Depart: Hershey Lodge, Hershey, Pennsylvania at 9:25 AM.
Arrive: Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom, Allentown, Pennsylvania at 10:54 AM. Distance From Hotel: 76.2 miles. Total distance for trip: 819.4 miles.
I had been to Dorney Park in the past, but it has been a while. The park has changed quite a bit since my first visit. In the early 90's, the park was acquired by Cedar Fair, the owners of Cedar Point. At that time, the park looked quaint, but with definite room for improvement. On this visit, I saw that the little park was growing up. It was still too small to be viewed as a "superpark", but it was now too big to be viewed as "quaint." I feel it was roughly the equivalent of Cedar Point in the mid to late 1970's. If this park grows the way Cedar Point has grown, the folks in eastern Pennsylvania have some fabulous attractions coming their way!
While the park is distinctly different from Cedar Point, Cedar Fair
added a few touches that are distinctly Cedar Fair. For example,
the Red Garter Saloon, Coasters Drive-In, and Camp Snoopy are locations
that can be found in both parks. Cedar Point's "haunted carousel"
from Frontiertown was moved to Dorney, where it provides a fabulous showpiece
just inside the park gates. (For information on the "haunted carousel,"
and the corresponding legend, take a look at the Frontiertown
section of my Cedar Point Virtual Tour.)
One of the antique Toledo scales from the Guessing Game was also moved
from Cedar Point to Dorney. Although it has a different paint scheme,
I can still recognize that scale as the one that was at my location at
Cedar Point in 1990. That one was known as the "ornery" scale, as
it had a tendency to break down far more often than the other scales in
the park. Dorney Park's Thunder Canyon is lots of fun -- while not
as wet as Cedar Point's version, it is more exciting. Another really
neat ride is the Thunder Creek Mountain. This ride is a really unique
water flume ride that is built into a hill, following the park's terrain.
It is an excellent flume ride, and certainly the most memorable one I've
ever experienced.
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Squeak, squeak, squeak. And perhaps even a meow.
Dorney Park presented the third Wild Mouse in three days. While not quite as wild as the Wild Mouse at Hersheypark, this one was still pretty good, with some fine whipping action around the corners on top of the ride. The cars have some nice artwork. While the ride is called Wild Mouse, there are also some cats running around this track. Wild Mouse: Steel mouse coaster built in 2000. Designed by Maurer Sohne. Height: 49 feet. Drop: 25 feet. Track length: 1204 feet. Speed: 28 MPH. |
| It soars through the sky, then it dives for its prey! It's dinner
time, and you're the main course for the Thunderhawk!
Thunderhawk is an enjoyable old coaster. When I first visited the park, this ride had the original loading platform and a unique facade. It was cramped, with the queues being particularly tight, but it was distinctive. I was a bit disappointed to see that the old platform and facade have been replaced, making this old coaster look a bit more modern. In spite of the newer appearance, this ride has been around a long time, and with good reason. It's one of those coasters that proves that bigger doesn't necessarily mean better, as this smaller ride has some fun dips and turns. Thunderhawk: Wood out-and-back coaster built in 1923, redesigned in 1930. Designed by Herb Schmeck. Built by Philadelphia Toboggan Company. Height: 75 feet. Drop: 65 feet. Track length: 2767 feet. Speed: 45 MPH. Ride length: 1 minute 18 seconds. |
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See the Steel. Feel the Steel. Be one with the Steel.
Looming high above Dorney Park, Steel Force is an excellent out-and-back steel coaster, almost as good as Cedar Point's Magnum XL-200. Besides the height, the most distinctive feature of Steel Force is the large helix at the ride's turn-around point. The return trip hops over some camelback hills, giving excellent air time. This coaster makes Dorney Park an essential visit for a true coaster fan! Steel Force: Steel coaster built in 1997, Designed by Morgan Manufacturing. Height: 200 feet. Drop: 205 feet. Track length: 5600 feet. Speed: 75 MPH. Ride length: 3 minutes. |
| Hey, wait a minute! I thought laser pointers weren't allowed
at amusement parks! Oh, I guess it's OK if it is a Laser that's a
ride!
Laser is an older double-looping steel coaster wedged into a small space. The ride almost looks like it could be picked up and moved in one piece. Of course, that would require someone a bit stronger than me. The compactness of the ride is really what makes this one so much fun. The twists and turns are very tight, and come in fast succession, just the way I like 'em! Laser: Steel coaster built in 1979, relocated from Play Center Park in Brazil in 1986. Designed by Schwarzkopf. Height: 93 feet. Track length: 2200 feet. Speed: 52 MPH. Ride length: 2 minutes. Inversions: 2. |
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Did I hear someone call for the strength to move Laser? Well,
then, here I am... I'm Hercules!
Anyone who thinks Cedar Point's Mean Streak is rough doesn't know what rough is until they've been on Hercules! Yeow! This coaster should have a chiropractor waiting at the exit! Ignoring the rough ride, however, Hercules is a neat coaster. The first drop plunges towards a lake, followed by a sweeping turn that seems to skim the lake's surface, providing some fabulous sights. The beauty of that first drop is certainly enough to encourage me to ride this coaster! Hercules: Wood coaster built in 1989. Designed by Curtis D. Summers. Built by Charles Dinn Corporation. Height: 105 feet. Drop: 157 feet. Track length: 4000 feet. Speed: 60 MPH. Ride length: 2 minutes. |
Depart: Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom, Allentown, Pennsylvania at 5:03 PM.
Fuel Stop: 5:34 PM. Distance traveled: 26.2 miles. Trip resumed at 5:39 PM.
Arrive: Comfort Inn, Selingsgrove, Pennsylvania at 7:29 PM. Distance from Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom: 108.3 miles. Distance traveled on Day Seven: 184.5 miles. Total distance traveled for trip: 927.7 miles
This Comfort Inn was nothing special. Although the wallpaper was peeling off the walls in some places, the room was clean, and the beds were comfortable. Getting to Selingsgrove required driving on some very scenic back roads, with lots of ups, downs, and twists -- the drive was almost a roller coaster ride in itself!