For me, Storm Runner represents an evolution in one of the newer coaster types being offered today, the Intamin rocket coaster. While the two most notable installations focused almost solely on height and blistering speed, Hershey decided to really get innovative when they added their rocket. In fact, they brought something to the table that at the time had never been implemented on a rocket coaster – inversions. For that alone, I think Hershey really does deserve to be commended! I was a huge fan of Hershey the first two times I visited, so when we strolled from Dorney to Knoebels last summer, I figured why not make a trip of it and head back to the land of chocolate! The driving force behind that decision was Storm Runner.
To be perfectly honest, I wondered to myself how inversions would work on a rocket coaster. The layout certainly seemed inspired from what I had seen, but I just kept thinking about how it might feel (or hurt) to take inversions on at such a high speed. Well, thankfully for me and all the other riders, the folks at Hershey knew exactly what they were doing! Like with the other two of these types of coasters I have ridden, Storm Runner dominates the parks skyline. From the parking lot, you can see the slick top hat standing proudly above the park. It’s an interesting top hat too, as it has supports along the sides but really nothing connected to the upper cresting portion. This is perfectly safe of course, thanks to some physics, but it was amusing seeing people look at it and proclaim that they wouldn’t ride because it didn’t even look safe! Oh well, the less people I have to worry about in a coaster line, the better! 
During our trip there, I was very surprised to see that the lines for Storm Runner were rather minimal, and at times, they were almost non-existent! I managed to snag 8 rides on Storm Runner over our 2 day visit, which to me was great! The queue is nice, and spots of it are shaded by a few trees. A little western flair is present, which is nice, and it is amazing how they fit this coaster in amongst several other attractions without making the area congested. I was also very pleased to see the little viewing area near the launch, as it really creates a fun atmosphere around the ride! Plus, with the way this coaster was laid out over walking paths, you can get some nice close-up views of the top hat drop and various inversions. I guess it’s the engineer in me, but I enjoy getting a close look at the design of coasters that are of this newer technology. The wait in line goes by rather quickly, as the crews here are very efficient and they keep the line moving remarkably well considering there are only 2 trains! The split/dual station design is nice and very organized, making it easy to pick a side and find an available row. After no more than a few train wait each time I rode, I was saddling up to take a wild ride! The trains are comfortable and the necessary OTSRs are actually roomy and not too confining at all. Slowly the train meanders out to the launching area, and sounds of horses play over the speakers (a nice touch!). Then you hear those awesome words – "Now get ready, here we GO!!!"
The launch is very smooth and powerful as the train knifes through the air up to 72 mph in a mere 2 seconds flat! It may not be as fast as some of the other rocket coasters, but don’t let that fool you – this launch still packs a wonderful wallop!! Next you fly up the top hat, turning 90 degrees to the left. The train does not slow down much before sending riders plunging straight down into a valley! This drop is packed with airtime and is a total blast! Plus, due to the valley, the drop itself is bigger than the top hat. You plunge 180 feet, though the top hat is only 150 feet high. This was a great design to produce a drop bigger than what it might appear upon first glance. The next element is a very large Immelmann loop, providing great G’s while being extremely smooth. In fact, the<
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