News: The Boardwalk at Hersheypark

Posted at 4:27 PM EDT (2027 GMT)

May. 20th, 2007 -- HERSHEY, PA – When chocolate magnate Milton S. Hershey opened Hersheypark in 1907, he envisioned a “picnic and pleasure grounds” for his employees and the people of Hershey. In those days, guests enjoyed rowing in canoes on Spring Creek.

Now, 100 years later, the Park is opening a new kind of water-play area, The Boardwalk at Hersheypark, to delight current and future generations of Park visitors.

On Saturday, May 26, at 10 a.m., a dozen Hershey’s Product Characters will lead guests in a parade from the Park’s front gates to the entrance of The Boardwalk at Hersheypark to debut the Park’s new water-play area. “Fun in the sun” will take on a whole new meaning when the world’s largest water-play structure, East Coast Waterworks, springs to life with more than 50,000 gallons of water; 600 interactive buckets, geysers, and tipping cones; seven bridges; and two crawl tunnels.

The centerpiece attraction of the new Boardwalk area, East Coast Waterworks is comprised of 62 tons of steel, stands seven stories high and proudly bears a banner that reads, “The Seashore At Your Door,” a reminder of the name affectionately given by Mr. Hershey to a former swimming pool inside the Park.

The Boardwalk is a tribute to the legendary boardwalks and beaches of the Northeast, including Atlantic City, Coney Island, Ocean City and Rehoboth Beach. Combining the best of family vacations – a trip to the seashore and a visit to an amusement park – The Boardwalk at Hersheypark is a $21 million enhancement, the biggest financial investment in the Park’s history.

The five new attractions occupy about 4.5 acres. Three existing attractions – Tidal Force, Roller Soaker and Canyon River Rapids – also have been included in the new Boardwalk area within the Park, which comprises a total of 8.5 acres.

New food, games and entertainment that are reminiscent of the boardwalks in the shore towns of the Northeast will give guests even more reasons to smile.Admission to the Boardwalk is included in Park admission, which also includes entry to ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park.

The grand-opening fun will continue all weekend long with performances by long-time Hersheypark favorite band Pentagon in the Amphitheatre on Sunday, May 27. Show times are 2, 4 and 6 p.m. and are included in Park admission.