Why Wildcat at Hersheypark Still Matters (And What RMC Really Changed)

Hersheypark has a weird relationship with the name Wildcat. It’s a legacy that stretches back nearly a century, but if you walk into the park today, you’re looking at a massive hybrid beast of steel and wood that looks nothing like the original. Honestly, the story of the Wildcat at Hersheypark is basically the story of how modern roller coaster design evolved from "bone-shaking" to "mind-melting."

Most people remember the "old" Wildcat. You know the one. It was that massive, imposing wooden structure that sat at the edge of the Midway America section. It opened in 1996 as the first-ever coaster from Great Coasters International (GCI). For a long time, it was the gold standard for what a wooden coaster could be. But by the 2010s? Man, it was rough. It became the kind of ride where you had to brace your neck just to make it through the final brake run without a headache.

Then came the transformation. In 2022, the park shut it down, and the coaster community went into a full-blown meltdown. But what replaced it—Wildcat’s Revenge—is a completely different animal. It’s not just a renovation; it’s a total reimagining that uses the bones of the past to create something that’s arguably the best ride in the park.

The Rough History of the Original Wildcat at Hersheypark

To understand why the new version is so significant, you have to appreciate the 1923 original. See, the 1996 Wildcat was actually a tribute to the park's first major coaster, which operated from 1923 to 1945. That original ride was designed by the legendary Herbert Schmeck. When the "new" wooden Wildcat opened in the 90s, it was a big deal. It featured a 85-foot drop and reached speeds of about 50 miles per hour.

For the first five or six years, it was smooth. It had those classic GCI "millennium flyer" trains that felt like sitting on a sofa. But wooden coasters are living things. They shift. They swell with the Pennsylvania humidity. Over time, the Wildcat at Hersheypark gained a reputation for being "too aggressive." It wasn't just the speed; it was the "shuffling." The trains would vibrate side-to-side within the track gauge, creating a jackhammer effect.

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Park maintenance tried everything. They re-tracked sections. They tweaked the trains. But by 2022, the consensus was clear: the ride had reached the end of its natural life. Instead of tearing it down and leaving a hole in the skyline, Hershey did what enthusiasts had been begging for. They called Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC).

Enter Wildcat’s Revenge: The Hybrid Revolution

RMC is basically the "Pimp My Ride" of the coaster world. They take old, decaying wooden coasters and put steel I-Box tracks on them. This allows for inversions—loops, rolls, and stalls—that would be impossible on traditional wood.

Wildcat’s Revenge, which opened in the summer of 2023, isn't just a re-skin. It’s a monster.

You’ve got a 140-foot lift hill now. That’s a massive jump from the original height. The drop is 82 degrees. That’s nearly vertical. When you crest that hill, you aren't just rolling down; you are being ejected from your seat. It hits 62 miles per hour, and it stays that fast until the very end.

The highlight for most people is the "Underflip." It’s an upward climb that twists into an inversion and then dives back down. It’s disorienting in the best way possible. There are four inversions in total, which is a record for a wooden-hybrid coaster in the United States.

Why the "Hybrid" Label Matters

Kinda funny how we argue about what a coaster "is," right?

Wildcat’s Revenge is technically a hybrid. The support structure is the original wood (mostly), but the track is red steel. This matters because you get the aesthetic of a classic coaster with the surgical precision of modern engineering. You don't get the "jiggle." You get a glass-smooth experience that allows the designers to throw elements at you that would literally snap a wooden track apart.

What Most People Get Wrong About the Transition

There’s this misconception that the park "gave up" on the old Wildcat. Honestly, that’s not it. Keeping a wooden coaster of that scale running in a four-season climate like Hershey, PA, is an absolute nightmare. The cost of labor and lumber to keep it rideable was skyrocketing.

Another thing people miss? The layout change.

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RMC didn't just follow the old footprint. They extended it. They added a massive "stall" where you hang upside down for what feels like an eternity while looking at the people walking below you on the midway. It’s a psychological game. The original Wildcat was about the sensation of speed and "out of control" rattling. The new Wildcat is about precision-engineered terror.

