Hersheypark

Plans are afoot for what could be a major expansion of Hersheypark.

"We are currently working through various concepts both internally and with a retained theme park master planning consultant," said Garrett Galllia, Hershey Entertainment & Resorts spokesman, in an emailed response to questions about future possible expansion on the former Parkview Golf Course land.

Now that the Park Boulevard realignment bordering Hersheypark was completed last fall, Hershey Entertainment could look toward expansion on the land remaining from the former Parkview Golf Course property which it owns, along with former pool and ballroom sites.

"I would characterize our planning process as being more towards the beginning than the end - with any actual master planning development being years off in the future," Gallia said.

"As you can imagine, a lot of ideas come and go as part of this process - so there's nothing that we are really able to report as being 'final' at this point," he said.

Hershey Entertainment donated about $9 million worth of land for the Park Boulevard realignment.

Park Boulevard realignment.

Derry Township's winter 2016 newsletter said the road relocation will allow Hersheypark "to expand west to the old swimming pool and ballroom area to develop approximately 38 acres."

The park now totals about 121 acres, said Kathy Burrows, Hersheypark spokeswoman, including the 11-acre ZooAmerica.

Officials said the expansion will generate additional jobs, help attract more tourists, generate more income and amusement taxes, and create more business for hotels, restaurants and retail establishments.

"What really drove the state to participate in funding the project was not that Derry Township had a problem. What drove it was the fact that Hershey Entertainment & Resorts was gaining approximately 38 acres of new land for the Hersheypark expansion. From the state's viewpoint, that was important," said former state Rep. John Payne.

No plans for park expansion have been submitted yet to Derry Township planning commission or supervisors, said Chuck Emerick, township community development director.

Last fall the 5,807-foot Park Boulevard realignment - a project that has been in the works for 10 years - was completed.

The realignment of Park Boulevard takes away a barrier between the park and the former golf course, pool and ballroom land.

The realignment was from the Hershey Entertainment complex entrance on West Derry Road to Ridge Road, and also included a new bridge over Spring Creek, widening of Park Boulevard from Ridge Road to Park Avenue, and a new shared-use sidewalk.

Hershey Entertainment donated about $9 million worth of land for the realignment, and the remaining $9.7 million came from local, state and federal funds.

In the project, the 60-foot bridge over Spring Creek, which was deemed structurally deficient, was replaced with a new 126-foot bridge. In addition, Park Boulevard had poor sight and stopping distances for drivers, authorities said.

Hershey Entertainment closed the Parkview Golf Course in 2005. It bought back the two Hershey Country Club courses and Parkview in 2002 from American Golf, to which it had sold them in 1994.

About 35 of the 130-acre Parkview Golf Course was used to expand the Giant Center parking area about 10 years ago.

Meanwhile, Hersheypark isn't yet saying what it has in store for visitors next year.

"It's a double tip-top secret," Burrows said. Teasers and Information on new rides is posted on the park's Facebook page, she said.

This year the Hershey Triple Tower was added, and Laff Trakk was added in 2015.

In 2014, three new family-oriented rides were added: Cocoa Cruiser in Music Box Way, Tea Cups and Sweet Swing in the Hollow area.

Hersheypark added Shoreline Sprayground in 2013, and in 2012, Skyrush, billed as the park's tallest and fastest coaster.