Hercules (roller coaster)


Hercules was a wooden roller coaster located at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Manufactured by the Dinn Corporation and designed by Curtis D. Summers, the roller coaster opened to the public on May 6, 1989. It set a world record for having the longest drop on a wooden coaster at, surpassing the previous record of set by American Eagle in 1981.

History

On July 15, 1988, Dorney Park announced that a new wooden roller coaster would be opening for the 1989 season. The announcement specified it would be located toward the back of the park near the lake. The park revealed its name, Hercules, in March 1989, stating that it would be themed to the Greek god of the same name. Hercules opened on May 6, 1989.
During its operating life, the ride was re-tracked by Martin & Vleminckx. Hercules closed on September 1, 2003, and Dorney Park announced several days later that the coaster would not reopen. Following its demise, the site of the roller coaster was occupied by Hydra the Revenge in 2005.