Confirmed: Hersheypark to reopen on September 17, 2011 following flooding

Hersheypark has confirmed that it will reopen to the public on Saturday, September 17, 2011, as work continues to repair damage caused by severe flooding.

The park has been closed since Hershey, Pennsylvania area was hit by Tropical Storm Lee, leaving some areas submerged under several feet of flood water. PennLive.com reports that it has now recovered sufficiently to return to operations, although it could take several months to restore Hersheypark to its pre-flood state.

Previous reports revealed that Hersheypark suffered serious damage in low-lying areas due to the flooding, although most of its rides escaped unscathed. Retail outlets and concession stands suffered the worst problems, with some requiring total refurbishment.

Hersheypark has already begun construction work on a new $25 million rollercoaster, Skyrush, for the 2012 season. It is not yet known whether the timescales for opening the ride will be affected by the floods.