Vintage Hersheypark in 1981

Just did some googling and came across the following link that shows small video clips around Hersheypark and Hershey's Chocolate World during the off-season of 1981:

http://www.efootage.com/clip_list.php

Some things I've noticed:

-Hersheypark Place was named "Tudor House"
-Hersheypark Chocolate House has its old paint scheme.
-Hershey Museum's exterior has a different paint scheme.
-There is a different welcome sign by the tram circle.
-Giant Wheel and Sky Ride are present in a few clips.
-Ride's Office building and small rink are present from monorail ramp.
-Monorail ramp doesn't feature the light blue color scheme of today.
-Take notice besides no Storm Runner that there is also no Trailblazer Catering. The area was still Kid Stuff/Kaptain Kid's Cove.
-The Chocolate World's tour ride is mainly the original 1973 version with some minor changes and pluses.
-Chocolate World's shopping area is mainly huts with straw roofs.
-Take notice of Chocolate World's different building exterior. There is no enlarged lobby or 3-D show.

If you click through the clips, some of the Chocolate World ride clips have sound to them so you can get a better feel of the ride's narration from the original version. Thought this was all interesting to take a trip back in time and compare the same areas from then to today. Let me know what you think.

Here are some of the clips that I found interesting. You have to type "Hershey Park" in the search bar and all the different clips will show up.

http://www.efootage.com/stock-footage/64967/Entrance_To_Hershey_Museum_Of_American_Life/
Hershey Museum

http://www.efootage.com/stock-footage/64964/Tudor_House_-_Hershey_Park/
Tudor House

http://www.efootage.com/stock-footage/64963/Tudor_Square_And_Chocolate_House_-_Hershey_Park/
Tudor Square

http://www.efootage.com/stock-footage/64962/Hershey_Park_Entrance_-_Chocolate_Town/
Tram Circle with different sign

http://www.efootage.com/stock-footage/64970/Roller_Coaster_At_Hershey_Park/
Comet

http://www.efootage.com/stock-footage/64971/Roller_Coaster_At_Hershey_Park_-_2/
Trailblazer area

http://www.efootage.com/stock-footage/64969/Amusement_Park_At_Hershey_Park/
Monorail ramp looking towards Comet Hollow

http://www.efootage.com/stock-footage/64949/Chocolate_Processing_Plant_Replica/
Chocolate World Tour Ride /w/ sound

http://www.efootage.com/stock-footage/64950/Replica_Of_Chocolate_Processing_Plant/
Chocolate World Tour Ride /w/ sound

http://www.efootage.com/stock-footage/64951/Replica_Of_Chocolate_Processing_Plant_-_2/
Chocolate World Tour Ride /w/ sound

http://www.efootage.com/stock-footage/64956/Chocolate_World_Visitors_Center/
Chocolate World original exterior

http://www.efootage.com/stock-footage/64960/Chocolate_Shop_At_Hershey_Park/
Chocolate World original shopping area with huts.

Very nice find! Definitely a little trip back in time. Not everyone gets to see the place like this, so it's great someone kept the memories alive!
I really enjoyed the Tour clips, and seeing the exterior shots as well.

Once again, great find. The videos took me back a bit.

what herhseypark.com use to be: http://web.archive.org/web/19980702081837/http://www.hersheypark.com/

I love the prices page:

Regular Admission
Regular (ages 9-54)........................$29.95
Junior (ages 3-........................$26.95
Senior (ages 55+).......................$26.95
Children (ages 2 and under).....FREE



I could buy a 3-day flex ticket for the price of a single day admission now:
Three Day Flex Ticket
Visit HERSHEYPARK for ANY 3 days this season:
Regular (ages 9-54)........................$55.95
Junior (ages 3-........................$41.95
Senior (ages 55+).......................$41.95
Children (ages 2 and under).....FREE



To be fair, let's raise the 1998 price by inflation:
$29.95 becomes $39.86, that means that the the rides added from 1999-2011 added $14 to the ticket price.

$14 a day for:
Fahrenheit
Lightning Racer
Roller Soaker
Storm Runner
Wild Mouse
Waterpark

Not a bad deal if you ask me!

I second that! What was parking back then...like $3.00?

Those prices sure would be nice right now! At least with a season pass the parking is free.

technocolor wrote:what herhseypark.com use to be: http://web.archive.org/web/19980702081837/http://www.hersheypark.com/

Very interesting! I don't remember it too well back in '98, but I sure like the Great Bear image on the left.

i am sure many of you have watched this video from '76. But this is one of my favorite youtube videos.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgDUbWJI2Bo

Here are some vintage Hersheypark photos from 1974:

http://vintagevacationphotos.com/vacation.cfm?vacationid=60&startphoto=1

From what I've noticed:

-Giant Wheel is present and with multi-colored cabins.
-Skyview's gondola's are multi-colored.
-Carrousel Circle appears so open.
-Note the Blacksmith in front of the Craftbarn
-There is no Hospitality Services building in Rhineland. The photo of the current Hershey Sports store building in Rhineland appears to have shown a space where the future Hospitality Services building would be built.
-The dancing water fountain show is present alongside the creek where Great Bear's Immelmann is located today.
-The Bug is present where the Wave Swinger is today.
-The Animal Garden is open
-The Dry Gulch Railroad's station is located on what is now the midway leading towards the current train station, Pirate and the Claw.

I just love looking at photos of vintage Hersheypark. I wish there would be more photos of the park in the first few years as it was a theme park.

thing i notice the most is the arenas roof is in really bad shape

vw87tech wrote:i am sure many of you have watched this video from '76. But this is one of my favorite youtube videos.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgDUbWJI2Bo

I like the Comet's natural color and 2 tone trains!!! Also, that train cutout from the entrance is still in the maint. shop and getting refurbed for deployment back outside once again! (10 seconds into the video)