was installed in February 2020, though a opening date had not been announced at that time.[11] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Pennsylvania, construction on Chocolatetown was delayed in April 2020,[12] though construction resumed the next month[13] and the first test train on Candymonium ran on May 6, 2020.[14] Candymonium officially opened on July 3, 2020.[15][16]

Characteristics

Track

The ride is 4,636 feet (1,413 m) long with an initial drop of 210 feet (64 m).[5][17] The track is colored chocolate brown with milk-white supports and contains seven camelback hills.[2][18] Trains reach a maximum speed of 76 miles per hour (122 km/h).[5][17]

Trains

The three trains represent three Hershey’s candies: Reese’s, Kisses, and Twizzlers.[2][17] Each car seats four riders in a single row for a total of 28 riders per train.[19]

Ride experience

Layout

After leaving the station, the train immediately ascends the 210-foot (64 m) lift hill. After reaching the top, it enters a 210-foot (64 m) drop, in which the train reaches at a top speed of 76 miles per hour (122 km/h).[19] Then, the train ascends and descends a 169-foot (52 m) airtime hill over Spring Creek.[19] After the hill, the track reverses direction via a Hammerhead turn. Traveling over another camelback hill, there is a series of airtime hills as the track travels back above Spring Creek before making an upward helix to the right and a leftward bank. The train then travels over another airtime hill and down onto a 270-degree left turn. The train then dips slightly and then rises into trim brakes before curving to the right, downward and up into the final brake run.[19][20]

References
  1. "Hersheypark's 'biggest announcement ever': $150 million expansion will include biggest coaster yet". PennLive.com. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
  2. "Chocolatetown | 2020 | Hersheypark". www.hersheypark.com. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
  3. Adams, Sean (September 13, 2018). "A new roller coaster might be coming to Hersheypark in 2020 -- and it might be the biggest one yet". pennlive. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  4. "Form 7460-1 for ASN 2018-AEA-8203-OE". oeaaa.faa.gov. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  5. Gleiter, Sue (July 24, 2019). "Hersheypark unveils its tallest, fastest, longest roller coaster, Candymonium". pennlive. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  6. "Hersheypark unveils its newest roller coaster — and it's a big one". WPMT FOX43. July 24, 2019. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  7. "Hersheypark announces Candymonium hypercoaster for 2020". Attractions Magazine. July 25, 2019. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  8. Adams, Sean (October 9, 2019). "Hersheypark shares photo of new Candymonium roller coaster construction". pennlive. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  9. "Video: Hersheypark tops off newest roller coaster". WGAL. November 6, 2019. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  10. "GALLERY: Construction continues on Hersheypark's newest roller coaster, Candymonium". WPMT FOX43. November 5, 2019. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  11. "Hersheypark places final track piece for Candymonium". Theme Park Insider. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  12. "Hersheypark's new roller coaster construction is on hold: here's what we know about the park's opening". pennlive. April 7, 2020. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
  13. "Construction on Hersheypark's Chocolatetown expansion resumes". pennlive. May 4, 2020. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
  14. "Hersheypark test runs new Candymonium roller coaster for first time". pennlive. May 6, 2020. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
  15. Adams, Sean (July 2, 2020). "Candymonium POV: Here's what it looks like to ride Hersheypark's biggest, fastest roller coaster". pennlive. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  16. "The brand new hyper-coaster Candymonium has opened at Hersheypark". ABC27. July 2, 2020. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  17. "Hersheypark 'unwraps' new Candymonium coaster set for 2020". WHP. CBS21 News. July 24, 2019. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  18. "Hershey Park introduces its new roller coaster, Candymonium". WTAE. July 24, 2019. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  19. Marden, Duane. "Candymonium – Hersheypark  (Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 9, 2017.
  20. Alvey, Robb (July 2, 2020). "Hersheypark Candymonium Roller Coaster Front Seat POV". Theme Park Review. YouTube. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
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