Happy National Roller Coaster Day! With Hershey Park’s newest roller coaster, today is the perfect opportunity to get out of the house and have some fun for the day at the amusement park. 

NRCD is observed every year on August 16th because it’s believed that this date was when the very first vertical loop roller coaster was patented by Edwin Prescott back in 1898.

Just 100 years after the opening of Hershey Park, it was time for the Wild Cat coaster to go. Except, they didn’t completely get rid of the infamous ride. Instead, they turned it into something better than ever: “Wildcat’s Revenge.” The All-New Hybrid coaster will soar at 62 miles per hour, reaching 140 feet in the air with an 82-foot drop. 

“Sometimes the rides can be a little repetitive since I’ve been on them so many times”…“I’m ready for something new,” said Tessa Reese, an upcoming junior at Hershey High School. 

Due to the lively energy of Hershey Park, it’s no surprise that kids and adults have both been excited during this summer season (even on the hottest of days nearing the end of August).

“I love just spending time with my friends or family at amusement parks,” said Tulsi Patel, a Hershey High School student. 

With summer ending very soon, it’s the perfect opportunity to go to Hershey Park. On August 16th, 2022, visitors were gifted an additional free meal when purchasing a meal if they bought a ticket, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Hershey Park did a similar deal for this year’s National Roller Coaster Day. 

In order to hit all of the park’s best rides, it’s all in the timing, to which many agree. 

“Night is the best time to go to the park because it’s cooler, and the vibe completely shifts when it’s dark out. Overall it’s just more fun”, says Reese. 

On the other hand, Naomi Tanjung, an upcoming junior at HHS says ‘mornings are better’ for spending time at the park. “For me, it’s more so the experience of having fun with my friends.”

With 15 coasters (and, hopefully counting), Hershey Park is one of the best amusement parks in the US, according to US News. Especially now that Hershey Park has a whole new roller coaster, visitors who want to get the ‘Hershey Park Happy’ experience will be pouring in worldwide. 

With over 3 million people visiting the park every year, according to York Daily Recor,, there’s no surprise that the new ride’s business will be booming. Living in the city that Hershey Park originated in, it only makes sense to embrace it and take advantage of the fact that it’s practically in our backyards! 

Having 3 different season passes, the amusement park’s amenities can range from as little or as much as you want. The Bite-Sized Pass is $158 which holds unlimited visits during the operating season, as well as 50% off general parking fees. The Full Size pass is $180 which consists of unlimited visits all year, free parking, 15% off food, drinks & retail, exclusive events, 1-hour early access, and more! Last, but not least, the King size pass is $230, and the ultimate game-changer of a pass allows you to be one of the firsts to ride on Wildcat’s Revenge, have free drinks all year, and multiple one-time tickets for anyone you’d like to bring along. 

National Roller Coaster Day is a big hit in Hershey Park, so tell your friends and family all about it. The more, the merrier! What better way to celebrate the day than to run around the park, ride coasters, and float down the lazy river? Going to Hershey Park with some of your favorite people and riding roller coasters sounds perfect.