Roller Soaker
A script text of "Roller Soaker" is seen in pink lettering curving from bottom left to top right within a oval frame. The text runs along a blue track, with water being sprayed by two Hershey Chocolate characters, a Hershey kiss and Hershey chocolate bar.
Pictured is one of the Roller Soaker cars traversing the suspended track's layout. Below people observe the track hanging overhead, with a water geyser spraying water at the ride's car. The roller coaster's station is featured in the background.
A car traversing the roller coaster's route
Hersheypark
LocationHersheypark
Park sectionThe Boardwalk
Coordinates40°17′29″N 76°39′11″W / 40.29139°N 76.65306°W / 40.29139; -76.65306
StatusRemoved
Opening dateMay 11, 2002 (2002-05-11)
Closing dateSeptember 3, 2012 (2012-09-03)
CostUSD$7.5 million – $8 million
Replaced bySprayground
Breakers Edge Water Coaster
General statistics
TypeSteel – Suspended
ManufacturerSetpoint Inc.
ModelSwing Thing
Lift/launch systemChain lift hill
Height70 ft (21 m)
Length1,300 ft (400 m)
Speed20.5 mph (33.0 km/h)
Restraint StyleLap bar
Trains9 trains with a single car. Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 4 riders per train.
Roller Soaker at RCDB

Roller Soaker was a suspended roller coaster at Hersheypark in Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States. Manufactured by Setpoint Inc., the roller coaster was announced on August 8, 2001, and opened to the public on May 11, 2002. The Roller Soaker was located in the Boardwalk section at the park and cost $7.5 million to $8 million to construct. In December 2012, Hersheypark announced that the Roller Soaker would be removed to make way for new water attractions in 2013. The roller coaster's station was reused by Breakers Edge Water Coaster, a water coaster added in 2018.

The Roller Soaker was the second Swing Thing model to be built by Setpoint Inc., following the Flying Super Saturator at Carowinds. The roller coaster reached a maximum height of 70 feet (21 m), with a maximum speed of 20.5 miles per hour (33.0 km/h), and a total track length of 1,300 feet (400 m). The encompassing section of the Roller Soaker featured various interactive water elements, such as water sprayers as well as geysers and fountains. Upon opening, the roller coaster received generally positive reviews.

History

Prior to the construction of what later became the Roller Soaker, Hersheypark had built a wooden roller coaster named Lightning Racer, which began operating in May 2000 as the park's eighth roller coaster.[1] Planning for the new attraction began two and a half years before its opening.[2] The park chose Setpoint's suspended roller coaster model based on a visit by Hershey executives to Carowinds, an amusement park in Charlotte, North Carolina, where the Flying Super Saturator was located.[3] The park liked the concept of the suspended roller coaster, as it would appeal to a wider guest demographic, instead of trying to entice visitors through constructing taller or faster roller coasters as other theme parks were.[2] The roller coaster was redesigned eight times throughout its planning process as to navigate around obstacles within the park and existing utilities.[4]

The park announced on August 8, 2001 that it would add a new roller coaster for the 2002 season. The attraction would incorporate elements of a water ride and a suspended roller coaster. The roller coaster would interact with the nearby Canyon River Rapids and park visitors through various water stations. Plans for the attraction were being finalized during the announcement with an expected opening date of May 2002. A contest was held to determine the roller coaster's name.[5][6] Seven thousand entrants submitted 10,000 names; the park ultimately selected the name "Roller Soaker", which was announced at the roller coaster's groundbreaking ceremony.[7][8]

Construction of the Roller Soaker began in November 2001.[2] The park planned to open the Roller Soaker the day after the majority of water rides opened for the season.[9][10] A media day was hosted for the Roller Soaker on May 7,[4][11] later opening to the general public on May 11 during the park's 95th operating season.[2][12] Along with the roller coaster, the park constructed a gift shop, lockers, and restroom. In addition, the plaza included a children's area.[2]

Rumors of the Roller Soaker's sale began to spread when it was listed on the attraction e-commerce website "Rides4U" in August 2012.[13][14] A park spokesperson later refuted the listing, stating another company inquired about obtaining the roller coaster but the park did not want to sell.[15] The Roller Soaker closed on September 3.[12] In December, the park announced that the Roller Soaker would be replaced after 10 years of operation.[16] In the same month, Aycock Construction began demolishing the Roller Soaker, replacing it with a 5,000-square-foot (460 m2) sprayground for the 2013 season.[13][17] The Breakers Edge Water Coaster, which opened in May 2018, reuses the Roller Soaker's station.[18]

Characteristics

The roller coaster was located in the northwest region of the park in the Boardwalk section, near Lightning Racer and Canyon River Rapids.[2][16] The Roller Soaker and accompanying water features covered 2 acres (0.81 hectares).[2] The station of the roller coaster was designed by local architect Nathan Fry, and crafted with materials already at the park.[19] Along the roller coaster's layout were several water effects that would interact with riders. On the roller coaster were three water curtains, with automatic geysers and fountains that would shoot from the ground.[4][20] Guests could use various colored water sprayers,[21] 16 of which to aim towards riders.[2][20]

The Roller Soaker was a custom designed Swing Thing model manufactured by Setpoint Inc.[12][21] The Roller Soaker was the second Swing Thing model to be built after the Flying Super Saturator.[4][22] The suspended roller coaster's steel, tubular track had a length of 1,300 feet (400 m).[2][12] The roller coaster reached a maximum height of 70 feet (21 m) and reached a maximum speed of 20.5 miles per hour (33.0 km/h).[12] The Roller Soaker navigated through several wide turns, taking about a minute and a half to complete.[4][11] The track was colored a light blue with the supports a sandy yellow.[20] The Roller Soaker was the park's first attraction to feature characters that depicted Hershey products.[20] It cost around $7.5 to $8 million and was the ninth roller coaster in operation at the park.[3][20]

