Mill Chute (Hersheypark)

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The Mill Chute is the structure with the gray roof pictured in Comet Hollow, approximately 1960 Comet Hollow crop 1960.jpg
The Mill Chute is the structure with the gray roof pictured in Comet Hollow, approximately 1960

The Mill Chute was a ride at Hersheypark from 1929 until 1972. Milton S. Hershey purchased the ride from the Philadelphia Toboggan Company when the decision was made to build a new pool and drain the existing pool and neighboring lake in Comet Hollow. In 1963, the ride was renovated and rethemed. It was renamed Lost River and maintained that theme until 1972. During the 1972 season Hurricane Agnes struck Hershey, and the resulting flood of the park caused irreparable damage to the ride. As a result, the ride was closed for the remainder of the 1972 season and was torn down in the off season.

Hersheypark Theme park in Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States

Hersheypark is a family theme park situated in Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States, about 15 miles (24 km) east of Harrisburg, and 95 miles (153 km) west of Philadelphia. Founded in 1906 by Milton S. Hershey, as a leisure park for the employees of the Hershey Chocolate Company, it is wholly and privately owned by Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Company as of 2016. It has won several awards, including the IAAPA Applause Award.

Milton S. Hershey American chocolatier

Milton Snavely Hershey was an American chocolatier and philanthropist.

Hurricane Agnes Category 1 Atlantic hurricane in 1972

Hurricane Agnes was the second tropical cyclone and first named storm of the 1972 Atlantic hurricane season. Agnes developed on June 14 from the interaction of a polar front and an upper trough over the Yucatán Peninsula. Initially forming as a tropical depression, the storm headed slowly eastward and emerged into the western Caribbean Sea on June 15. Once in the Caribbean, the depression began to strengthen, and by the following day, it became Tropical Storm Agnes. Thereafter, Agnes slowly curved northward and passed just west of Cuba on June 17. Early on June 18, the storm intensified enough to be upgraded to Hurricane Agnes. Heading northward, the hurricane eventually made landfall near Panama City, Florida late on June 19. After moving inland, Agnes rapidly weakened and was only a tropical depression when it entered Georgia. The weakening trend halted as the storm crossed over Georgia and into South Carolina. While over eastern North Carolina, Agnes re-strengthened into a tropical storm on June 21, as a result of baroclinic activity. Early the following day, the storm emerged into the Atlantic Ocean before re-curving northwestward and making landfall near New York City as a strong tropical storm. Agnes quickly became an extratropical cyclone on June 23, and tracked to the northwest of Great Britain, before being absorbed by another extratropical cyclone on July 6.

Contents

History

Mill Chute: 1929–1962

Milton S. Hershey, owner of what was then called Hershey Amusement Park, [1] made the decision build a new pool for the park in 1929. [2] The original pool, in the park since 1908, [3] was drained and filled in with dirt and gravel. The result left an open space in the park, and the first ride purchased to fill that void was the Mill Chute. [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]

Lost River: 1963–1972

The Mill Chute was renovated and rethemed for the 1963 season as the ride had been falling into disrepair. The Lost River operated through the beginning of the 1972 season. Due to a large amount of rain from Hurricane Agnes, Hersheypark experienced an unprecedented flood which resulted in the destruction of the Lost River. Due to the damage the ride sustained from the flood waters, the ride was unoperable and unrepairable.

The Lost River was replaced by the Coal Cracker, built on the hill above Spring Creek, for the 1973 season. The Lost River's space was never truly replaced until the Great Bear steel coaster was built in 1998; its second and largest drop, vertical loop and Immelman element are located in the same location as the Mill Chute.

See also

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References

  1. ↑ Hershey Press. 1 July 1910.Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. ↑ "Chronology Database". Hershey Community Archives. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
  3. ↑ "Chronology Database". Hershey Community Archives. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
  4. ↑ Hershey Community Archives Chronology Database
  5. ↑ "Rocky Springs Park History" . Retrieved 17 December 2014.
  6. ↑ Rhoads, Jr., Don (2011). "Hershey Park's Miniature Railway" (PDF). Railway Museum Quarterly/Trainline. Tourist Railway Association and the Association of Railway Museums (6): 16–17. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
  7. ↑ Jacques, Jr., Charles J. (1997). Hersheypark: The Sweetness of Success. Amusement Park Journal. ISBN   0-9614392-2-X.
  8. ↑ "Minny Railroad Station, Wheel New at Hershey". Billboard . 1 April 1950.
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