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Hersheypark Interview: Kathy Burrows
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Hersheypark Interview: Kathy Burrows / By: Clint Novak, Friday, January 21, 2005 -
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 In its 98th season, Hershey Park is still the sweetest place on earth. From its breath taking roller coasters to is legendary landscaping, Hershey Park captures the hearts of people young and old.
Hershey Park has been in a roller coaster ride of its own in its off season. The press release late last year told us of the 2005 changes to the park and the addition of a new roller coaster called Turbulence. But as the New Year rang in the planes for Turbulence changed. Clint Novak had a chat with Public Relations Director Kathy Burrows about the 2005 season and what’s going to happen with Turbulence.
Clint Novak: Were talking with Kathy Burrows, Public Relations Director for Hershey Park. Kathy how are you today?
Kathy Burrows: I am fine, how are you?
Clint: I’m fine, Last year you guys debut quit a roller coaster last year. What to tell us how that went?
Kathy: I would say its quit a roller coaster, like some one told me last year “it’s was the 2 most accelerating second of there life” when they did the lift off, when they had a chance to ride it last year.
Clint: I have not had a chance to ride it but I am hoping that this year is the year.
Kathy: Well I hope you will, because it’s a must ride.
Clint: I hope so. You have the 2005 season coming up and you have a lot of rumors going around about an announcement that came out earlier this year about Turbulence. You want to tell us about that?
Kathy: Well, to make it easy the ride manufacture could not deliver there promise, so we could not go forward with that project.
Clint: Darn ride manufactures.
Kathy: Well you know, I don’t know all the particulars. I am not in position to know all the particulars. But we have great planes for the 2005 season. As always we have fabulous new entertainment. We have a new show called the Milk man. It’s a tribute to milk, one of the most important ingrediance to Hershey’s Milk Chocolate. And as I said we have to classic rides that are returning. Balloon flight and starship America. Witch are a perfect fit to our new founders circle area. So were thrilled that we will be closing in on 100 years. This season being our 98th season.
Clint: That is very cool. You touched a little bit on it but do you want to tell us more about the New founders circle area?
Kathy: When guests enter the park they will go up a very small hill and the first thing they will see is a statue of Milton Hershey a bronze status that was designed by a local artisan. Its in a fountain with plants around it. That area is now going to be know as Founders Circle. That will be in honor of Milton Hershey, who is the man behind the chocolate bar, the man who founded Hershey Park, and the man who did a lot of other wonderful things, like founding a school for under privileged children, witch is still in exists today. You will see the statue and then move on to our historic caracal, with is absolutely beautiful. It’s a Philadelphia toboggan carousal. We painstakingly take care of that every season to ensure that it stays that beautiful for our guests. Then in that area we will add more shad arbors. Were going to be doing the design of the shad arbors to sort of replicate the carousel. That will give it a vintage look, a 1920’s look. The colors will really be bright and beautiful. And well have a lot of trees planted, and benches, and flowers. Its going to be a beautiful area. And that is the area that were going to be bringing back two of our classic rides, starship America and balloon flight. So we have quit a season for 2005
Clint: Sounds like it’s a fun project for you guys
Kathy: It is, I just got an email from our Director of Engineering and Maintenance. He said there about 40 people working with local contractors and about 15 of our own personal working out in that area. So it’s a busy area. Its going to be in shape for spring time in April and our opening in May.
Clint: There was some flooding in September last year. How much damage was there and did you get it repaired?
Kathy: they are working on repairing it now you know the winter there was a lot of moisture and rain across the entire north east, and a lot of places sustained a lot of damage. I know our amp theater has to have some work on its roof and our country grill stage was under waters, so that is going to have to be rebuilt. But that is a good thing because they are now going to be doing some things to it that they most likely wouldn’t of done if they did not have to rebuild it. We are trying to make everything as nice as we can. A lot of the work is was actually done so we could open the next day. We did as much of the work as we could back in September.
Clint: Now we are going to do a little fun feathers that we do. I have dived in to the message boards of the coaster web sites and asked about some rumors that have been floating around. And one of the most common ones that keeps popping up is the old Hershey air field rumor. That the park might expand over to the air field. Do you think that is something that could happen ?
Kathy: I guess you could say anything is possible but I have not herd anything about that. There is a lot of issues if we were going to do something like that with like over head bridges. So there is nothing concert with that. We are always looking at new options, always looking at new opportunists as all parks are.
Clint: All right thank you for taking the time to talk with us today.
Kathy: It's my pleasure. I hope that every one comes out and joins us at Hershey Park in 2005. Please check our web site, we have some great things going on at Hershey even now believe it or not. We have chocolate covers Februarys coming up. So there is a lot of good things on HersheyPA.com.
Clint: When is the opening day for the park?
Kathy: Its Mothers day weekend, that Friday
Clint: So every one can take there mom to the amusement park.
Kathy: That’s right, what a nice way to celebrate with mom, we have something for everybody
To hear the interview, click here.
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