The ride
Comet is a wood roller coaster built by Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters at Hersheypark in The Hollow, Pennsylvania, having opened to the public in 1946. After 80 seasons of operation it remains one of the defining attractions on the Hersheypark midway, drawing repeat riders who track every subtle change to its trains, restraints and station soundtrack.
On paper the ride is a serious thrill machine. It climbs 84 ft above the park before pitching forward into its first descent. That opening drop measures 78 ft, long enough to pin riders against their restraints and pull a prolonged moment of weightless airtime over the lap-bar. Trains reach a top speed of 50.0 mph before the first turnaround, where the layout opens up into a sequence of lateral and vertical elements. In total the track stretches 336 ft, giving the experience a distinctly long-form feel rather than the punchy one-and-done character of many modern compact coasters. enthusiast trip-planning resources
Coasters from Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters have a recognizable signature in track shaping, train design and the way transitions are paced. Riders familiar with other Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters installations will pick up on the same DNA in Comet's layout, particularly through its station design and the sound profile of the running gear.
Plan to ride Comet early in the day or during the final hour before park close, when standby waits at Hersheypark typically drop. Single-rider lines and early-entry ticketing programs, when available at Hersheypark, are usually the fastest ways to get repeat rides on a busy day. broader coaster community archives
In CoasterVault's ranking tables, Comet currently appears in our 196th position for biggest drops lists, reflecting where its core stats place it among operating coasters in the United States. These rankings move whenever a new installation opens, so the position should be read as a snapshot rather than a permanent record.