Enthusiasts knew the name of Hersheypark's new coaster well ahead of time, but that didn't keep the park from unveiling the name and logo.

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HERSHEY- On August 5, 2003, Hersheypark announced that the world’s first hydraulic launch coaster, featuring inversions, would debut at the Park for the 2004 season. At that time, park officials also launched a contest to name the new ride and asked the public to pick from three choices and vote for their favorite name.

The three names the public had to choose from were: Steel Stampede, Renegade, and Storm Runner. Three months and more than 46,000 votes later, the winning name is… Storm Runner! Here’s how the voting went: Steel Stampede- 12,097 votes; Renegade- 15,868 votes; and Storm Runner- 18,398 votes.

Storm Runner brings the “herd” of coasters at Hersheypark to a “perfect ten!” Built by world-renowned Intamin AG of Switzerland, the new high-speed coaster will accelerate from 0 to 72 miles per hour in approximately 2 seconds! Climbing a nearly vertical incline to a height of 150’ then plummeting approximately 180’ at a 90° angle, the new coaster weaves its way through nearly four and one half acres on 2,600’ of steel track.

Interacting with three Hersheypark rides: Monorail, Dry Gulch Railroad, and The Trailblazer, Storm Runner will also cross over Spring Creek twice. Featuring a dual rider loading/unloading operation, the new ride’s station house is located in the Pioneer Frontier area of the Park.

Coaster lovers will be treated to several customized, unique elements: Top Hat (150’), Power Drop (approximately 180’), Cobra Loop (135’), Barrel Rolls, and a dramatic Flying Snake Dive.

Storm Runner features two trains, 20 passengers per train for a theoretical ride capacity of 1,200 riders per hour. Ride time is approximately 60 action packed seconds!

Click here for the announcement, information on the ride, and construction pictures.