SooperDooperLooper
| SooperDooperLooper | |
|---|---|
 Sooperdooperlooper's train cresting over a hill | |
| Hersheypark | |
| Location | Hersheypark |
| Coordinates | 40°17′11″N 76°39′13″W / 40.28639°N 76.65361°W |
| Status | Operating |
| Opening date | July 4, 1977 |
| Cost | $3 million |
| General statistics | |
| Type | Steel |
| Manufacturer | Anton Schwarzkopf |
| Designer | Werner Stengel |
| Model | Terrain Coaster |
| Lift/launch system | Chain lift hill |
| Height | 75 ft (23 m) |
| Drop | 70 ft (21 m) |
| Length | 2,614 ft (797 m) |
| Speed | 45 mph (72 km/h) |
| Inversions | 1 |
| Duration | 1:30 |
| Capacity | 1175 riders per hour |
| Height restriction | 42 in (107 cm) |
| SooperDooperLooper at RCDB | |
The SooperDooperLooper is a looping roller coaster at Hersheypark. It was designed as a terrain coaster by Werner Stengel, and built by Anton Schwarzkopf.
Elements
- Vertical loop
- 165-foot (50 m) tunnel
- Double-up
Rider experience
The train leaves the station and immediately makes a slight right turn before proceeding up the lift hill. At the top of the lift hill, the train makes a 180 degree left turn with a small dip, descends a long gentle drop, then enters the vertical loop. It then makes a long, ascending sweeping left turn that travels through the middle of the loop. Next, it traverses a gentle right curve which includes a short tunnel. The ride concludes with a series of bunny hills and a 540-degree right-hand helix. The trains on the SooperDooperLooper seat 2 riders in each row, with each individual rider having their own locking lap bar to hold them in place. This design differs from most other looping roller coasters because it lacks an over-the-head restraint. The tunnel that occurs part-way through the ride used to contain an animatronic spider that would drop down towards the train and scare the riders. The ride opened with three trains, but due to low ridership currently runs with only two.[1]
Additional information
The ride was considered a "walk-on" by enthusiasts due to lines normally not exceeding 2–3 minutes, until the ride received two new trains in the year 2012.
SooperDooperLooper is located in the Hollow section of the park, across from Skyrush.
In October, when Hersheypark is decorated in a Halloween theme (Hersheypark in the Dark), the SooperDooperLooper is dubbed the SooperBOOperLooper.
For the 2012 season the original Schwarzkopf trains were replaced by trains manufactured by Gerstlauer. The trains were installed by Ride Entertainment Group, who handles all of Gerstlauer's operations in the Western Hemisphere.[2][3] The brakes were also replaced with a magnetic braking system.
An On-Ride Photo was installed prior to the 2014 season.[4]
References
- ^ Hershey Community Archives
- ^ "Gerstlauer busy in 2011". Park World Magazine. 29 December 2010. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
- ^ "Projects". Ride Entertainment Group. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
- ^ http://gtpcorp.com/about/
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