The ride
Roller Soaker is a steel suspended roller coaster built by Setpoint Inc on its Swing Thing platform at Hersheypark in The Boardwalk, Pennsylvania, having opened to the public in 2002. After 24 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 70 ft above the park before pitching forward into its first descent. Trains reach a top speed of 20.5 mph before the first turnaround, where the layout opens up into a sequence of lateral and vertical elements. In total the track stretches 130 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 Setpoint Inc have a recognizable signature in track shaping, train design and the way transitions are paced. Riders familiar with other Setpoint Inc installations will pick up on the same DNA in Roller Soaker's layout, particularly through its station design and the sound profile of the running gear. As a Swing Thing, it sits within a recognizable family of attractions and benefits from years of refinement applied to similar installations elsewhere.
Plan to ride Roller Soaker 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.