We cover a lot of theme park content here, not just Disney. And when two significant stories drop from the same park in the same stretch of time, we cover them together because our readers deserve the full picture before they plan a visit anywhere.
Hersheypark has two things going on right now. One of them is a proper farewell to a ride that has been soaking guests for 32 years. The other is the conclusion of a criminal investigation involving 55 people, felony charges, and a fight that shut down part of the park back in April. Neither story is small. Here is both of them.
Tidal Force Is Closing and September 7 Is the Last Day
Tidal Force has been at Hersheypark since 1994. Thirty-two years of the same experience, which is: you get in the boat, you float along, and then a drop happens and everyone is wet. That sounds reductive but it is also the entire appeal and it works every single time. There is a reason rides like this develop devoted followings and there is a reason people are going to be genuinely sad when this one is gone.
Hersheypark shared the news on X, stating, “When a vessel takes its last voyage, we believe it deserves a proper send-off. After 32 years of making the biggest splashes #Hersheypark has seen, we’ll dock the boats permanently after Sept. 7. “
When a vessel takes its last voyage, we believe it deserves a proper send-off. After 32 years of making the biggest splashes #Hersheypark has seen, we’ll dock the boats permanently after Sept. 7.
Grab tickets to splash this summer: https://t.co/fB4CN7Rs4g pic.twitter.com/o7fU9fkrdz
— Hersheypark (@Hersheypark) June 9, 2026
Hersheypark made the announcement with the right tone. “When a vessel takes its last voyage, we believe it deserves a proper send-off,” the park said. “After 32 years of making the biggest splashes Hersheypark has seen, we’ll dock the boats permanently after Sept. 7.”
That is good farewell writing. The park knows what Tidal Force meant to guests and it is not pretending otherwise.
No replacement has been announced for the space. No reason for the closure has been officially given. What exists is a final date: September 7, 2026, Labor Day weekend. Everything you need to know about urgency is in that sentence.
If Tidal Force is part of your Hersheypark experience, or if it was ever part of your Hersheypark experience and you want to do it one more time, your window is closing. Labor Day weekend is busy. Arrive early. Make it a morning ride. Do not assume you can do it at 4 p.m. on Sunday and still walk onto it.
Now the More Serious Story
On April 3, 2026, Hersheypark had a significant incident. Multiple fights broke out involving a large number of young people and the park’s response required outside law enforcement. That is the summary.
The full outcome, which was just announced, is this: 55 people have been charged. Fifty-two of them are juveniles between 12 and 17. Three are adults: Omar Ibrahim, 19; Jerome Ross III, 18; and Quaneek Williams, 18, all from Harrisburg, per WGAL.
Derry Township Police issued a formal statement: “On April 3, 2026, an incident occurred at Hersheypark involving disorderly and assaultive behavior by numerous youths. Following a lengthy and thorough investigation, a total of 55 individuals have been identified and are being charged with various Misdemeanor and Felony offenses, to include Simple Assault, Conspiracy, Theft, Failure to Disperse, Disorderly Conduct, Aggravated Assault, and Riot, among others.”
Felony charges. Riot. Aggravated Assault. Those are serious words in a serious context and the outcome reflects an investigation that took them seriously.
The agencies involved in reaching this conclusion included the Derry Township Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Section, Hershey Entertainment and Resorts staff and management, local School Resource Officers, Dauphin County Juvenile Probation, local School Officials, the Dauphin County Violent Crime Unit, and the Dauphin County District Attorney’s Office. That is a significant coordination effort and it resulted in 55 charges.
Police were clear about why: “This investigation highlights the Derry Township Police Department’s commitment to ensuring the safety and welfare of our residents, workers, and guests. Our Department, including our Criminal Investigation Section, takes these types of public safety issues seriously, investing significant time into cases like this one to ensure that those responsible are held accountable.”
What This All Means If You Are Planning a Trip
These two stories land differently for trip planning purposes.
The Tidal Force closure is time-sensitive and actionable. September 7 is the date. If you want to ride it before it is gone forever, plan accordingly. There is no ambiguity in the deadline and no indication it will be extended.
The April incident is now a closed investigation with charges filed. Hersheypark cooperated with law enforcement throughout and the legal process is doing what it is supposed to do. Whether the park has added security measures or updated its policies in response has not been publicly announced. That is worth noting even if it does not change anything practically for most guests.
Hersheypark is a good park. It has a strong lineup, a long history, and a lot to offer guests who make the trip to central Pennsylvania. One incident, however serious, does not define what Hersheypark is. What it does mean is that guests should do what they would do at any large theme park: stay aware of their surroundings, keep track of their group, and use the park’s guest services resources if anything feels wrong.
If you are planning a Hersheypark trip before Labor Day and want to talk through the best way to spend your day, including how to make sure Tidal Force happens before the park closes that final Sunday, drop it in the comments. We will give you something useful to work with.
