The Hershey Park Zoo features a monkey island. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in September 1950.]
The arm holding the carrousel’s brass rings is removed. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in September 1960.]
The Skyview, a ski lift trip over Spring Creek and the center of the park, is added.
The Tip Top is erected in Hershey Park. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1966.]
A new restaurant, The Chicken House, is built under the Sportland Arcade. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1966.]
A ski machine and 6 Skee Ball alleys are added to the Sportland Arcade bringing the total of games to 125. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1966.]
The old bumper cars are replaced with 24 new auto skooters. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1966.]
The Dizzy Drums are added to Kiddieland in the Hershey Park. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1966.]
John B. Sollenberger becomes President of Hershey Estates. He serves between 1949 and 1962. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1949.]
George Bartels becomes general manager of the Hershey Park. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1949.]
The Hershey Zoo reopens.
Hershey Park purchases twin Ferris Wheels. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in September 1950.]
The town celebrates its 50th anniversary with the U.S. Navy Band appearing at the Hershey Park Bandstand. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1953.]
As part of the towns 50th Anniversary celebration, Guy Lombardo appears in the Hershey Park Ballroom.
The Allentown Band introduces “The Chocolate King March,” in a Hershey Park Ballroom performance. It is composed by Albertus L. Meyers, a former member of John Philip Sousa’s band. It is dedicated to M.S. Hershey.
Les Elgart plays the Hershey Park Ballroom. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in July 1954.]
A miniature golf course is added to the Hershey Park. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in September 1950.]
The Hershey Park Ballroom is remodeled and becomes the Starlight Ballroom. It opens with Claude Thornhill and his orchestra.
A Kiddie Ferris Wheel is opened. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in September 1950.]
The National Railway Historical Society celebrates the miniature railroad’s fiftieth birthday. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in July 1959.]
Harry “Whitey” Bistline serves as motorman on the miniature railway. He serves between 1910 and 1925.
William "Billy" Brandt serves as motorman for the miniature railroad. He serves between 1925 and 1953. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1925.]
Clement W. "Clem" Miller serves as motorman on the miniature railway. He serves between 1953 and 1959. Mr. Miller had formerly worked for Hershey Transit Company’s trolley line. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1953.]
A rock and roll group, Bill Haley and his Comets, performs at the Hershey Park Bandstand.
A miniature Turnpike ride with gasoline-operated cars is added to the Hershey Park. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in September 1960.]
Construction begins on the Dry Gulch Steam Railroad. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in November 1960.]
The Dry Gulch Railroad opens. It is a 24 inch gauge, coal-burning, steam engine and the first engineer was Dave Groy.
A new 18-hole miniature golf course is opened. It is a portable model and is placed on the Hershey Sports Arena’s outdoor skating rink during the summer season. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1961.]
Vaughn Monroe and his orchestra perform at the Hershey Park Ballroom.
The Hershey Park Zoo is closed for the duration of World War II.
The Hershey Park Ballroom is closed because automobiles can no longer be driven to places of amusement during the war. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in May 1943.]
Hershey Park Ballroom reopens after the driving ban is lifted. Tony Pastor’s orchestra opens the new season. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1944.]
Hershey Park purchases a used carrousel, the PTC #47, from the Philadelphia Toboggan Company. Built in 1919, it is a four row carrousel with 66 horses. There is an outside row of stationary horses and three inner rows of jumpers. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1944.]
The old Dentzel Carrousel is dismantled and sold to an amusement park in Ohio. Later it operates at Knott’s Berry Farm in California. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1944.]
Harry James and his orchestra perform at the Hershey Park Ballroom. It is his 5th appearance.
The Wild Cat Roller Coaster has its last run. It is torn down and replaced with The Comet Roller Coaster. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in September 1945.]
Hershey Park’s Comet Roller Coaster opens. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred between May 26-31, 1946.]
The Cuddle Up is placed on the site of the old Wild Cat roller Coaster loading station. It is a large five wheel model Cuddle Up with twelve cups each holding four passengers. It is purchased from the Philadelphia Toboggan Company. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1947.]
Hershey Trolley makes last run. It is replaced by buses owned by Reading Street Railway Company.
A new fun house call Laffland is placed in the old arcade building. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1946.]
The penny arcade is moved and renamed Sportland. A photo machine and skee ball alleys are added. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1946.]
A new air rifle range is built between Funland and Lucky Kick. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1946.]
The toboggan slide (built in 1931) is dismantled and the walkway closed. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1946.]
Big Band Singer Vaughn Monroe appears in the Hershey Park Ballroom to an audience of 6,945. It is the only time in the history of the Ballroom that the sale of tickets is stopped and people are turned away.
A new kiddie ride, the Horse and Buggy Ride, is added to Hershey Park. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1949.]
A Kiddie Water Ride with 8 boats is introduced. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1949.]
The Four Fantions, an aerial circus act, is presented at Hershey Park.
Charles F. Ziegler retires as president of Hershey Estates. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1949.]
