Hydra-The Revenge looms above the shores of Lake Dorney, its 3,198 feet of green track snaking above a log flume ride and thrillingly close to Steel Force, the first mega coaster in the Northeast. Six months of the year, screams of delighted terror emanate from the floorless cars as they fly and dip over a tubular steel track in the thrill ride at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom, 200 acres of action packed fun in suburban Allentown, PA (South Whitehall Township, Lehigh County).

Ours is the story of the involvement of Barry Isett & Associates’ (BIA) engineering skill in the interplay of events required to fashion 1,368,000 tons of steel and concrete into a thrill ride, all sandwiched into a compact site with stringent requirements.

The site chosen for HYDRA: THE REVENGE was rife with challenges. With Lake Dorney on one side of the site which is bisected by the log flume of Thunder Creek Mountain, the proximity of adjacent buildings, substrata surface considerations and municipal zoning requirements that specified height and ride zones, it was a formidable task to weave more than half a mile of looping and plunging track through the 4.92 acre site in a way that served the vision of park owners and met all site and permitting requirements. The site plan did just that, taking precise care in the placement of ride footings to avoid stationary elements in and around the site, utilize topography for the optimum “thrill factor” and maintain clearances for structures and access needs.

Barry Isett & Associates provided surveys for plans and construction stake out; civil engineering for site design and permitting; structural engineering for foundation evaluation and general trouble shooting; environmental services for assistance on evaluating sub-strata conditions and construction services to observe the 12-month construction process.

The American Council of Engineering Companies of Pennsylvania (ACEC/PA) recognized Barry Isett & Associates, Inc. for “Engineering Excellence” for a variety of services provided in the site design and construction of HYDRA; THE REVENGE