Storm Runner, Steel roller coaster at Hersheypark, Pennsylvania.
Storm Runner is a steel roller coaster at Hersheypark in Pennsylvania that uses hydraulic launch technology to accelerate riders to 72 miles per hour (116 kilometers per hour) within seconds. The track takes riders through three inversions along 2,600 feet (792 meters) of steel, reaching a maximum height of 150 feet (46 meters).
The ride opened in May 2004 and replaced a balloon-themed attraction that had occupied the same site for more than two decades. The manufacturer Intamin supplied the launch system and the entire track structure.
The name came from a public vote where visitors chose between several options. Today the ride stands as one of the most recognizable attractions in the park and regularly draws waiting crowds.
The station includes two loading areas with switch tracks to reduce waiting times. Visitors must store loose items in lockers and secure eyeglasses with special straps.
This ride was the first launch coaster worldwide to combine upside-down elements with over-the-shoulder restraints. The acceleration happens not through a traditional chain lift but through hydraulic pressure in under three seconds.
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