originally posted on 11/17/2025
Photo: Eggie Young. View full-sized image.
On Saturday, September 6, 2025, ACE Eastern Pennsylvania hosted its sixth annual CocoaCon at Hersheypark, where 194 attendees had one sweet day.
The check-in crew.
Photo: Linda Weisenstein. View full-sized image.
Comet.
Photo: Linda Weisenstein. View full-sized image.
Twizzlers Twisted Gravity.
Photo: Linda Weisenstein. View full-sized image.
After ACE members and their guests checked in, the day began with an hour-long “Sweet Start,” which is Hersheypark’s early entry for season passholders and other guests. During this time, participants could ride four roller coasters, among them the Intamin wing coaster Skyrush and Comet (a wood ACE Roller Coaster Landmark), and various flat rides, including the new-for-2025 Twizzlers Twisted Gravity.
Photo: Jessica Knouse. View full-sized image.
With the lights on in Estate of Evil, attendees could see the details easily.
Photo: Linda Weisenstein. View full-sized image.
From 11 a.m. until noon, CocoaCon attendees were welcome to tour one of the park’s Dark Nights’ haunts: Estate of Evil. This exclusive lights-on, behind-the-scenes tour started with a greeting and backstory by Chris Brown, director of planning and design for Hershey Entertainment & Resorts. The tour itself was self-guided, which allowed guests to appreciate all the little details Hershey’s staff designed for this haunt, which opened last year. While walking through the 13 different rooms with the lights on, the elements of the seven deadly sins were present throughout the estate.
Trailblazer..
Photo: Eggie Young. View full-sized image.
Attendees enjoyed a ride in the Kissing Tower.
Photo: Gina Althouse. View full-sized image.
The view from the Kissing Tower was awesome!
Photo: Eggie Young. View full-sized image.
In addition to the tour, there were various informal takeover times (ITOTs) scheduled throughout the day, which included the Arrow mine train Trailblazer, Kissing Tower and Frontier Flyers. Guests could also enjoy the park’s other rides, including five that celebrated milestone anniversaries in 2025. Kissing Tower and Twin Turnpike both turned 50, and the dueling Great Coasters International, Inc. wooden coaster Lightning Racer turned 25.
Laff Trakk.
Photo: Linda Weisenstein. View full-sized image.
Candymonium.
Photo: Sue Yekel. View full-sized image.
Laff Trakk, the Maurer spinning coaster that was celebrating 10 years at the park, had a seasonal Shaq-A-Licious overlay, while the Bolliger & Mabillard hypercoaster Candymonium and Chocolatetown marked their fifth anniversaries.
Photo: Linda Weisenstein. View full-sized image.
The group dinner included hamburgers, barbeque chicken and pulled pork sandwiches, lots of sides, soft drinks and a variety of ice cream novelties. During this time, ACE Eastern Pennsylvania Regional Representative Mike Matscherz welcomed everyone to CocoaCon and introduced his regional rep team, along with various volunteers who helped make this event a success. Afterward, he held a new-member meetup for those who were attending their first ACE event.
Mark Warren won the Corn Hole contest.
Photo: Jessica Knouse. View full-sized image.
As the sun set and the park closed to the public, attendees gathered at the Fahrenheit pavilion to wait for Hersheypark’s staff to clear the park. While waiting, guests were welcome to join a friendly Corn Hole Contest. Congratulations to Mark Warren who won the competition with 10 points in the final round.
Storm Runner.
Photos: Eggie Young. View full-sized image.
Jolly Rancher Remix.
View full-sized image.
When the park was cleared, it was time for an hour of ERT on Intamin’s Storm Runner and Jolly Rancher Remix (a Vekoma boomerang). Guests got lots of rides on these two coasters during that time thanks to the speedy operations teams. There’s nothing like going 0 to 72 mph in two seconds in the dark.
All were grateful to Matscherz and the entire ACE Eastern Pennsylvania team and to Hersheypark’s amazing staff, especially Connor Dea and Brown, for an incredibly sweet day!
— Melissa Buck
#ACENews