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SooperDooperLooper

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SooperDooperLooper

SooperDooperLooper (stylized as sooperdooperLooper) is a steel roller coaster at Hersheypark in Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States. Designed and manufactured by Anton Schwarzkopf, the roller coaster opened to the public on May 8, 1977. SooperDooperLooper is located in The Hollow section of the park and cost more than $3 million to construct and build. The roller coaster reaches a maximum height of 70 feet (21 meters), with a maximum speed of 45 miles per hour (72 km/h), and a total track length of 2,614 feet (797 meters).

The SooperDooperLooper is a Schwarzkopf Looper Racer model, similar to The New Revolution at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California. The roller coaster features a 57-foot (17-meter) vertical loop as its signature element. A 150-foot (46-meter) tunnel was added after two seasons of operation. The SooperDooperLooper has seen several variations in color schemes and trains. When the roller coaster opened it received generally positive reviews from critics and guests.

Planning for the roller coaster, to be known as the SooperDooperLooper, began in 1975. During the roller coaster's planning stages, Hershey shortlisted a group of names to "merry Derry dip" and "sooperdooperLooper". An executive of Hershey preferred the former "merry Derry dip" as it referenced the Derry Township, the area where Hershey, Pennsylvania, was located. However, the latter was ultimately chosen when the executive was outvoted by his wife and children. The roller coaster was bought in Zürich, Switzerland, in February 1976.

Hersheypark announced its intentions to add a new looping roller coaster for the 1977 season in April 1976. The new roller coaster would include a vertical loop and would be located near the park's amphitheater and log flume. The attraction would be similar to the Great American Revolution at Magic Mountain, an amusement park in Valencia, California. Work began on the project site on October 29, 1976. The name of the roller coaster was presented in December 1976 to the media as the "SooperDooperLooper" along with illustrations. Parts of the roller coaster arrived from its European manufacturer, with foundation work beginning in the early weeks of December. The attraction was said to be the park's "most structurally involved" project to date, at the time.

Construction of the SooperDooperLooper continued into the winter months, causing minor problems when mechanical equipment broke down. Preparation on the roller coaster's vertical loop and station were conducted in February 1977. In the same month, 80 percent of the 8,300,000 pounds (3,800,000 kg) of concrete for the foundation work was complete. The roller coaster's vertical loop was finished in March. Construction on the roller coaster was completed in early May. A preview ceremony for the roller coaster was hosted by the park on May 6, where 250 visitors were in attendance. The SooperDooperLooper was officially opened to the public alongside the park's season on May 8. The park touted the looping roller coaster as the longest to open in the East Coast region. A 150-foot (46-meter) tunnel featuring lights and sounds was added to the roller coaster for the 1979 season.

The train leaves the station and makes a slight right turn before proceeding up the 28-degree incline lift hill. At the top of the lift hill, the train makes a left turn with a small dip and descends a long 75-foot (23-meter) drop, where the train reaches its maximum speed of 45 miles per hour (72 km/h), then enters the 57-foot (17-meter) vertical loop. Exiting the loop, the train makes a long, ascending sweeping left turn that travels through the middle of the loop. The train traverses a gentle right curve which includes a short tunnel. Out of the tunnel, the track travels along the terrain through various turns. The train goes down a drop then up another hill into a downward spiraling helix, before hitting the final brake run. This is followed by a right turn back to the station. One cycle of the SooperDooperLooper takes around a minute and forty-five seconds to complete.

The SooperDooperLooper was designed and manufactured by Anton Schwarzkopf in West Germany. The SooperDooperLooper is a Looping Racer model. Werner Stengel was one of the architects to assist in designing the roller coaster. The design of the roller coaster was also assisted by R. Duell Associates, with General Manufacturer and Equipment Company implementing sensor equipment. Intamin acted on behalf of Schwarzkopf as the business facilitator for the attraction and aided in various roles during its construction.

The roller coaster cost more than $3 million to plan and build. Upon opening, the roller coaster was situated between the Comet wooden roller coaster and Coal Cracker log flume. The SooperDooperLooper is located in "The Hollow" section of the park along with roller coasters Skyrush and the Comet. The roller coaster replaced the site of the former Twin Ferris Wheels (manufactured by Eli Bridge), as well as the Alpine Flyer attraction. The station platform is located on the second-story of its queue building. The station was refurbished during the 2012 season. The roller coaster needed around 500 tons of steel for its construction.

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