HERSHEY, Pa. (WHTM) — One of the most anticipated coasters to open in 2023 is located right here in Central Pennsylvania.
Wildcat’s Revenge is the latest attraction that has opened at Hersheypark. abc27 has put together a timeline of the construction of the coaster from where it all began, all the way to opening day.
July 8, 2022
The original Wildcat, located in the Midway America section of the park that opened in 1996 was announced on Hersheypark’s social media that the last rides were to be given on July 31, 2022. The park teased about what would be replacing it by stating “any suggestions on what we could do with 3,100 feet of the wooden track?”
July 31, 2022
Wildcat closes at 9 p.m., with the last riders being the parents of late ride operator Nick Pantalone. Pantalone’s favorite ride to work on and to experience was the Wildcat, and his family members were the last riders ever on the coaster.
August – October 2022
Site preparation, including demolishing portions of the structure, begins. Hersheypark sells portions of the coaster wood and running rails, with a limited number of pieces available for sale. Portions of the lift hill started to be disassembled, as well as the station platform. Wildcat’s trains are also removed.
Nov. 2, 2022
Hersheypark announces that Rocky Mountain Construction will be constructing Wildcat’s Revenge. This hybrid coaster of steel and wood will be in the former place of Wildcat and will use some of the support structure of the original coaster. The coaster will feature four inversions, one of which is called “The World’s Largest Underflip.”
Nov. 4, 2022
The first pieces of track make their way to the construction site. The track is designed by Rocky Mountain Construction, using their famous I-Box style of running rails.
Nov. 9, 2022
Trackwork for the new coaster officially goes vertical, with the first piece of bright red, steel track being put in place on one of the hundreds of wooden supports.
Nov. 15, 2022
The front car of one of Wildcat’s Revenge trains is unveiled. The coaster will feature three trains with a different colored wild cat featured on the front of each train.
Dec. 16, 2022
Hersheypark shows the progress of the “Underflip,” which uses a portion of the lift hill of the original Wildcat coaster. It features an upward climb into a 270-degree roll, with a dive down to the right side. This dive pays homage to the first drop of the original Wildcat, which was also curved.
Jan. 21, 2023
Hersheypark announces that the World’s Largest Underflip is complete.
Feb. 4, 2023
Hersheypark releases the full-length “point of view” video of the ride and its layout.
March 9, 2023
Hersheypark posts another update regarding the construction, showing that the beginning of the first airtime hill and one of the wave turns are being completed.
March 23, 2023
For the first time, we get to see what the track looks like from the station of the coaster.
April 13, 2023
Hersheypark releases a new drone video showing the progress thus far on the construction of the coaster. The truss, which will hold the coaster’s 140-foot tall lift hill, is now visible from outside the park.
April 17, 2023
The top portion of the coaster’s 140-foot drop is secured and put in place. This completes the lift hill structure of the new coaster, which is a steel truss painted black.
April 21, 2023
Portions of the final two inversions and the last helix are beginning to be installed. The last two inversions cross over each other, both being zero-gravity rolls.
April 24, 2023
Hersheypark announces that all three trains are on site, as the coaster gets closer to opening
Wildcat’s Revenge will feature three customed designed trains, which is a first for Hersheypark. Each train features fully dimensional black, charcoal, and silver wildcats on the front. The wood on the front of the trains was designed to resemble the wood texture and color of the original Wildcat roller coaster, which closed in 2022.
April 29, 2023
Guests of the park are able to see three new pieces of signage on the roller coaster. One above the main entrance of the ride, one on the ride’s maintenance bay, and one above the entrance of the station. The entrance to the ride is the same as it was with the defunct Wildcat, now with a steel red roof.
Also, guests are able to see active construction of the coaster from the midway, as pieces of track for the coaster’s final turnaround are put into place
May 18, 2023
Hersheypark announces that the coaster has completed its first test run. The train was full of test dummies to make sure the train has the correct weight as it travels around the course. Hersheypark posted a video of the train going down its 82-degree drop and the underlflip.
May 19, 2023
Hersheypark officially announces the opening date of Wildcat’s Revenge: Friday, June 2nd.
May 29- 31, 2023
Hersheypark allows King Size Season Pass holders a chance to ride the attraction. Each pass holder was able to sign up for a timed slot to ride the coaster. The reception of the ride has been very positive, with some pass holders proclaiming it to be the best coaster in the park.
June 2, 2023
The chase of a lifetime officially begins. Wildcat’s Revenge opens to the public! Take a virtual ride on this coaster below!
