Hersheypark, PA

Overview:

Hersheypark is part of Hershey, PA, a year-round destination in central Pennsylvania, close to Amish country. Hershey PA is three hours from NYC, two hours from Philadelphia, two hours from Washington/Baltimore, and 15 minutes from an international airport at Harrisburg.

What’s in “Chocolate Town USA” for families?

• Hersheypark – voted top amusement park by FamilyFun Magazine
• ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park, a modest-sized walk-through zoo the Dutch Wonderland Family Amusement Park -30 minutes away, in Pennsylvania Dutch country
• Hotel Hershey- a grand old hotel, with kids’ club and spa with chocolate treatments
• Hershey Lodge and Convention Center- welcomes families
• Hershey’s Chocolate World: visitors’ center with fun free “Factory Tour”, and FactoryWorks where kids package their own Hershey
• Kisses; also (paid admission) the Really Big 3-D Show, by same creators as It’s A Bug’s Life at Disney World, and trolley tour with a singing conductor.

What’s special about Hershey PA for families?

Hersheypark is the best known attraction, and was built by chocolate entrepreneur Milton S. Hershey in 1907 as a place where his employees could enjoy a Sunday afternoon. Hersheypark is now a major theme park on 110 acres, with sixty rides including some wicked coasters; there are water rides, fa

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Activities:

Eleven coasters, including the wonderful Great Bear, an inverted coaster, Storm Runner, a rocket coaster, and Comet, a classic woodie. A great batch of water rides, including the Canyon River Rapids raft ride, the Tidal Force splashdown ride, and Roller Soaker, an interactive water coaster. The 11-acre ZOOAMERICA is included with admission. Outside the park is the free Hershey’s Chocolate World with the Really Big 3D Show and the ride-through Factory Works Experience.

New for 2009 The Boardwalk: The SEAquel – Water park expansion Hersheypark still isn’t calling its impressive collection of water rides a “water park,” but with this summer’s addition of a huge wave pool and a lazy river, it offers more watery diversions than some actual water parks. » Back to Top

Accommodations:

The Hotel Hershey The Hotel Hershey is one of America’s landmark hotels, offering 230 guest rooms and 23,500 square feet of meeting and function space. Located on a hilltop overlooking Hershey, Pennsylvania, the 1930’s hotel is a recipient of both the Mobil Four-Star Award and the AAA Four-Diamond Award. The Hotel Hershey is also a member of Historic Hotels of America.
The Hotel Hershey is a part of Hershey Resorts, which also includes The Spa At The Hotel Hershey, Hershey Lodge and Hershey Country Club. Hershey Resorts is a division of Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Company, a privately held company. In addition to The Hotel Hershey, Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Company also owns and operates Hersheypark, ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park, Dutch Wonderland Family Entertainment Complex, Hershey Lodge, The Spa At The Hotel Hershey, Hershey Country Club, Hershey Nursery, Hershey Cleaners, and the Hershey Bears, an American Hockey League team. Hershey, Pennsylvania is known the world over as The Sweetest Place On Earth. A year-round destination with a wide array of attractions, Hershey was rated a top family vacation spot by Smart Money and FamilyFun magazines. Hershey is conveniently located in central Pennsylvania, a mere 3 hours from New York City, 2 hours from Philadelphia, and 2 hours from the Washington/Baltimore metro area.
Hershey Lodge Hershey Lodge is a full-service resort located in Hershey, Pennsylvania, offering 665 guest rooms and 100,000 square feet of function space. Hershey Lodge is Pennsylvania’s Largest Convention Resort and is part of Hershey Resorts, which also includes The Hotel Hershey, The Spa At The Hotel Hershey, Hershey Country Club, and Hershey Highmeadow Campground.
Hershey Resorts is a division of Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Company, a privately held company. In addition to Hershey Lodge, Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Company also owns and operates Hersheypark, ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park, Dutch Wonderland Family Entertainment Complex, The Hotel Hershey, Hershey Golf Collection, The Spa At The Hotel Hershey, Hershey Nursery, Hershey Cleaners, Giant Center, Hershey Highmeadow Campground, Houlihan’s Restaurant & Bar, and Hershey Bears, an American Hockey League team. Known as The Sweetest Place on Earth, Hershey, Pennsylvania is a year-round destination with a wide array of attractions. Hershey was rated a top family vacation spot by Smart Money and FamilyFun magazines. Hershey is conveniently located in Central Pennsylvania, just 90 minutes from Baltimore , 2 hours from Philadelphia, 2 hours from Washington, DC and 3 hours from New York City.
Days Inn Hershey Welcome to the award winning Days Inn Hershey—the closest hotel accommodations to HERSHEY PARK —located in downtown Hershey, Pennsylvania—the world’s most famous chocolate town! During your stay with us, expect outstanding hospitality, beautiful rooms, and well-manicured grounds—all the reasons why the Days Inn Hershey was recently filmed for a national television commercial!
Days Inn Hershey PA, hotel and lodging near the famous Hershey PA. If you are one of the millions of chocolate lovers out there, there is only one place you should stay during your next vacation. The Days Inn Hershey, Pennsylvania is not only an award-winning hotel; it is the closest hotel to all the attractions that you will want to see, including Chocolate World, Hershey Stadium, Giant Center, ZooAmerica, the Hershey Lodge & Convention Center and the Outlets of Hershey. » Back to Top

