Hercules (roller coaster)

wooden roller coaster in Allentown, Pennsylvania

Hercules was a wooden roller coaster at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom. It was located in Allentown, Pennsylvania. It was made by Dinn Corporation.

Hercules
Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom
LocationDorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom
Coordinates40°34′52″N 75°31′56″W / 40.58111°N 75.53222°W / 40.58111; -75.53222
StatusRemoved
Opening dateMay 6, 1989 (1989-05-06)
Closing dateSeptember 1, 2003 (2003-09-01)
CostUS$6,000,000
Replaced byHydra the Revenge
General statistics
TypeWood
ManufacturerDinn Corporation
DesignerCurtis D. Summers
ModelTerrain
Track layoutDouble out-and-back
Height95 ft (29 m)
Drop151 ft (46 m)
Length4,000 ft (1,200 m)
Speed65 mph (105 km/h)
Inversions0
Duration2:15
Max vertical angle47°
G-force2.9
Height restriction48 in (122 cm)
Hercules at RCDB
Pictures of Hercules at RCDB

When it was made it was the tallest wooden roller coaster in the world. Because it was poorly made, the ride only worked from 1989 to 2003.[1] During that time, the track for the ride was changed by Martin & Vleminckx.[2] It was replaced by Hydra the Revenge in 2005.

Many riders said Hercules was a very rough ride (especially the sharp turn at the bottom of the main drop). This was most likely the reason for the low number of people who used it. It was also the likely reason it was closed and taken apart in 2003. It was so rough, it was given the nickname, "Hurt's your knees."

References change

  1. "Hercules". Roller Coaster Database. Retrieved 2008-02-10.
  2. "Retracking". Martin & Vleminckx. Archived from the original on 25 November 2013. Retrieved 17 November 2013.