Two significant Hersheypark stories landed in close proximity and both deserve space.
The first is a closure announcement. Tidal Force, the water ride that has been a fixture at Hersheypark since 1994, will permanently close after September 7, 2026. Thirty-two years. The park is giving it a proper farewell rather than a quiet exit, which is the right call for an attraction with that kind of history.
The second is the resolution of an April incident that was serious enough to draw a multi-agency law enforcement response and has now resulted in 55 individuals being charged with offenses ranging from misdemeanor disorderly conduct to felony riot and aggravated assault.
Both stories matter for guests planning Hersheypark visits. Here is the full picture on each.
Tidal Force's Final Weekend Is September 7
Hersheypark framed the Tidal Force closure with language the ride has earned over three decades. “When a vessel takes its last voyage, we believe it deserves a proper send-off,” the park announced. “After 32 years of making the biggest splashes Hersheypark has seen, we'll dock the boats permanently after Sept. 7.”
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
That is a park that understands what it is losing, which is worth acknowledging. Tidal Force opened in 1994 and has spent 32 years doing exactly what this type of water ride is supposed to do. It moves guests through a channel, builds toward a final drop, and delivers a thorough soaking without apology. That specific experience sits in its own category. Not a roller coaster. Not a water park slide. Something in between that has its own identity and its own devoted following.
No reason for the closure has been given and no replacement has been announced for the space. What has been given is a final date: September 7, 2026, Labor Day weekend. Guests who want to ride it have a defined window and a clear deadline.
For anyone who rode Tidal Force as a child and has not been back, or for families who have been meaning to get there and have not made it, that window is specific enough to plan around. Labor Day weekend at Hersheypark tends to be busy. Arriving early and making Tidal Force a morning priority before lines build is the practical approach for guests who want to ride it without a significant wait.
55 People Charged After the April 3 Incident
The charges coming out of the April 3 incident at Hersheypark represent the conclusion of a months-long investigation that involved a substantial collection of law enforcement agencies and took the incident seriously from the start, per WGAL.
Derry Township Police announced the results in 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.”
Of the 55 charged, 52 are juveniles between the ages of 12 and 17. Three are adults: Omar Ibrahim, 19, of Harrisburg; Jerome Ross III, 18, of Harrisburg; and Quaneek Williams, 18, of Harrisburg.
The investigation was a collaborative effort involving 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 list of agencies reflects both the scale of what happened on April 3 and the seriousness with which it was pursued.
Police were direct about what the outcome represents. “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.”
The charges span a significant range. Simple misdemeanor disorderly conduct on one end. Felony riot and aggravated assault on the other. Fifty-five people across that spectrum is an unusually large outcome for a single theme park incident and the felony charges signal that what occurred on April 3 crossed well beyond typical crowd behavior.
What Both Stories Mean for a Hersheypark Visit
The Tidal Force closure creates a straightforward planning consideration. If you want to ride it, Labor Day weekend is the deadline. After September 7 it is permanently gone with no announced replacement. Build it into your visit before that date passes.
The April incident and its resolution create a different kind of consideration. The scope of what happened, 55 people charged across misdemeanor and felony counts, is not something to dismiss. It was a serious disruption at a park that does not typically make news for security incidents.
At the same time, the investigation was thorough and the outcome was accountability. Hersheypark cooperated fully with law enforcement throughout. The charges represent the legal system doing what it is supposed to do when something like this happens at a public venue. Whether the park has implemented additional security measures or policy changes in response has not been publicly stated.
Hersheypark is a well-regarded regional park with a strong ride lineup and a long history of family programming. A Labor Day visit to catch Tidal Force's final weekend is a genuinely good reason to make the trip, and the park continues operating normally. Going in with awareness of the broader context is useful. Going in with disproportionate concern based on one incident that has since been thoroughly investigated and charged is not warranted.
Have questions about a Hersheypark visit before the Tidal Force closure or want to know more about what the park experience looks like right now? Leave a comment below and we will help you plan.
