Sidewinder (Hersheypark)

Click here to watch the on-ride POV

Sidewinder

Sidewinder in 2020.
Hersheypark Location Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA Status Operating since May 11, 1991
Statistics
Manufacturer	Vekoma
Type	Steel - Shuttle
Product	Boomerang
Hourly capacity	760
Height	116.5 feet
Top speed	47 mph
Length	935 feet
Track inversions	3
Rider inversions	6
Duration	1:48
Rolling stock
Manufacturer	Vekoma (replaced 2011)
Riders per train	28
HELP

Sidewinder is a steel shuttle roller coaster located in Hersheypark in Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA. It is a Boomerang installation from Dutch firm Vekoma.

Hersheypark had to apply for an exception to the local zoning rules to install this roller coaster. It was officially announced in January 1991.

History and General Information

Sidewinder was opened in May 1991. It was the first roller coaster installed at the park since SooperDooperLooper fourteen years before. The ride begins with a lift hill that pulls the train backwards up 116.5 feet before releasing it into a drop that brings it back through the station and into the actual ride. The train goes through three inversions: the vertical loop and a cobra roll. The cobra roll has been described to be very rough on riders due to the wear of the ride. A second lift hill brings the train up the same height as the first, but this time forwards. The train is released and travels the course backwards before arriving again at the station. Sidewinder is located in the Pioneer Frontier section of the park across from Storm Runner and near Trailblazer.

Design

Trains

The train used currently

Single train with 7 cars. In each car, riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows, for a total of 28 riders per train.

In 2011, the original Vekoma train was replaced with a more modern style train also from Vekoma.

Trivia

• During Hersheypark in the Dark, Sidewinder is dubbed Scarewinder.

External links

• 
  Sidewinder on the Roller Coaster DataBase.