If you are going after this cache you are probably familiar with Hershey, Pennsylvania and some of its history. As a young boy I can remember stopping at Hershey Park on our way to relatives who lived in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. We would leave home in Western New York and drive down US RT 15 and then take US RT 322 west into Hershey. I don’t remember much about the roads at that time because I would be sleeping most of the trip, rolled up in my blanket lying on the dash by the back window of the car.
At that time, Hershey Park didn’t have an admission fee and you would only pay for those rides you wanted to ride. The Park had several picnic groves, so we would bring a picnic basket and spend several hours relaxing and taking a break from the drive.
How things have changed since then. First you would probably be arrested if you were driving down the road with a young child lying in the rear window of you car. But the purpose of this cache is to show how the roads have changed since the late 1940's . In New York they now have Interstate 86 which crosses Southern New York. Routes 15, 322 and 422 have been improved and, except for a couple of short distances, 4 lanes with very few traffic lights. You can drive right into Hershey Park from New York on a 4 lane highway and only have to make a few stops. That is true coming from a lot of places if you use the Pennsylvania Turnpike, I-78, I-81 or I-83
During the 1970's and 80’s PENNDOT along with the help of TriCounty Planning Commission, the Harrisburg Area Transportation Study and Derry Township were able to fund the realignment and widening of RT 39 between RT 322 and Hershey Park. These improvements were needed because of the increased growth of Hershey Park and the Hershey Area. Without these improvements Hershey Park, the Giant Center and some of the other growth around Hershey may not have happened. At the present time, the same agencies involved with these improvements are making a study on both RT’s 39 and 743 between Hershey and Interstate 81.
This cache is located in an area that will reflect some of the remains of the old RT 39.
Parking is available at Bob Evans which is at the coordinates given above.
In setting up this cache some concern was expressed about the ownership of the old right of way for Route 39. If you happen to walk on the old Right OF Way, It is known that the land on the North Side of the Bridge is owned by THE HERSHEY HIGHMEADOWS CAMPGROUND. THIS IS PRIVATE PROPERTY and IT IS NOT NECESSARY GO ONTO THEIR PROPERTY.
IT IS ALSO NOT NECESSARY TO GO TO THE TOP OF THE EMBANKMENT OR GO NEAR THE ACTIVE RAILROAD TRACKS.