| 1903: |
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Milton S. Hershey surveys a site along Spring Creek that would be suitable for a park to be enjoyed by his employees.
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| 1907: |
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Hershey Park opened on April 24, 1907, with a baseball game played on the new athletic field.
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| 1908: |
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A merry-go-round was installed and opened on July 4, 1908. A 1,500 seat tiered amphitheatre was built next to the pavilion.
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| 1909: |
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The park was expanded with the addition of a tennis court, two bowling alleys, a large band shell, and a photography gallery. Guests could also enjoy a relaxing scenic ride on the Scenic Railroad.
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| 1910's: |
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Between 1913 to 1923, the park added several structures - the dance pavilion Starlight Ballroom, a new stage for big bands, a new Convention Hall (now the Hershey Museum), the Hershey Park Cafe, and the Hershey Zoo.
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| 1912: |
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A carrousel built by William H. Dentzel of Philadelphia was added to the park. The carrousel was 50 feet in diameter and featured 53 carved animals that included lions, bears, giraffes, pigs, rabbits, ostrich, goats, and deer along with two chariots.
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| 1920's: |
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A small Ferris wheel, the Aeroplane Swing, and the Skooter were added to the park.
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| 1923: |
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A new roller coaster called The Wild Cat was added.
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| 1933: |
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A penny arcade, a fun house called The Bug, and The Mill Chute water flume ride were added.
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| 1935: |
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Renovations were made to the Wild Cat roller coaster to build up the dips and to more steeply bank the curves.
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| 1945: |
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The Dentzel carrousel was replaced in 1945 by a carrousel built by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company in 1919 and still operates in the park today.
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| 1946: |
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The wooden roller coaster The Comet replaced The Wild Cat.
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| 1950: |
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Twin 66 feet high Ferris wheels were added.
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| 1960: |
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The Dry Gulch railroad was added.
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| 1971: |
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A five-year redevelopment plan was started to convert the regional amusement park Hershey Park into a large theme park called Hersheypark. A one-price admission plan eliminated the pay-as-you-ride policy.
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| 1973: |
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A new open-air theatre called the Amphitheatre opened.
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| 1977: |
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The first steel looping roller coaster on the East Coast called the Sooperdooperlooper opened.
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| 1979: |
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The Music Box Theatre was totally enclosed to provide the park with its first enclosed theatre since the 1960s,
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| 1980's: |
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The Cyclops, Pirate, Wave Swinger, Conestoga, and Timber Rattler were added to Hersheypark.
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| 1987: |
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Canyon River Rapids was added.
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| 1990: |
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The Flying Falcon was added.
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| 1991: |
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Sidewinder, a Vekoma boomerang coaster, was added.
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| 1994: |
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The water plunge ride the Tidal Force opened.
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| 1996: |
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The wooden coaster The Wildcat was added which was named after The Wild Cat that previously operated from 1923 to 1946.
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| 1997: |
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A Ferris wheel and Whip ride were added.
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| 1998: |
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The Great Bear roller coaster opened.
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| 1999: |
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Five new rides were added - the Wild Mouse, the Merry Derry Dip Fun Slide, Music Express, Chaos, and the Frog Hopper.
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| 2000: |
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The racing/dueling coaster, Lighting Racer, was added
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| 2002: |
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An aerial water ride, Roller Soaker, was added. Each rider is able to dump up to four gallons of water on the spectators below while the spectators can aim huge water sprayers at the riders.
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| 2003: |
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A 65-foot spinning pendulum ride called The Claw was added.
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| 2004: |
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Storm Runner, the world’s first hydraulic launch coaster featuring inversions, opened.
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| 2005: |
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Balloon Flite and Starship America opened. Chaos was removed.
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