Coal Cracker

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Coal Cracker Type: Flume Ride Manufacturer: Arrow Dynamics Status: Open Opened: 1973

Coal Cracker is a classic Hersheypark hydroflume ride. The ride was installed by Arrow Dynamics in 1973, making it the oldest water ride at Hersheypark still in daily operation. It has a unique layout, due to the terrain features of this part of the park.

Riders are seated in 12-foot boats for the 3 and 1/2 minute ride inside an over 2,000-foot water channel.^[1] Once the fiberglass boat has ascended the first lift hill, riders are only 55 feet off the ground. A second lift brings you above the Twin Turnpike ride, preparing you for the final 35-degree, 45-foot drop.

The water supply for the ride is pumped in through pipes connected to a 14,000-square foot, man-made lake. This lake is quoted as having the capacity to store 100,000 gallons of water, and the pump system can handle approximately 25,000 gallons a minute.^[1]

The Coal Cracker includes ride photos, produced and sold by GTP.

[edit] Trivia

• The exit for this ride was changed to accommodate the Great Bear in 1998.
• The original ads for the ride included the phrase "Get Cracking."
• This ride uses a turntable to load passengers while the boats are moving. In Hershey, Pennsylvania, there are only two other rides that load like this: Canyon River Rapids, and Hershey's Chocolate World's tour ride.
• This is the only water ride in the park on which guests are not permitted to wear open-toed footwear or swimsuits. Full normal attire is required.

[edit] References

1. ^ ^{a b} Hershey's Guidebook, Western Publishing Company, 1974.