HERSHEY, DAUPHIN CO. (WOLF) — Headlines circulating online have some Pennsylvania amusement park fans wondering whether Hersheypark is shutting down for good.
It isn’t.
Hersheypark remains open and has operating dates scheduled throughout the remainder of 2026. The confusion follows online headlines about a permanent closure at the park, prompting USA TODAY Network to examine the claims and clarify what is actually happening.
The park itself is not permanently closing. Hersheypark’s regular summer operating season ended September 7, a normal seasonal transition on its annual calendar. Hersheypark’s official website lists additional operating seasons through the fall and holiday period.
What is actually closing?
The permanent closure generating attention involves Tidal Force, not Hersheypark.
The longtime water ride ended operations after the summer season. Tidal Force had been a Hersheypark attraction for more than three decades.
The distinction between the closure of an individual attraction and the seasonal end of daily summer operations appears to have contributed to the online confusion.
Hersheypark reopens this weekend
Visitors won’t have to wait long for the park’s next season.
Hersheypark Halloween and Dark Nights begin September 12 and run on selected dates through November 1.
Hersheypark says its Halloween admission includes access to 13 roller coasters, more than 40 family rides, five haunted houses and five scare zones, along with ZooAmerica.
After the Halloween season, Hersheypark’s operating calendar lists its annual Christmas Candylane season extending from November into January.
The park’s own FAQ also states Hersheypark is operating on selected dates during its 2026 season, which began in April.
So despite the attention-grabbing headlines, the answer is straightforward:
Hersheypark is not closing permanently. Its summer season has ended, one longtime attraction has been retired, and the park’s fall season begins this weekend.
FOX56 independently reviewed Hersheypark’s current operating calendar and park information after USA TODAY Network reported on the online confusion surrounding claims that Hersheypark was closing.