Headlines about Hersheypark shutting down are describing the end of its summer season. The park reopens for weekends Sept. 12. One ride is genuinely gone.
Hersheypark is not closing.
Its 120th summer season ended Monday, which is normal for a seasonal park in Pennsylvania. Weekend operations resume Sept. 12 and run through Nov. 1.
What did close, permanently, is Tidal Force.
What is Tidal Force?
A shoot-the-chutes water ride that soaked people for three decades.
Boats climbed a 100-foot incline before dropping into a splashdown that pushed past 50 mph, drenching riders and anyone standing on the bridge below.
It opened on The Boardwalk in 1994 and ran 32 years.
Monday, Sept. 7, was its last day.
Why is Tidal Force closing?
Hersheypark has not said.
The park announced the retirement in June and never gave a reason. It has also not announced what will replace the ride.
Amanda Polyak, the park’s public relations manager, told LancasterOnline that Hersheypark is always planning and exploring ways to enhance the guest experience, and that future plans will be shared when appropriate.
For now, The Boardwalk has an empty space where the ride stood.
What did Hersheypark say about the closure?
The park posted a farewell on social media Sunday.
After 32 years, it said, it was time for Tidal Force to set sail, inviting guests in for one last ride through Monday.
An earlier post framed it as a vessel taking its final voyage and deserving a proper send-off.
Is Hersheypark open in the fall?
Yes, every weekend from Sept. 12 through Nov. 1.
Two events run simultaneously. Hersheypark Halloween operates during the day for families. Dark Nights, the horror-themed event, takes over after dark.
Both are included with standard admission. Fast Track access and tasting passes cost extra.
Most weekends follow the same pattern. Fridays run 5 to 10 p.m. with Dark Nights from 6 to 11. Saturdays run noon to 10 p.m. with Dark Nights 6 to 11. Sundays run noon to 9 p.m. with Dark Nights 6 to 10.
Which rides stay open in the fall?
The major coasters keep running.
Wildcat’s Revenge, Candymonium and Skyrush all operate during fall and winter windows, subject to temperature and weather.
Water rides and slide complexes close as temperatures drop, which is standard for the region.
How long has Hersheypark been around?
Since 1906.
Milton Hershey built it for his chocolate factory employees, and it grew into the largest amusement park in Pennsylvania.
The 2026 season opened April 3 with seven spring weekends before shifting to daily operations May 21. Summer admission covered more than 70 attractions, including 15 roller coasters, The Boardwalk water park and ZooAmerica.
The park’s King Size Shakes hit their 10th anniversary this year.
Why do regional parks close for the season?
Weather and economics.
Unlike Walt Disney World or Universal Orlando, parks in the Northeast face winters that make outdoor operation impractical. Closing daily service lets crews perform maintenance, refurbish attractions and service rides before spring.
The seasonal shutdown is why headlines about a park closing tend to alarm people who do not follow regional parks. It happens every year.
What happens to the Tidal Force space?
Nobody outside Hersheypark knows.
Crews were expected to begin dismantling the ride after Monday’s closing. Park management has kept plans quiet.
Speculation among enthusiasts runs toward a modern water coaster, an expanded splash area or a new themed section, though none of that comes from the park.
Major ride retirements at regional parks are often followed by a replacement announcement within a year. Disney has run the same pattern at Magic Kingdom, where Villains Land and Piston Peak National Park are rising on the former Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island site.
Hersheypark has not committed to a timeline for any announcement.
Article compiled with the help of the Pirates & Princesses newsroom.
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Hat Tips:
Inside the Magic, the Sept. 6 farewell post, the ride specifications and the fall weekend schedule
Disney Dining, the full Hersheypark Halloween and Dark Nights operating hours
Parade, Amanda Polyak’s statement to LancasterOnline and the original June announcement
Attractions Magazine, the season structure, attraction counts and the King Size Shakes anniversary
TAMPAcrit, the fall coaster operations and the dismantling timeline
PennWatch, the original social media announcement language
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