Hersheypark Skyrush Update 38.5 (8/28/11)

Hey guys, here’s a quick update.

As we all know, hurricane Irene has been making it’s way up the course and one of the areas affected by it was Hershey. So how’s the Skyrush construction site?

On friday, they cleared out all the construction equipment to higher ground. This morning, as seen from this photo taken by Walter from the Project 2012 group, the creek has reclaimed the construction site. At this point it looks like there are no visible signs of anything being destroyed, just for the creek to be redrained again.

Hersheypark Skyrush Update #38 (8/24/11)

It’s been a while, but time to check out what’s happening at the construction site.

Looks like the construction crew won a basketball.

They were busy drilling more holes to add more footers.

Over by the existing dam they have most of the underground ones done. Time to add the pile.

More progress is being made on the Comet-side of the creek.

It looks like  they may have the outer-most footers close to being done.

There’s no sign that a creek used to run through this construction site.

This view is going to be rare in a few month’s time.

As is this one.

Over by the Comet, these are almost done.

Keep in mind that they also need to add a path through here as well.

So where’s the creek? It’s running through those drainage systems down there. They completely covered them in dirt, but I have a feeling Hurricane Irene may give them a workout this weekend.

Another one ready for concrete.

Looks like they accidentally took out a tree.

Also take note that they ripped out the wall that ran along the creek as well. You can still see a small existing section above the generator.

Taking a break on the job.

But yeah, it’s hard to believe how much has changed in the last several months.

This would’ve been on the edge of the creek.

Downstream, more work is going on.

Looks like they struck rock.

…and a construction fence has been removed. Yay.

One of the footers for the third high-speed turn is starting to go in.

Here are the rest for that turn.

Now you can almost reach out and touch it.

I figure that they are very close to creating the lift hill footers based on the amount of rebar they have used on this one.

From the looks of the construction site, it looks like they are close to being 3/4ths of the way done with the footers in this area.

It has already been confirmed that Tilt-A-Whirl will not be open for Halloween and it could be possible that it could close after Labor Day.

With the possible hurricane coming, I really hope that it doesn’t push construction back too much. It’s been hard to find out how much of an impact it will have on the area, but I’ll go and possibly check the site after the storm.

Hersheypark Skyrush Update #37 (8-18-11)

It’s a small update, but it will have to do until next week, which will be hopefully a little bigger.

You would think by now that most of the footers would be pour and ready by now, but there’s still many more to go.

 

Looks like the creek problem has been fixed.

Lots of work starting to happen along the creek next to Comet.

Footers: they are everywhere.

Hersheypark Skyrush Update #36 (8-15-11)

This brief breaking news update comes from Kirk Spoonangle and Cody Risko from the Project 2012 Facebook group as well as myself.

Ladies and gentlemen, the track has arrived…

Photo by Kirk Spoonaugle

ALL THESE PHOTOS COURTESY OF CODY RISKO.

 

 Photos by Cody Risko

 

 

I’ll try to make it out in the next day or two to get a construction site update (since we haven’t done one of those for awhile). Stay tuned!

Hersheypark Skyrush Update #35 (8-10-11)

It looks like progress may have reversed a little this week from the flooding we’ve had on Sunday. It seems the coffer dam broke a little and the creek tried to reclaim the construction site. Take a look at gb980109′s new update:

I took a walk by the creek today and got a few pictures. It’s worth noting that they had to dig up part of the coffer dam because of the heavy rains last weekend that caused Comet Hollow to flood a bit. They redirected the creek back into where they were before.

On the brightside, it looks like we got somewhat of a taste on how some of this area will look like once the lake is filled back up again. Hopefully this won’t push them too far behind schedule and can get this cleaned up as soon as possible.

Hersheypark Skyrush Update #34 (8-2-11)

This is it! The first Skyrush construction update that’s not called Project 2012! Let’s get down to business and check out what the construction site looks like on it’s announcement day.

A few days before the announcement we discovered on some Army Corps. of Engineers blueprints, which were found on their website, that a new pathway connecting Rhineland and Comet Hollow will be built. It will travel under Comet’s first drop here (Sidenote: Over 60 years ago this opening was used by the park’s old Miniature Railway until it was removed in the early 70′s.), run along side the creek offering great views of Skyrush, then connect the path that used to lead over to Creekside Catering.

See this thing next year in a different spot.

Won’t be long for this to fade into Hersheypark history.

There are now windows for your viewing pleasure cut into the construction wall. I know I will use these frequently over the next few months into Halloween and Christmas.