The Whip is installed and is called "The Whipperoo". [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1937.]
A maple floor is bought for the Hershey Sports Arena and Tommy Dorsey’s band plays there. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1937.]
Les Brown and his Duke Blue Devils provide the music for the twenty-third Annual May Hop in the Hershey Park Ballroom. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in May 1937.]
Benny Goodman, “The King of Swing,” appears at the Hershey Park Ballroom.
Roller skating is held in the Sports Arena. Johnny Davidson is the manager and professional instructor. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1937.]
M.S. Hershey’s eightieth birthday party is held in the Hershey Sports Arena. His employees present him with a yellow-gold octagon ring, with 18 blue-white diamonds set in platinum, enclosing the “baby in the cocoa shell” trademark of Hershey Chocolate Corporation.
The Auto Skooter (Bumper cars) is added to the rides at the Hershey Park. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1938.]
The Death Valley Funhouse is added to the attractions in Hershey Park. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1938.]
The old fun house is remodeled, new stunts are added, and the name is changed to "Whoops". [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1938.]
A new free playground for young children is opened. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1938.]
Hershey Park builds covered picnic pavilions. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1939.]
The penny arcade is renamed Sportland. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1939.]
A Ferris Wheel is purchased. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1939.]
Glenn Miller and his orchestra perform in the Hershey Park Ballroom.
Harry James and his orchestra play in the Hershey Park Ballroom.
Championship Roller Hockey debuts in the Hershey Sports Arena.
Hershey Park buys the Aerial Joy Ride from the New York’s World’s Fair after the fair closes. It costs $25,000. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1940.]
A new Souvenir and Park Administration Building is built. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1941.]
Mo-Skeet-O, a trap [clay pigeon] shooting game is installed. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1940.]
The Death Valley Fun House is rethemed and becomes Laugh Land. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1940.]
Hershey Park Swimming Pool, a new $100,000 swimming pool complex and bathhouse, opens.
The Convention Hall is converted into the Ice Palace in the winter months. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1931.]
The Mill Chute is constructed. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1929.]
The park’s Dentzel carrousel is moved into a new pavilion. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in July 1929.]
Hershey Park Golf Course and Clubhouse, an 18 hole public golf course, opens. The course is designed by Maurice McCarthy, a well-known golf course architect.
The miniature railroad picks up and discharges passengers at the swimming pool bathhouse. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1931.]
Rudy Vallee plays the Hershey Park Ballroom.
The old swimming pool’s bathhouse is converted into the first funhouse. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1930.]
The Hershey Zoo opens a building containing carnivorous animals and primates. The zoo does not charge admission. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1931.]
A water toboggan slide (shoot-the-chutes) is opened. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1931
The Sunken Garden and the Electric Fountain are opened. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1932.]
The Pretzel is opened. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1931.]
The Bug is opened. It is removed after the 1981 season. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1932.]
Alexander Stoddart is hired as public relations director for the park, arena, stadium, chocolate company, and the town. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1934.]
The Zoo constructs a new Animal House and Aquarium. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1930.]
The Kiddie Auto Ride with 5 racing cars and 5 fire engines is added. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1935.]
The Custer Car Ride with battery powered autos is installed. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1936.]
The first Baby Parade is held in the Hershey Park.
The Hershey Hockey Club is formed. It is popularly known as the "Hershey B’ars". John B. Sollenberger is the team’s manager and Lloyd Blinco is the team’s captain. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1933.]
The Hershey Sports Arena opens. Designed by Engineer Anton Tedesko, who also served as chief construction manager. It is connected to the western end of the old Convention Hall. The Arena seats 7,104 spectators for hockey and 10,000 for other sports not requiring a large floor.
The ampitheatre is enclosed during the winter of 1911-1912 and is renamed the Hershey Park Theater. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1912.]
Summer stock appears for the first time in the Hershey Park. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1912.]
The bandstand is replaced by a larger, more modern bandstand and outdoor stage.
A small man-made lake is constructed on the marshy ground between the swimming pool and Spring Creek. An electric fountain is also installed. (This is not the Sunken Garden and Electric Fountain that were developed in the 1930’s).
Construction begins for two concrete reservoirs on Pat’s Hill.
A trolley line is installed between the Park and Pat’s Hill. Passenger service is discontinued in the late1920s. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in June 1915.]
Convention Hall is built.
The Park’s Main Pavilion is converted into Hershey Park Cafe. It had been used for dancing and roller skating but is converted into a cafeteria. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1916.]
Canoes are added to the park’s fleet of boats on Spring Creek, bringing the number of rowboats and canoes to 35. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1916.]
Hershey Park’s first roller coaster, The Joy Ride, is opened. The name is later changed to The Wild Cat. The roller coaster is a gift of Milton Hershey to the town in honor of its 20th anniversary.The first woman to ride the roller coaster is Miss Marion Murrie, the daughter of William Murrie.
John Philip Sousa performs in the Convention Hall.
Hershey Park sets up a 7 man police force headed by George Lafferty. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1926.]