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Hershey and all it's area attractions are closed today. Hersheypark will be closed all this weekend. From the HP website:

According to their facebook page, Knoebels is reporting that they have suffered extensive damage and will not open this weekend.

I saw a photo of that Pizza Hut!!! So sad!!! Wasn't up to the roof, but close, at least 6-8 feet of water in the place. I drove right by that place at 9:30 this morning and everything was normal. Found out classes for me were cancelled and drove that way again at 11am and the underpass had water ponding under the bridge and all the exits were closed (let me point out that it still wasn't flooding in that area. Saw that photo several hours later and I was absolutely shocked! I live 1 mile from that and let me say that the area, if you're driving, is like a maze. As for the park, the creek is touching Storm Runner, Trailblazer looks to be underwater, and as for the construction site... here's a video I found:

Brand-new construction update! http://keystonethrills.wordpress.com/2011/09/05/hersheypark-skyrush-update-39-9211/ By the way, they're starting to dig a big hole for the footers on the drop-side of the lift hill. I plan on heading back over sometime during the week to get some photos of the construction from Park Blvd.

I don't think, judging from the looks of the layout, that the track will be going through any part of the Comet (maybe a little down at the far turnaround, but that's only the lateral supports. But the lift will go over Comet's first drop, over the last turn towards the station and over the station itself. As for taking the charm out of Comet Hollow, I think it might create a new, good feeling for the area and let it have a theme. I do have to wonder though if this had anything to do with the plans from back in 1996 when the park talked about making Comet Hollow Midway America instead.

It's possible, yes, but that would add about $200-$300 onto the trip, and would going there/not going there really make or break the trip for you? For me it wouldn't matter if we didn't go there, but if it was open, then it's not big deal. After working during ECB this year and seeing first-hand how much fun it was, it really made me want to partisapate in doing this. Time to save up some money.

All the track looks safe and has survived the storm. Here's what the construction site looked earlier today (photo taken by Darrell from the Project 2012 group:

Here's a brand-new Skyrush construction update posted on the Keystone Thrills Blog: http://keystonethrills.wordpress.com/2011/08/25/hersheypark-skyrush-update-38-82411/ A lot of work going on the Comet-side of the creek (well, let's just call it a valley for now ). It's cool to think that there's going to be a gravel path going through there.

A B&M giga? The lift structure should be interesting to see (if they don't go with the standard structure).This is going to be very interesting...

It was nice to meet you at Sooperdooperlooper that evening. Looks like the backstage tour was great and I thought I remember hearing that they still had the old Sidewinder train. By the way, it's actually a 5-phase plan.

Here's a brand-new construction update from one of my members at KT. Unfortunately, because of the flooding that we recieved on Saturday night the construction site flooded. http://keystonethrills.wordpress.com/2011/08/10/hersheypark-skyrush-update-34-8-10-11/

For those wondering what the lift speed will be in MPH, it works out to be approximately 18mph (17.7 to be exact). To put it this way, El Toro's cable lift is 13.5mph, Millenium Force's is 15mph, and Intimidator 305's is 15mph. In other words, going from the steepness of the lift and the angle of the first drop, it looks like there might be some great airtime at the top of the lift in the back seat!

And I was attending on the unloading side for Lightning. It was great to finally meet all and I had just about as much fun as you did. Now I know for sure i want to sign up for one of the events or trips in the near future!

I'll be working Lightning Racer ERT tomorrow night! For all of you attending, be sure to stop say hello. -Chris

I know they did something like this last year during my high school Physics Day and had everyone go no farther than the Screamin' Swing at 9:30, then opened the ropes at 10am. Also: Yes that brief two seconds of weightlessness is cool, but still. The ride hurts a lot enough to make those seconds not worth a re-ride.

I recieved a Jr. Researcher email! I seem to be representing the sweetest place on earth.

Having ridden it last year and this year I have to say it has tremendously improved this year. 75% of the ride was re-tracked and besides being slammed twice, it ranks up there with Comet at Hersheypark as far as smoothness goes. It just needs to be painted now.

Speaking of Google, they were at the park a few weeks ago with their camera bike when I was there. Looks like they might be adding Dorney to Google Streetview. It went past me around Thunderhawk and later inside WWK on that midway with the food stands near the older wavepool. If I show up on it I'll post where I am.

I'm going so expect a recording and photos of the announcement.

They are also doing a public event in Comet Hollow at 12:12pm. Definately going to this one.

Sorry, that was me. I walked over earlier to go to use the restroom and saw it. I was occasionally glancing over to see how many people would see it. Went I went over to Tilt-A-Whirl I stopped along the way to fix it.

You might be able to take a city bus to the bus terminal in Harrisburg, then take another to Hershey. If you stay at a resort hotel, Hershey might provide transportation from the airport (I remember reading this in a guide book awhile ago and I don't know if they still do this. You might want to check). I know a faster route from the airport. Take the Airport Connector to Route 283 and go on East 283. Go past one exit and get off at Vine St. At the traffic light, turn left and travel on Vine St. for about 2 to 3 miles until you get to Rt. 322. Get on 322 East and exit on Hersheypark Dr. It's about 10 minutes from start to finish. Hope this might help.

To be on the safe side, you might want to wait until late May (after Memorial day) or early June to ride this thing given that the park has never opened anything new before Memorial Day for the last couple of years. Good to see them using the .gif picture clues again. I love those.

I really don't know at this point. I may just do 2011 for the time being.

A new construction update featuring some strange new footers have been posted on the Keystone Thrills Blog: http://keystonethrills.wordpress.com/2011/07/13/hersheypark-project-2012-update-29-7-13-11/ Low to the ground turn maybe?