These windows offer a VERY good view of the construction site.

Here’s the other side on where that path is going to come out. It will make it easy for guests to get to Skyrush, Comet, Looper and Great Bear, but it will also help greatly at closing at allowing a 2nd way to get up to the main gate and make crowds lighter in Founder’s Circle at this time.

There’s a good amount of footers ready and waiting for concrete.

They have also diverted the creek again, but this time  it’s flowing through those small pipes.

Down towards the dam, more footers are going up.

These windows offer a great new view of Comet.

The pump has returned to get the rest of this water out before they can start work on the otherside.

Here’s the whole construction site.

Time for some photos from along Park Blvd.

That’s a big dump truck. Maybe it can secretly hover?

Here’s a view of the other side of the viewing fence.

The park’s oldest existing coaster.

Hard to imagine that Skyrush’s peak is going to be out of the picture at the top. It’s going to dominate Comet.

The walls along the creek are also going to be redone so don’t worry.

Shouldn’t long until this thing goes vertical in this area at this rate.

The ride is going to interact with 3 other coasters in this area.

I’ll leave you with this great shot taken near where Skyrush’s first drop is going to be of the Comet.

Also to note, it has been discovered by a fellow member that Tilt-A-Whirl may close a little after Labor Day. It may then go into the shop for it’s winter rehab a bit earlier than other rides then be added to Founder’s Circle for 2012. Because of this, it is said that Tiny Tracks may then close after Christmas Candylane and then go into storage for next season. It is likely that Comet Hollow will be closed for Christmas, but Halloween is a little unknown.

Hersheypark Announces Skyrush: the park’s 12th Roller Coaster (8-2-11)

Introducing the true face of Attraction 2012: Skyrush. This 12th scream machine is sure to delight all the thrillseekers who visit Hersheypark in 2012. Some of the keypoints of the ride is it’s 200 foot tall 50 degree angled lift hill, 85 degree frist drop (only 5 degrees off of being completely vertical!), top speed of around 75mph, 5 airtime-packed hills and numerous zero-g turns.

But the most eyecatching thing is going to be the trains. These will be hybrids, which means that the center two seats in the row will have a floor and the outer two will be floorless by only being attached to the train by an arm.

Along with Skyrush, Comet Hollow will recieve a facelift more theming focused towards the park’s yesteryears. A new path will run from Rhineland to Skyrush’s entrance on the current site of Tilt-A-Whirl, which will close around Labor Day. Don’t worry, it will be back next year at it’s pre-1993 location in Founder’s Circle where Tiny Tracks is (which will close after Christmas and be put in storage). Come after Labor Day, we should see things starting according to a few sources in Comet Hollow.

Well ladies and gentlemen, the coaster may have been announced, but the construction updates won’t stop here (not by a long shot). We are heading into a fun offseason watching Skyrush go vertical and then we’ll witness the opening of this flying creature in Memorial Day Weekend 2012. As of this post, only 296 more days to go.

To view the official Skyrush information page, go here: http://www.hersheypark.com/skyrush_2012/index.php

To discuss this coster in our forums, go here: http://keystonethrills.megabb.com/t319-skyrush-official-discussion-thread

To view the photos from the announcement, go here: http://keystonethrills.megabb.com/t318-breaking-news-our-skyrush-photo-coverage-from-the-announcement

The photos posted above can be found on the HersheyPA press room found here: http://images.hersheypa.com/image_archive/lightbox_viewer.php?i=4550&r=0vml7vfc

We should have our first ever named, Skyrush Construction Update posted sometime soon. Be sure to check back!

 

 

Hersheypark Attraction 2012 Update #33 (8-1-11)

This is probably the last update to be called Attraction 2012 until the official name is given. Gb980109 has the honor of doing this update.

C11L/1

C12L/1

C19L/1

C19R/1

C29L/1

C32/1

C43R/1

C52R/1

C53L/1

C57L/1

C71L/1

C75/1

C81L/1

C106/1

These are not all of the pictures I have of the poles…so go check them out! For more pictures click here!

And now…the construction!

Not too much has changed from the other day. They’ve nearly completed the temporary coffer dam, and they were doing some work on the temporary dam by Comet. Some more footers are about to be poured while others are curing.

A peek behind the fence…

More windows today…

 

 

 

Tomorrow is the day that’s been 10 months in the making. Keystone Thrills will be at the park tomorrow covering this important milestone. Stay tuned!