If you walk into the Hollow at Hersheypark, you’ll smell it before you see the full layout. That scent of old, grease-slicked wood and ozone is unmistakable. It’s the smell of 1946. While the park’s newer neighbors—like the hyper-intense Skyrush or the inverted Great Bear—scream for your attention with bright colors and massive steel supports, the Comet roller coaster Hershey just sits there, white-painted and dignified, doing exactly what it was built to do nearly eighty years ago. It’s a classic. Honestly, it’s more than that; it’s a living piece of engineering history that somehow still delivers enough airtime to make your stomach do a flip.
People usually overlook it. They run toward the 200-foot drops and the 75-mph launches because they want that modern adrenaline hit. I get it. But there is a specific kind of magic in the way an old Herbert Schmeck-designed woodie rattles your bones. It’s not smooth. It’s not quiet. It’s loud, it’s bumpy, and it feels like it’s breathing underneath you.
The Engineering Behind the Comet Roller Coaster Hershey
When the Philadelphia Toboggan Company (PTC) rolled into Hershey, Pennsylvania, to replace the old Wild Cat, they weren't trying to break world records for height. They were trying to build something reliable and high-capacity. This was right after World War II. Materials were still a bit of a headache. Schmeck, who was basically the Michelangelo of wooden coasters, designed the Comet with a double out-and-back layout. It’s about 3,365 feet of track.
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It’s essentially a giant "L" shape.
You start with a 96-foot lift hill. That’s not massive by today’s standards, but since the track follows the natural dip of the creek, that first drop actually feels a lot more substantial than the stats suggest. You hit roughly 50 miles per hour. At that speed, on those PTC trains, you feel every single bolt and cross-tie. The Comet was actually the last coaster Milton Hershey himself personally saw commissioned before he passed away, which gives the ride a weirdly sentimental weight for the park regulars.
The structure is mostly pine. They used to call it the "Green" Comet because of the paint color back in the day, but it eventually went to the classic white we see now. What’s wild is that it was originally meant to be "streamlined" in that Art Deco style of the 40s. You can still see bits of that aesthetic in the station and the way the curves are banked.
Why the Hollow Changes the Experience
Location is everything here. Because the Comet is situated right over Spring Creek, the humidity and the temperature fluctuations of the water actually affect how the ride runs. On a hot, sticky July afternoon in Central Pennsylvania, the grease gets thin, the wood expands slightly, and the Comet runs fast. If you ride it at 10:00 AM, it’s a gentle classic. If you ride it at 9:00 PM after a day of 90-degree heat, it’s a different beast entirely. It becomes aggressive.
The sound is also a factor. The Comet creates a literal "roar" that bounces off the trees and the support structure of Great Bear. It’s a chaotic symphony of mechanical noise. Unlike steel coasters that use nylon wheels to stay quiet, woodies like the Comet use steel wheels on steel strips. It’s metal on metal.
What Most People Get Wrong About Wooden Coasters
A lot of casual visitors think "old" means "rough." They assume the Comet roller coaster Hershey is going to give them a headache. That’s a mistake. While it’s certainly not a "smooth" ride in the way a B&M hyper-coaster is, the Comet is exceptionally well-maintained. Hersheypark’s maintenance crew does "re-tracking" constantly. They replace sections of the wooden stacks every winter to ensure the transitions aren't jarring.
If you find it too bumpy, you’re probably sitting in a "wheel seat."
Here is a pro-tip from someone who has spent way too much time in this park: avoid the rows directly over the wheels. In a standard three-bench PTC car, that’s the front and back row of every individual car. If you sit in the middle row of a car (the non-wheel seat), the ride is significantly smoother. You get the airtime without the vertical vibration. It makes a world of difference.
The Evolution of the Comet's Trains
If you look at old photos of the Comet from the 1950s, the cars look like tanks. They were heavy, open-air, and had very little in the way of safety restraints compared to now. Today, the Comet runs with two trains—one blue, one red. They’ve been retrofitted with modern lap bars and seatbelts over the decades to meet safety codes, but they still retain that classic "bench" feel.
Some purists miss the old "buzz bars." These were single-position lap bars that didn't cinch down tight against your thighs. They gave you a lot more "room" to fly out of your seat on the hills. Modern ratcheting bars are safer, sure, but they do change the physics of the "pops" of airtime the Comet is famous for. You still get that lift on the bunny hills toward the end, but it’s more controlled now.