Dining:

There’s always something special on the menu at the restaurants at Hershey Lodge. Whether you’re looking for a family dinner, tasty grilled seafood, or a romantic evening with someone special, you’ll find the perfect atmosphere at one of our four restaurants. Kids are expected and we’ve got great ways to keep them smiling with special menu items, and coloring pages. If you simply need a quick cappuccino, stop by the Cocoa Beanery, or relax longer with a cocktail in the comfort of the Lobby Lounge.

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Hershey Grill Ideal for a great meal in an elegant, informal setting. The Grill offers premium steaks, fresh seafood, and tasty pasta dishes complimented by an extensive wine list. Open for lunch and dinner daily.
Cocoa Beanery Looking for a quick snack? The Cocoa Beanery is conveniently located in the lobby and provides a casual place to enjoy one of our famous chocolate pastries with a cup of specialty coffee, cappuccino, or Hershey’s Hot Chocolate “to go.” Signature soups, salads, and sandwiches are also available.
Lebbie Lebkicher’s Named after Milton S. Hershey’s life-long friend, Lebbie Lebkicher’s features casual dining in a family-friendly atmosphere.
The Bears’ Den A sports-themed restaurant featuring your favorite games on a 9’ x 12’ video wall and 28 additional TV screens. Menu includes burgers, salads, pizza, and chicken wings plus a full range of domestic and imported beers. Open daily for lunch and dinner.
The Forebay Offering an upscale casual and cozy loft setting. Enjoy one of our signature chocolate martinis, some chocolate stout or savor a more traditional single malt scotch. An array of chef’s selected creations make up a well-balanced menu. Such delightful menu items include Chicken Lollipops, Cocoa Dusted Diver Scallops, Heirloom Tomato Salad, Grouper Reuben, Hand Cut Aged Ribeye with Lobster, Clams Linguine, Grilled Lamb T-Bones and of course our Forebay Chips made fresh daily in our own kitchen served with a warm House Made Blue Cheese Dip. And what meal in Hershey would be complete without chocolate? The Forebay’s Famous House Made Chocolate Molten Cake puts a perfect finish on a truly delectable meal.
Ripples Too busy having fun? Join us at Ripples, located next to the swimming pool, for delicious snacks and refreshing beverages. Open daily, Memorial Day

Directions:

From Baltimore: I83N to York and Harrisburg. Near Harrisburg, continue on I83N to 322E to Hershey. Exit at Hersheypark Drive/Route 39W.

From Central New Jersey: I95S to the Pennsylvania Turnpike (I76). I76W to Exit 266. Turn left onto 72N to 322W. Route 322 becomes Hersheypark Drive/Route 39W.

From NYC: I78W to I81S. Take Exit 77 and follow Route 39S to Hershey.

From Philadelpia: Schuykill Expressway (I76W) to the Pennsylvania Turnpike (I76). I76W to Exit 266. Follow NJ directions above.

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History:

Born September 13, 1857 on a farm near Derry Church, a small Pennsylvania community, Milton Hershey was the only surviving child of Fannie and Henry Hershey. His mother raised him in the strict discipline of the Mennonite faith. Frequent family moves interrupted his schooling and left him with a limited education. He only completed the fourth grade.

