| The Wild Cat | |
|---|---|
| Hersheypark | |
| Location | Hersheypark |
| Coordinates | 40°17′18″N 76°39′13″W / 40.2882°N 76.6535°W |
| Status | Removed |
| Opening date | June 16, 1923 |
| Closing date | September 9, 1945 |
| Cost | $50,000 |
| General statistics | |
| Type | Wood |
| Manufacturer | Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters |
| Designer | Herbert Schmeck |
| Track layout | Out and Back |
| Lift/launch system | Chain lift hill |
| Drop | 75 ft (23 m) |
| Length | 2,331 ft (710 m) |
| Inversions | 0 |
| Trains | 3 trains with 3 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 4 rows for a total of 24 riders per train. |
| The Wild Cat at RCDB | |
The Wild Cat, originally named The Joy Ride, was a wooden roller coaster located at Hersheypark in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The roller coaster was constructed in 1923 by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company (PTC). Under an agreement between Hersheypark and PTC, Hersheypark leased the land the coaster occupied, while PTC owned and operated the coaster. The agreement was for 15 years, at which point they had the option to extend the contract. The contract was ultimately extended to 1945. The roller coaster operated from June 16, 1923, through September 1945. PTC and Hershey Park elected to close The Wild Cat and construct a new roller coaster in 1946.
The Wild Cat was the first roller coaster where Herbert Schmeck was credited as the designer.