Comparing the Comet to Hershey’s Other Woodies
Hersheypark is a bit of a mecca for wooden coaster fans because it has a "triple threat" of wood structures. You have the Comet, and then you have the Lightning Racer and Wildcat’s Revenge (which is now a hybrid, but started as wood).
- Comet: The elder statesman. It’s about graceful drops and sustained speed.
- Lightning Racer: A dueling coaster that's more about lateral G-forces and the "racing" gimmick. It’s smoother but lacks the historical "soul" of the Comet.
- Wildcat’s Revenge: This is a steel-tracked beast now (RMC), so it’s not really in the same category anymore, though it occupies the space of the original wooden Wildcat.
The Comet wins on nostalgia and "vibe." There’s something about that final turn back into the station, where you’re flying parallel to the queue line, that just feels right. It’s a "comfort" coaster. It’s the one you ride with your kids for their first "big" drop, or the one you ride at the end of the night when your legs are tired from walking the hills of the park.
Survival Guide for Riding the Comet
If you’re planning a trip to see the Comet roller coaster Hershey in action, you need a strategy. This ride gets a long line, not necessarily because it’s the most popular, but because it’s right at the front of the park and it has a slower load time than the newer machines.
- Timing is key. Most people hit the Comet as soon as the gates open. Don't do that. Walk right past it and head to the back of the park for Fahrenheit or Storm Runner. Come back to the Comet around 2:00 PM when the crowd is eating lunch, or better yet, wait until right before the park closes.
- The "Magic Seat." Ask the ride op for the very back row. You’ll get pulled over the crest of the first hill with way more force. It’s the closest you’ll get to a "thrill" experience on this specific ride.
- The "Staple" Factor. If the ride operators "staple" you (push the bar down too tight), you won't feel the airtime. Try to sit up straight and keep a little breathing room when they check your bar.
- Watch the weather. If it starts to drizzle, the Comet becomes a rocket. Rain acts as a lubricant on the tracks. It’s the best time to ride if you want maximum speed.
The Cultural Impact of a 1946 Masterpiece
It’s rare for an amusement park to keep a ride for 80 years. Usually, they get torn down for something bigger, faster, and easier to maintain. But the Comet is protected. It’s a Landmark from the American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE). It represents a time when parks weren't owned by massive conglomerates, but were local gathering spots for families.
Milton Hershey’s vision was always about providing a place for his chocolate factory workers to relax. The Comet fits that ethos perfectly. It isn't trying to scare you to death. It’s trying to give you a joyful, slightly chaotic minute and forty-five seconds of escapism.
There’s also the night-ride factor. Because the Hollow is tucked away and surrounded by trees, the Comet gets incredibly dark at night. The white structure glows under the floodlights, but once you’re on the track, you’re flying through shadows. It’s one of the best night rides in the country, period.
Actionable Insights for Your Visit
To get the most out of your experience with the Comet roller coaster Hershey, don't just treat it as a "credit" to check off your list. Take a moment in the queue to look at the mechanical chain lift and the way the wood is braced. If you’re traveling with family, this is the perfect "bridge" coaster—scary enough for teenagers but manageable enough for brave eight-year-olds.
Before you go, download the Hersheypark app to track wait times in real-time. If the Comet's wait drops below 20 minutes, drop everything and run there. It’s the sweet spot. Also, make sure you check out the historical markers near the entrance of the ride; they explain a lot about the Philadelphia Toboggan Company's influence on the park's layout.
Lastly, if you want a great photo of the ride, don't take it from the line. Go to the bridge leading into the Reese's Cupfusion area. You can get a clear shot of the first drop with the creek in the foreground. It’s the "iconic" Hershey shot.
Pack some ibuprofen if you aren't used to wooden coasters, grab a Reese's King Size shake, and get in line. The Comet isn't going anywhere, but you shouldn't wait another season to experience it. It's a reminder that sometimes, the old way of doing things—mechanical, clunky, and loud—is still the best way.
Next Steps for Your Trip:
- Check the park's "early entry" schedule; sometimes the Comet is included for resort guests.
- Check the height requirements (it's usually 48 inches).
- Plan your route to hit the Comet last to avoid the morning rush.