Candymonium Core Facts and Ride Specifications
Candymonium is a steel hypercoaster at Hersheypark in Hershey, Pennsylvania, designed by Bolliger & Mabillard and built by Chance Rides as part of the park's 2018 expansion. The ride reaches a height of 210 feet, a drop of 210 feet, and a top speed of 76 mph, making it the tallest and fastest coaster at Hersheypark and one of the tallest coasters in the United States. The project was announced by Hershey Entertainment & Resorts in 2017, with construction starting in 2018 and the ride opening to the public on July 3, 2018. Candymonium is classified as a hypercoaster because it exceeds 200 feet in height, and it features a cable lift hill, airtime hills, and a curved drop element. The ride accommodates up to 24 riders per train in four cars with six riders per row, and the total track length is approximately 5,000 feet. The investment was part of Hershey Entertainment & Resorts' broader strategy to increase park attendance and extend average guest stay duration, which directly supports the company's resort and entertainment revenue segment. For background on the company's structure, see the Hershey Company overview on Forbes at The Hershey Company.
The ride's layout begins with a left-hand turn out of the station, followed by a 210-foot cable lift, a sharp right-hand drop, a camelback airtime hill, a banked turnaround, and a final brake run. The structure uses steel tubular track and supports, with the lift hill and first drop towering over the park's Skyrush area. The project cost was not disclosed by Hershey Entertainment & Resorts, but industry estimates for Bolliger & Mabillard hypercoasters of this scale typically range from $20 million to $30 million, depending on site preparation and theming. Candymonium's theming uses a candy and chocolate wrapper aesthetic, consistent with Hersheypark's brand identity, though the ride itself is not directly tied to a specific Hershey product. The attraction is located in the Pioneer Frontier section of the park, near other thrill rides such as Skyrush and Fahrenheit, and it was designed to complement the existing lineup of high-speed coasters.
Construction, Engineering, and Economic Impact
Candymonium was engineered by Bolliger & Mabillard, a Swiss-based roller coaster design firm known for hypercoasters such as Leviathan at Canada's Wonderland and Orion at Kings Island. The construction was managed by Hershey Entertainment & Resorts in coordination with Chance Rides, which supplied the trains and lift system. The project required significant site preparation in the Pioneer Frontier area, including grading, foundation work, and reinforcement to support the 210-foot structure. The park remained open during construction, which required phased work to minimize disruption to guests. The ride's opening was part of Hersheypark's 2018 season, which saw the park operate under Hershey Entertainment & Resorts, a publicly traded company under the Hershey Company umbrella. The economic impact includes increased ticket revenue, higher per-guest spending on food and merchandise, and extended hotel stays at Hersheypark's on-site resorts. For details on Hershey Entertainment & Resorts' public filings, see the SEC page at SEC EDGAR Hershey Entertainment & Resorts.
The ride's engineering highlights include a cable lift system that