Site hosted by Angelfire.com: Build your free website today!
hersheybersheymershey

Just across the street from Hersheypark and sitting in front of the Hershey Hotel, surounded by a white picket fence is the remains of a little-known of Airstrip constructed by the Hershey Chocolate Company in 1944 as part of their hotel & entertainment complex.
It was labeled "Hershey Air Park" on the 1956 USGS topo map, but no runway was depicted.

Hershey was listed among active airports in the 1962 AOPA Airport Directory, with a single turf runway, and the operator listed as Hershey Flying Service. Hershey Airpark was expanded to its eventual size in 1963, but then closed for unknown reasons by the Hershey Company in 1981.

The airfield consists of a single paved 3,000' runway. The author of the following picture flew over the airfield in 2001, to find that it still exists in almost undisturbed condition, with "X" closed airfield markings painted along the runway.

but will it stay this way?

Rumours are now starting to circulate, that in the near future Hersheypark may use this location for future attractions, and according to rumour, a somewhat seperate water themed park (to the effect of Dorney Park's Wild Water Kingdom). At this point it is all speculation and nothing is confirmed. But one could easily beleive Hersheypark is running out of space for future attractions in their current themed areas, with the several ride replacements of the 2003 season.

A park insider has pointed out that there is still more empty space within Midway America, and Hersheypark is well capable of working new attractions around the old (i.e. the Great Bear's construction). Also, they mention recent ride replacements have been provoked by old age and the constant maitenance required for the rides that have been replaced, not lack of space.

If such a project was to go underway, it would require large funding. I am currently unaware how well the park is doing financially. The purchase of 'Dutch Wonderland' and the addition of such things like "Hershey's Really Big 3D Show", "Virtual Frontier Theater", and "The Claw" it would appear they aren't doing too bad at all.

For real answers, only time will tell. But until then we can still look upon the abandoned runway and dream of attractions to maybe someday come. Or even visit the occasional flea market or model home show hosted there, ha!

Below you can see two photos of the location, taken by satellite in 2003.

ADDITIONAL UPDATE :
According to rumour, the water park would be named Cocoa Bay.

Special Thanks to Abandoned & Little Known Airfields
and the park insiders that made this article possible.