Following a four-year apprenticeship with a Lancaster candy maker, he established his first candy making business in Philadelphia. That initial effort failed as did his next two attempts in Chicago and New York. Returning to Lancaster, PA in 1883, Hershey established the Lancaster Caramel Company, which quickly became an outstanding success. It was that business which established him as a candy maker and set the stage for future accomplishments.

Learning About Chocolate

Hershey became fascinated with German chocolate-making machinery exhibited at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition. He bought the equipment for his Lancaster plant and soon began producing a variety of chocolate creations. Hershey sold the Lancaster Caramel Co. for $1 million in 1900 in order to concentrate exclusively on his chocolate business. Three years later, he returned to Derry Church to build a new factory. There he could obtain the large supplies of fresh milk needed to perfect and produce fine milk chocolate.

Excited by the potential of milk chocolate, which at that time was a Swiss luxury product, Milton Hershey determined to develop a formula for milk chocolate and market and sell it to the American public. Through trial and error he created his own formula for milk chocolate. In 1903 he began construction on what was to become the world’s largest chocolate manufacturing plant. The facility, completed in 1905, was designed to manufacture chocolate using the latest mass production techniques. Hershey’s milk chocolate quickly became the first nationally marketed product of its kind.

Milton Hershey’s Model Town

With Milton Hershey’s success came a profound sense of moral responsibility and benevolence. His ambitions were not limited to producing chocolate. Hershey envisioned a complete new community around his factory. He built a model town for his employees that included comfortable homes, an inexpensive public transportation system, a quality public school system and extensive recreational and cultural opportunities. Unlike other industrialists of his time, Hershey avoided building a faceless company town with row houses. He wanted a “real home town” with tree-lined streets, single- and two-family brick houses, and manicured lawns. He was concerned about providing adequate recreation and diversions, so he built a park that opened on April 24, 1907, and expanded rapidly over the next several years. Amusement rides, a swimming pool, and a ballroom were added. Soon, trolley cars and trains were bringing thousands of out-of-town visitors to the park.

Many of the town’s impressive structures were built during the Great Depression, as part of Milton Hershey’s “Great Building Campaign,” to provide jobs. It was then that monumental structures such as The Hotel Hershey, community center, theatre, sports arena and stadium were constructed, transforming the town into a major tourist attraction that continues to grow in popularity each year.

Milton Hershey’s business success allowed him to practice an extensive philanthropy. In 1909, unable to have children of their own, he and his wife Catherine established a school for orphan boys that today is known as the Milton S. Hershey School. In 1918, three years after Catherine’s premature death, Milton Hershey endowed the school with his entire fortune of Hershey Chocolate Company stock. He took great pride in the growth of the school, the town, and his business. For the rest of his life, he always placed the quality of his product and the well-being of his workers ahead of profits.

Milton Hershey’s Legacy

In 1935, Milton Hershey established The M.S. Hershey Foundation, a small, private charitable foundation to provide educational and cultural opportunities for local residents. The Foundation supports three entities: The Hershey Story and Hershey Gardens, the Hershey Theatre and the Hershey Community Archives.

In 1963, The Milton S. Hershey Medical Center of The Pennsylvania State University was founded with a $50 million award from the Milton Hershey School Trust Fund for construction and endowment, and $21.3 million from the U.S. Public Health Services. The College of Medicine enrolled its first students in 1967 and has conferred 2,182 doctor of medicine degrees.
The Milton S. Hershey Testamentary Trust makes an annual contribution to the Derry Township School District, the local public school district.

Since his death in 1945 at age 88, Milton Hershey’s legacy has thrived with a constantly changing world. Today, Milton Hershey School, the institution he and his wife founded, nurtures more than 1,100 financially needy boys and girls in grades K-12. The school and the Hershey philanthropy are perpetuated through the holdings of the Milton Hershey School Trust, which in turn derives much of its support from the profits of The Hershey Company and Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Company.

Hershey Today

The town of Hershey continues to be a special place for its residents and a popular attraction for millions of visitors annually. The Hershey Company is the nation’s leading manufacturer of confectionery products and Hershey Entertainment & Resorts continues to provide attractions and accommodations in Hershey that exceed guests’ expectations. Indeed, Milton Hershey’s accomplishments do speak for themselves.

His deeds are his monument. His life is our inspiration.

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