Hershey, Pennsylvania, Wednesday, 10 September 2025.
Last Sunday, riders on Hersheypark’s Comet—the park’s oldest operating steel coaster—were escorted off a train after a mid-ride stoppage caused by a platform guest disturbance, not a mechanical fault. Staff implemented controlled track-level evacuation procedures, walking patrons down adjacent stairs and returning them safely to the station; operations resumed later that day. For retail and attractions operators, the incident highlights a high-visibility risk that mixes guest behaviour, legacy-asset logistics and communications. Key takeaways include the necessity of clear egress routes for older layouts, rigorous staff training for on-track evacuations, real-time incident communication to protect reputation, and post-event inspection and restraint diagnostics even when no mechanical failure is suspected. The most intriguing fact: the stoppage originated off-ride, underscoring how non-technical incidents can trigger complex operational responses on historic assets. Operators should re-evaluate dispatch safeguards, guest management protocols and inspection regimes to preserve throughput and public confidence.