Skyrush

Skyrush
Hersheypark
Park section The Hollow
Coordinates Coordinates: 40°17′06″N 76°39′00″W / 40.28500°N 76.65000°W / 40.28500; -76.65000
Status Operating
Opening date May 26, 2012 (2012-05-26)
General statistics
Type Steel
Manufacturer Intamin
Designer Werner Stengel
Model Wing Coaster[1][2]
Track layout Twister
Lift/launch system Cable
Height 200 ft (61 m)
Drop 212 ft (65 m)
Speed 75 mph (121 km/h)
Inversions 0
Duration 1:00
Max vertical angle 85°
Capacity 1350 riders per hour
Height restriction 54 in (137 cm)
Trains 2 trains with 8 cars. Riders are arranged 4 across in a single row for a total of 32 riders per train.
Skyrush at RCDB
Pictures of Skyrush at RCDB

Skyrush is an Intamin prototype Wing Coaster with winged seating at Hersheypark in Hershey, Pennsylvania. It opened to the general public on May 26, 2012. Skyrush is Hersheypark's 12th roller coaster, and its third coaster made by Intamin. Skyrush features a 212-foot (65 m) cable lift (measured to the creek floor) that raises the train at a 17-mile-per-hour (27 km/h) rate. Skyrush has yellow track and light blue support columns. Skyrush's trains are the first of their type in the world. Each train weighs 13 tons. In each car, two seats are positioned over the track and two seats hang over the sides of the track, inspiring Skyrush's tagline "Ride the Edge". Skyrush's top speed is 76-mile-per-hour (122 km/h). The ride achieves a maximum of 5 g's just at the bottom of the first drop. The ride's highest negative g-force is -2 g's on the second airtime hill. The coaster is located in The Hollow section of Hersheypark, next to the Comet and SooperDooperLooper, and the ride itself is mainly set above Spring Creek. In October, when Hersheypark is decorated in a Halloween theme (Hersheypark in the Dark), the ride is dubbed "Scarerush." Skyrush is the tallest roller coaster in the plot of land containing the layout of Skyrush.

History

The attraction was proposed to Derry Township on August 17, 2010.[3] The attraction was described as reaching a maximum height of 212.6-foot (64.8 m) .[3] In a subsequent meeting, the park shared a potential blueprint of a roller coaster.[4]

Preceding the announcement of the ride, Hersheypark engaged in a viral marketing campaign to promote the attraction (called "Project 2012" - see the sections below). The campaign released concepts about the attraction in a series of clues, though none of them were officially confirmed. However, certain things came out from governmental sources, due to the attraction's interaction with Spring Creek, a creek that runs through the park. It includes work in and around the creek,[5][6][7] the mentioned diagram,[4] as well as a potential name of the ride, Skyrush.[8]

Part of Skyrush's track

Skyrush was announced on August 2, 2011,[9] in the Comet Hollow section of Hersheypark, approximately where the station of the ride will be.[10] An on-board POV video of the ride was shown,[11] as well the announcement of the name, Skyrush. The ride will reach a maximum height of 212 feet (65 m), drop 200 feet (61 m),[12] reach speeds of approximately 75 miles per hour (121 km/h),[12] with a 3,720-foot (1,130 m) long track. The coaster will have trains that are of extended width of the traditional 2-across Intamin trains with two additional seats that hang off the width of the chassis, allowing guests to "ride on the edge." [12] The other two Intamin coasters in the park: Fahrenheit and Storm Runner, have the two across trains. Each train weighs 13 tons when empty.

By August 15, 2011, bright goldenrod painted pieces of single and double spine Intamin track began to appear at the park for the coaster's construction. Then in December 2011, the park added a webcam of the ride construction on their official website to allow park fans and roller coaster enthusiasts to watch the progress.

On May 2, 2012, Hersheypark began testing Skyrush with water dummies and opened Skyrush to the public on May 26, 2012, attracting many more guests than usual at Hersheypark.

Skyrush closed early in the 2012 season due to a maintenance issue and stood standing but not operating (SBNO). The ride reopened April 6, 2013.

Project 2012 campaign

Further information: Project 2012 (Hersheypark)

Hersheypark's marketing department had a viral campaign called Project 2012 in coordination with the announcement of Skyrush. The game began in October 2010 and concluded in August 2011, shortly after the ride's announcement.

Awards

Golden Ticket Awards: Top steel Roller Coasters
Year2012201320142015
Ranking 42[13]26[14]26 (tied)[15] 25[16]
Mitch Hawker's Best Roller Coaster Poll: Best steel-Tracked Roller Coaster[17]
Year20122013
Ranking 75[18]

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Skyrush and Skyrush construction.

References

  1. ↑ "Wing Coaster". Intamin. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
  2. ↑ "Wing Coaster - A seat on the Edge". Intamin. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
  3. 1 2 Malawskey, Nick (August 18, 2010). "Hersheypark's 'new marquee attraction' to be in Comet Hollow". The Patriot-News. Retrieved July 28, 2011.
  4. 1 2 Malaswkey, Nick (April 20, 2011). "Hersheypark uses website to release clues about next mystery project, code named "Attraction 2012"". The Patriot-News. Retrieved July 28, 2011.
  5. ↑ "PA Bulletin Doc No. 10-2463b/E22-570: Hershey Entertainment and Resorts". The Pennsylvania Bulletin. December 2010. Retrieved July 28, 2011.
  6. ↑ "Public Notice In Reply to Application Number CENAB-OP-RPA-2010-00631-P23 (Hershey Park Maintenance Dredging)" (PDF). US Army Corps of Engineers. August 2010. Retrieved July 29, 2011.
  7. ↑ "Public Notice In Reply to Application Number CENAB-OP-RPA-2010-00631-P23 (Hershey Park Maintenance Dredging)" (PDF). US Army Corps of Engineers. February 2011. Retrieved July 29, 2011.
  8. ↑ "Latest Status Info". United States Patent and Trademark Office. July 2010. Retrieved July 28, 2011.
  9. ↑ "Hersheypark to debut it's 12th Coaster in 2012 Season" (Word document). Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company. August 2011. Retrieved August 2, 2011.
  10. ↑ "Attraction - Site Plan". Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company. August 2011. Retrieved August 2, 2011.
  11. ↑ "Skyrush - The 12th Coaster At Hersheypark!". Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company. August 2011. Retrieved August 2, 2011.
  12. 1 2 3 "Skyrush Fact Sheet" (Word document). Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company. August 2011. Retrieved August 2, 2011.
  13. ↑ "Top 50 steel roller coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 16 (6.2): 36–37. September 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 2, 2015. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  14. ↑ "2013 Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 17 (6.2): 34–35. September 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  15. ↑ "2014 Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 18 (6.2): 46–47. September 2014. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  16. ↑ "2015 Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 19 (6.2): 49–50. September 2015. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  17. ↑ Hawker, Mitch. "Steel Roller Coaster Poll 13 Year Results Table (1999–2013)". Best Roller Coaster Poll. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
  18. ↑ http://www.ushsho.com/steelrollercoasterpollresults2013.htm
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