Hersheypark: Park Update: 4/11/11

3 more days until opening day and to count down, I will periodically post my photo updates in sections up until Saturday. Here's the first section of the update: Tram Circle.
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So thus begins another offseason update, but thankfully this one will be the last one for awhile.

Let's start off with the brand-new solar panel covered walkway out in front of Chocolate World. I can tell that parking spots under this are going to be at a premium. It kept my car cool in the 80 degree heat.


It reminds me of what some of the European parks are doing as far as offering shaded parking.


The trashcans are out, the flowers are in the planters, and it's not 30 degrees out: let the season begin.


From this angle it still looks like February.

That's it for now! Next up are a few photos taken of Comet Hollow and Minetown.

That roof reminds me of a gas station - lol! Asuumingly if it's popular enough, maybe they'll expand on the concept. I love the park in the spring, so colorful and alive. I thought you'd post more but I see that you're making it sort of like an introductory to the new season. Good idea.

Update: Comet Hollow and Minetown
Lets take a look and see what's happening in the Great Bear area of the park.

This kind of puts into perspective on how crowded this area of the park is. You can hardly see the midway.


Everything looks ready to go here.


Moving up to Coal Craker, just about everything looks like it's been put back together, although I could hear them working on the first lift.


Hopefully this is the last year they will need to refurbish it. They've been doing this since 2008, I think.


The Sprotscars for Twin Turnpike are already out on the track.


Great Bear looks ready for the weekend.


Almost looks like new. Does it come with a car air-freshner? lol

That's it for the 2nd section. Coming up tonight is the first part of the Zoo America update, then further on we'll take a peek at Pioneer Frontier and Tudor Square.

They've been refurbishing Coal Cracker since the end of the 2006 season. I think they still have another off season to go.

Yeah I think you're right on that one. I never really began to follow it until around 2008. That's when the entire second drop was removed. I don't know what else they have to do yet for it to be under refurbishment again in another off-season.

Update: Zoo America Part 1

Quite a few more animals were out and about on this visit such as the Otters, bears and alligators and crocs.

For an 80 degree day, the zoo was very empty, which suitted this small rattlesnake.


Protect your nuts...


This chipmunk was oblivious that I was only 5 or so feet away.


Moving on to my favorite exhibit, the Red-Tailed Hawks were acting a little strange.


You can only imagine what they are both thinking....


Nesting perhaps?


These bobcats remind me so much of my family's cat at home.... just about the same size (I am not joking).


Yep.

That's it for Part 1. I'll post the 2nd part of Zoo America tomorrow morning and photos of Pioneer tomorrow night.

I really like the new roof structure. I normally park on the grass around Chocolate World when I go there and not the park, and this roof looks nice. Not that I would go premium and park under it - I'm fine with the grass. But I like the changes going on!
Nice update

Congratulations, you have survived the 2011 offseason. Let's finish up the update!

Final Part: Zoo America, Pioneer and Tudor Square


I have never seen this guy off this perch.


They seem too busy napping.


The Black Bears have woke up from their hibernation...


Well, not all of them. This one wakes up in stages probably. lol


It's a goose. That's the best caption I can give...


Meh. Hawks are better in my opinion.


Must be hot out.


Mmm... Twisty.


No, it hasn't been painted yet...


Ready for dispatch.


It hurts that its 80 degrees out, Storm Runner's trains are in the station and the park isn't open.


This will be year that I get my Roller Soaker credit.


The Flying Snake Dive: the longest name for a coaster inversion.



Nerd Shot.


I saw only one train for Looper, but it probably won't need the second one for Springtime.


Let's move over to Tudor Square...

Concert signs are up.


The flowers are coming in nicely.


Hmm... I wonder what it could be? (sarcasm)


Welcome to Hersheypark Place. They were better off keeping it Tudor Grill. At least it would've had some more creativity in my opinion.


I'm hoping the interior we be better than it's name.


This would be awesome if the park was actually open.


But as far as Hersheypark Place, it looks like they maybe done since there were no construction vehicles parked out in front of it. But then again, it may have been their day off.


But for the most part, the flowers are blooming, the trees are sprouting, and the coaster trains are parked in their stations...


Welcome to the 2011 coaster season...


Time to ride.


That's it for the update. We have a good amount of people planning on attending our 2nd Keystone Thrills Meet-Up on Sunday and we hope to see you there!

Wish I could meet up with you guys this weekend. Looks like you'll be getting the same weather I would always get going to STITP! Wet.. but at least not 40 degrees.

I love the concept of the solar powered parking roof thing but it DOES look like a gas station roof. Speaking of PA gas stations.. someone really needs to start opening Sheetz in Florida ASAP. The roof concept is pretty awesome though and I have no problem with that like I do with..

Hersheypark Place.. didn't they have a naming contest for that? Ugh.. if I knew there was only one entry I would have thought for 10 minutes and came up with a better name.

Maybe we'll catch up with you sometime during the summer. Just let me know whenever you plan on being in the area and maybe we can hit Hershey and do some riding. Ah, the joys of a season pass, can't wait to use it for the first time this weekend!

By the way, Chris and I both made up checklists of who all will be in attendance and as of now we have around 14 people attending, a huge boost from the October meet-up. Hopefully the Ride Institute of Technology will pay us another visit since the games haven't started yet. Expect a full PTR from me, as well as a video commemorating the days events sometime in the next week!