User:Hmich176/Skyrush

Skyrush is a steel megacoaster with winged seating under construction at Hersheypark. It is due to open May 26, 2012, which a countdown sign shows in Comet Hollow.

History
The attraction was proposed to Derry Township on August 17, 2010. The attraction was described as reaching a maximum height of 212.6 feet. In a subsequent meeting, the park shared a potential blue print of a roller coaster.

Preceding the announcement of the ride, Hersheypark engaged in a viral marketing campaign to promote the attraction (called "Project 2012" - see the sections below). The campaign released concepts about the attraction in a series of clues, though none of the officially confirmed. However, certain things came out from governmental sources, due to the attraction's interaction with Spring Creek, a creek that runs through the park. It includes work in and around the creek,  the mentioned diagram, as well as a potential name of the ride, Skyrush.

Skyrush was announced on August 2, 2011, in the Comet Hollow section of Hersheypark, approximately where the station of the ride will be. An on-board POV video of the ride was shown, as well the announcement of the name, Skyrush. The ride will reach a maximum height of 200 ft, reach speeds of approximately 75 mph, with a 3600 ft long track. The coaster will have trains that are of extended width of the traditional 2-across Intamin trains with two additional seats that hang off the width of the chassis, allowing guests to "ride on the edge." The other two Intamin coasters in the park: Fahrenheit and Stormrunner, have the two across trains.

Project 2012 campaign


Project 2012 is a viral marketing campaign surrounding the announcement of Skyrush. It began in October 2010 and concluded in August 2011, shortly after the announcemet of the ride. The campaign incorporated use of a variety of websites under false names, including the Ride Institute of Technology, LaMarcus Brothers Mid-Air Excavation, O'Connell Plumbing & Drain, and Coaster Test Pilots. Much of the discussion surrounding the campaign has taken place on Facebook and Twitter.