To conserve water, the park used its own well water and reused around 75 to 85 percent of drained water.[20][23] Recycled water and rain water would be filtered before being reused. An underground storage tank could contain 9,000 US gallons (34,000 L) of water for the attraction.[2][11] The roller coaster operated with 9 cars that navigated the route. There were four riders per car that were arranged in two rows with two seats across each.[12] The two rows were configured back-to-back with two facing forward and two backwards.[3][20] Each car featured a lap bar restraint system and with each car being able to swivel.[6] Each rider was given 4 US gallons (15 L) of water, totaling 16 US gallons (61 L) of water for each car.[9][12] The water could be dropped from the car on park visitors with a lever pull.[2][3]

Reception

The Roller Soaker's station is seen with overhanging Hershey character's refilling the ride vehicle's water. Guests waiting in the queue line observe the roller coaster.
The Roller Soaker's loading area with buckets being refilled

Upon opening at the park, the Roller Soaker received generally positive reviews from guests and critics. Lyford M. Moore, writer for the Courier-Post, recorded visitors' reactions to the Roller Soaker, with some visitors enjoying the roller coaster's water features, and some noting how much they got soaked.[3] Moore also compared the timing of pulling the ride's water lever to a "fighter pilot lining up a target", as landing water on guests was challenging.[3] Jeff Cronin, a reporter for The Sentinel, detailed the frequent water features along the course of the roller coaster that gave "a good dose of water every few seconds" which would soak riders.[4] Cronin also observed the prominent views the ride gave of nearby attractions and the park.[4] Jane Holahand, a writer for the Lancaster New Era, described the roller coaster ride experience as a mild form of the nearby inverted roller coaster, Great Bear, highlighting the Roller Soaker's first drop and seemingly fast-paced turns.[11] Holahand further described the water portion of the experience similar to a "car wash with the top down", with ponchos being of little help, expecting visitors to get drenched.[11] Randy Kraft, a writer for The Morning Call, remarked about the simple layout that will get riders wet. Kraft also pointed out the backwards ride experience being more of a thrill while getting less soaked and the forward experience for its first drop.[20]

See also

  • Canopy Flyer, another Setpoint Swing Thing model roller coaster

References

  1. ↑ Holahan, Jane (August 8, 2001). "Hershey adds interactive water coaster". Lancaster New Era. p. 4. Retrieved August 26, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Kolus, Howard (May 12, 2002). "Soaking Up The Fun". Lebanon Daily News. pp. 1B, 4B. Retrieved August 26, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 M. Moore, Lyford (June 21, 2002). "Riders get thrills and splashes". Courier-Post. p. 14T. Retrieved August 26, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Cronin, Jeff (May 8, 2002). "Reporter: Park ride truly wet and wild". The Sentinel. pp. A1, A4. Retrieved August 26, 2002 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ S. Ross, Timberly (August 9, 2001). "Amusement park to add water coaster in 2002". Lebanon Daily News. pp. 1, 4. Retrieved August 26, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. 1 2 Cronin, Jeff (August 9, 2001). "Water roller coaster coming to Hersheypark". The Sentinel. pp. A1, A4. Retrieved August 26, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ "Man who named ride 'Roller Soaker' wins prizes in Hersheypark contest". Press Enterprise. November 10, 2001. p. 3. Retrieved August 26, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ Kraft, Randy (November 11, 2001). "Roller Soaker". The Morning Call. p. F4. Retrieved August 26, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. 1 2 Staff (April 12, 2002). "Ready to roll". York Daily Record. p. 2. Retrieved August 26, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ Staff (April 25, 2002). "Hershey, Sesame welcome summer crowds". The Daily Journal. p. 8. Retrieved August 26, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 Holahan, Jane (May 8, 2002). "Drenched: Hershey unveils aptly named Roller Soaker". Lancaster New Era. pp. A1, A4. Retrieved August 26, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Marden, Duane. "Roller Soaker - Hersheypark (Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved August 26, 2022.
  13. 1 2 Gleiter, Sue (December 20, 2012). "Hersheypark will replace Roller Soaker with sprayground". The Patriot-News. Archived from the original on April 17, 2022. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  14. ↑ John (August 22, 2012). "Hersheypark's Roller Soaker For Sale". Coaster101. Retrieved August 26, 2022.
  15. ↑ "Website mistakenly reports Hersheypark's Roller Soaker is for sale". Daily Local News. August 24, 2012. Archived from the original on August 27, 2022. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  16. 1 2 Gleiter, Sue (December 19, 2012). "Hersheypark announces Roller Soaker water ride to be removed". The Patriot-News. Archived from the original on August 27, 2022. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
  17. ↑ Alexander, Larry (December 20, 2012). "Hershey: Roller Soaker out, more water attractions in its place". Sunday News. pp. B1, B2. Retrieved August 26, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ↑ Shaw, B. Derek (July 2018). "The Boardwalk at Hersheypark adds mat racer, water coaster" (PDF). Amusement Today. 22 (4): 23.
  19. ↑ Wolf, Susan (November 11, 2001). "All wet about his latest project". Lebanon Daily News. p. 15A. Retrieved August 27, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Kraft, Randy (June 2, 2002). "Larks in the parks". The Morning Call. pp. 63, 65. Retrieved August 26, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ↑ Marden, Duane. "Flying Super Saturator - Carowinds (Charlotte, North Carolina, United States)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
  22. ↑ "Environment". Funworld Magazine. 22 (1–6): 58. 2006.
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