HPCrazy's Hersheypark collection from 1995 to 2000

[HPCrazy]

Hey, just figured since I will be going to the park tomorrow for my annual summer trip, I thought it would be cool to kick it off with some scans of some old photos that I have from previous trips to the park beginning in 1995 and going up through 2000. Let's get started shall we:

 

CHRISTMAS CANDYLANE 1995:

 

The main entrance back when they actually outlined it with Christmas lights. I'm guessing as they began to expand further into the park, they recycled some of the lights as the main entrance gate is currently no longer outlined during Christmas Candylane.

 

Hmmm we didn't have Milton yet, but we had two gigantic toy soldiers dominating the entrance into Candylane.

 

 

HERSHEYPARK 1996:

 

I want some Dunkin Donuts! Oh wait....the Dunkin Donuts isn't there, nor will it be for another eleven seasons.

 

Remember Comet Hollow BEFORE Great Bear?

 

The first GCI woodie to ever debut in all of its splendor!

 

How about that big splash....an nothing else around it.

 

Let's take a ride on the Dry Gulch Railroad. Wait a second, we don't have an Intamin rising into the heavens about our peaceful train journey.....

 

 

Now let's take a drive around the park. Hmmm, I wonder where everything is? Wait, our beloved GCI woodie IS the only everything that exists....for right now.

 

More scans are coming in a minute!

[HPCrazy]

HERSHEYPARK 1998:

Sure, a new constillation may have landed in Hershey, but let's take a look at some other things:

 

Walking back out to Midway.

 

Haven't seen a milennium flyer fly past me yet. Hmm...I guess we have to wait for two more seasons.

 

What's here now? How about an ENTIRE Boardwalk!

 

 

More of our beloved GCI woodie.

 

 

HERSHEYPARK 1999:

A county fair has set up shop within the park, bringing us five brand new rides.

 

And here you go, the Hersheypark Fair, that is!

 

I don't see those duelling lift hills back there yet.

 

 

Frog Hopper in its proper location.

 

Some Wild Mouse madness.

 

 

 

How about some 1999 aerials to bring back some memories.

 

 

HERSHEYPARK 2000:

Looks like some lightning and thunder are in the forecast for the new millennium.

 

Remember the old parking entrance? Well, there you go!

 

Look, no water play structure to obstruct the view.

 

Lightning Racer overview. For all of you CRR enthusiasts, you'll be happy to see that it's there and better than ever with the new "Canyon Pass" behind it.

 

 

And I leave you with two remembered rides that will never be forgotton - GIANT Wheel and Cyclops.

 

Expect my update from tomorrow sometime either on Monday or Tuesday evening. Enjoy the pics!

[Wood Dragon 1988]

Pretty neat pics there. Hershey Park has really added so much over the past few years.

[Josh Linn]

Great pics.

 

It's amazing how empty the back part of the park was when Wildcat first opened. It seems kind of separated from the park. I remember going in '96 but don't remember it being like that.

[HPCrazy]

Thanks guys! Yeah, I remember when Wildcat opened. It was for my "end of the year" 6th grade trip. Even in 97 when the Ferris Wheel, Whip and Famous Familgia's Pizza were added, it seemed like they were in an open field compared to the rest of the park. I also think Flying Phil's Photos has some 1997 aerials that show this from a distance.

[ctriceman]

I remember riding Lightning Racer on it's opening weekend, there was a bad thunderstorm there the first Saturday. The Wildcat/LR midway seems so much more jam packed now with all those water rides in there.

[HPCrazy]

I know what you mean. When I was there Sunday, you could even hear them playing the announcements for Coastline Plunge amongst the Big Band era music while walking past Coastline Plunge's tower, almost across the midway from the Fun Slides. Too bad they had to remove two flats for this new area. The area next to the Whip would have been an ideal location to re-locate one of those two rides, especially Rodeo.

[Lenaapple1974]

THAT, was really cool! What a difference even ten years made! I have only been to HersheyPark once so far, so I do not know the entire layout by heart like some (as a matter of fact, I was quite confused the looking at the map the first time out). I really enjoy looking at parks I have been to back in the day! Thank you so much for sharing that!

[HPCrazy]

If you go to my "Hersheypark - June 7th, 2009" update that I just posted here yesterday, you will see an aerial photo that I took that shows the SEA-qual, as well as Midway. I think it's cool to compare the two shots to see how much has changed.

 

Thanks all for the wonderful comments! I thought I would post some of these older pics to see what you all would think and since we've been seeing alot of recent pics lately, I thought it would be cool to step back in time and reflect back on the rides, attractions and surroundings that we all fondly remember the park by. I've studied the history of the park so much within the last ten years or so, and it's so interesting to see how it grew from a small public park to a world-class amusement park!

[deguy123]

Great Photos! I love Hersheypark, I actually have 6 pictures from 1974 that I have to scan. In a few pictures the Comet is not painted white and the Twin Taboggons are shown in them.

 

Im heading there Sunday....can't wait.

[HPCrazy]

Thanks for the comments guys! I never really thought I would get this much of a response on these older pictures!

 

To deguy123, I'd love to see your old Hershey photos sometime! The park's history just fascinates me so very much! Did you also see my 6/7 PTR from this past Sunday? That may give you a little preview on what to expect with the SEA-qual.

[deguy123]

Thanks for the comments guys! I never really thought I would get this much of a response on these older pictures!

 

To deguy123, I'd love to see your old Hershey photos sometime! The park's history just fascinates me so very much! Did you also see my 6/7 Photo TR from this past Sunday? That may give you a little preview on what to expect with the SEA-qual.

 

Yeah I have them ready but just need to remember to go somewhere to scan them. I need to get a scanner for home it seems because I have a bunch of park photos from years ago. Yeah I saw the TR.....but I will be snubbing the SEA-qual...lol...