Comparing the Experience: Then vs. Now

If you haven't been to the park in a few years, the change is jarring.

• The Lift Hill: The old one was loud. Clack-clack-clack. It was slow. The new one is fast, silent, and intimidating.
• The First Drop: The 1996 version curved to the right. It was a "swooping" drop. The new version is a straight-down plunge.
• The Restraints: This is a big one. The old Wildcat had standard lap bars and seatbelts. The new one has RMC’s signature shin guards. Some people hate them because they feel restrictive, but you need them. Without them, you’d probably fly out of the train during the "wave turn."
• The Length: The ride time is roughly the same, but the pacing is night and day. The old ride had "dead spots" where it slowed down. Wildcat’s Revenge is relentless. It doesn't breathe until you hit the magnets at the end.

The Expert Perspective on the "RMC Treatment"

I’ve talked to enough park ops and enthusiasts to know that Wildcat’s Revenge saved that corner of the park. Before the conversion, the Wildcat at Hersheypark was often a walk-on. People would ride it once for the credit and then move on to Lightning Racer or Storm Runner. Now? It’s the headline act.

Is it "better"? That’s subjective, I guess. Purists miss the smell of the grease and the specific roar of wood on wood. But for 99% of guests, the new version is a massive upgrade. It’s a top-tier coaster that puts Hersheypark in direct competition with places like Cedar Point or Magic Mountain for the "Coaster Capital" crown.

Planning Your Trip to Ride the Wildcat

If you’re heading to Hershey specifically for this ride, you need a strategy. Because it's a hybrid and relatively new, the line stays long.

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First off, don't run there immediately at rope drop if you’re coming from the main gate. It’s all the way in the back. Most people sprint to Candymonium or Skyrush first. If you’re fast, you can hit those two and then get to Wildcat before the wave of people hits.

Alternatively, if you stay at a Hershey property, you get that "Sweet Start" extra hour. Use it.

Also, watch the weather. Steel tracks run faster when they’re hot. A ride on Wildcat’s Revenge at 11:00 AM is great, but a ride at 8:00 PM after a 90-degree day? It’s a completely different experience. The grease is warm, the wheels are flying, and the airtime becomes borderline violent. It’s fantastic.

Quick Technical Stats for the Nerds

• Manufacturer: Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC)
• Track Type: I-Box Steel Track
• Inversions: 4
• Max Speed: 62 MPH
• Highest Point: 140 Feet
• Minimum Height: 48 inches (This is a huge plus for families; many "big" coasters are 52 or 54).

The Verdict on the Wildcat Legacy

The Wildcat at Hersheypark isn't just a coaster; it’s a symbol of the park’s identity. They didn't just bulldoze the history; they reinforced it. By keeping the name and the general aesthetic of the wooden supports, they honored the 1923 and 1996 versions while giving us something that actually works for the modern era.

It’s aggressive, it’s smooth, and it’s genuinely scary in a way the old wooden tracks hadn't been in decades. If you’re a fan of "airtime"—that feeling of your stomach floating into your throat—there isn't a better ride in Pennsylvania right now.

Actionable Tips for Your Visit

1. Download the App: The Hersheypark app is surprisingly accurate with wait times. Don't walk all the way to the back of the park if it says the wait is 90 minutes unless you have a Fast Track.
2. Locker Situation: RMC coasters are notorious for losing phones and keys. You must use the lockers. Don't try to hide your phone in a zippered pocket; the forces on this ride are intense enough to break things through the fabric.
3. The Back Row: If you want the most intense airtime, sit in the very back. The train pulls you over the lift hill, and you get "whipped" over every crest. If you want a slightly more visual, "flying" feel, go for the front.
4. Check the Restraints: If you’re a larger rider, try the test seat outside the entrance. The RMC shin guards can be tricky for people with longer legs or larger calves. It’s better to know before you wait an hour.

The evolution of this ride is a testament to why we love theme parks. They change, they grow, and sometimes, they take something old and broken and turn it into a masterpiece. Wildcat’s Revenge is exactly that. It’s a second chance for a legendary name.