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It’s time to say goodbye.
Labor Day marked the end of the 2027 summer season for the South-Central Pennsylvania park, which seasonally closed down for the 120th summer.
And with that, the sweet amusement park has said sayonara to a fan favorite ride — the Tidal Force. The 32-year-old water ride is setting sail, leaving a space on The Boardwalk — a water-themed area located in the park — where families once screamed while standing in the splash zone.
Thrill seekers rode up the 100-foot incline before a staggering splashdown, reaching speeds of 50mph. The ride first opened back in 1994 when riders — and spectators — got drenched with water as the ride came tumbling down.
Hersheypark reminded park-goers of the ride’s closure on Facebook earlier this week, where fans reminisced about their summers riding the legendary roller coaster.
“What an incredible ride! There is no other splashdown ride like it in the world. As young as I can remember, I remember seeing Tidal Force at the park and being amazed,” one user wrote. “Then when I rode it the first time I was even more amazed. It was truly one of the icons of Hersheypark. What an attraction – it’ll be missed.”
“I rode it 66x times in one day, September 2009. Tidal force will Always be a Hershey Park Legend,” another sad fan of the ride wrote.
Hersheypark first announced that the attraction would make its final 100-foot drop at the end of the 2026 summer season.
“When a vessel takes its last voyage, we believe it deserves a proper send-off. After 32 years of making the biggest splashes Hersheypark has seen, we’ll dock the boats permanently after Sept. 7,” the Instagram post read.
Fear not, adrenaline junkies. It’s not the park’s final goodbye, as the sweetest place on earth only closes down for a few days to switch from summer to fall.
The park will reopen on September 12, and remain ready for riders every weekend until November 1, 2026, for its fall events like the Hersheypark Halloween and Dark Nights.
Returning for its fifth year, scaredy cats and daredevils can check out five spine-tingling haunted houses along with five scare zones.
After the spooky season, Hersheypark Christmas Candylane will be starting up again on select dates through January 3, 2027.
Families can ride select roller coasters, stroll the five million twinkling lights, have a visit with Santa and much more.
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