RE/MAX Realty Professionals, Inc.

Hershey, PA Area Guide

Most people hear “Hershey” and think “chocolate,” and that’s what Milton Hershey wanted when he was building his worldwide empire, but he also wanted to leave behind a legacy. He dreamed of something that would carry on his name long after he was gone and take care of the people who worked tirelessly for him, rewarding them for the all the hard work they had done through the years. That dream began to come to fruition with the Lancaster Caramel Company and with the success of that business and the sale of it for one million dollars, Mr. Hershey began the journey that would end with the fulfillment of a dream, Hershey, Pennsylvania.

He wanted to give back to his work force and began the ambitious plan of building a town around the factory that would encourage and inspire people and that’s what he did. He wanted a ‘real’ town, one with tree lined streets and shops and schools that any worker would be proud to call home and Milton Hershey was successful beyond his wildest dreams.

It began in 1897, when he bought back his original home and by 1927, Hershey Estates was incorporated and included schools and homes for workers and a zoo that is one of only 50 to be accredited by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association!

He built his tree lined streets and homes and established public transportation, then began to lay out plans to ensure that his team had things to do during their non-working hours and that’s how the resort and the zoo began.

Hershey believed in making his workers’ experience one that would send them home at the end of the day glad they worked for him and in that he has succeeded. There are schools and homes and educational opportunities he founded that still exist today, including the Milton Hershey School, dedicated to those children from low income families or limited resources. Funded by a trust that he and his wife, Catherine established, it offers excellent kindergarten through 12th grade classes.

Today, Hershey has become the sweetest place on earth, with the biggest decision a visitor will have to make is where to start!

Open year round, Hersheypark is just waiting for visitors to come enjoy any or all of the eleven roller coaster rides, or the nine water play attractions. When you’re ready for a break, you can take in the live entertainment.

If you love football, there’s the Big 33 Football classic in June or if football is a minor interest or you’d rather see a concert, everyone from Brooks and Dunn to John Mayer have played at their stadium. Would you rather ooh and ahh over classic antique automobiles? Then all you have to do in make plans to join us in October for the Antique Automobile Club of America Fall Meet! Also in October is the inaugural edition of the Hershey Half Run, a mini-marathon. Good times and good causes brought together are a winning combination that can’t be beat and you can enjoy the park while you’re supporting a good cause.

Next thing to think about is where you’re going to stay and Hershey has seen to it that any accommodation you choose will meet your every need from the Hotel Hershey to the Hershey Highmeadow Campground.

The Hotel Hershey is just waiting for guests from atop its perch of what was once called “Pat’s Hill.” Built during the economic devastation of The Depression, Hershey’s motto could have been, “If you build it, they will come.” Inspired to help the economy, he wanted to provide jobs for people and so, while everyone else was laying off workers and banks were closing, Milton Hershey was hiring, and it worked.

Now, the newly renovated, U shaped hotel is more beautiful than ever with seven shops, a nine hole golf course and The Chocolate Spa as some of the activities for guests to enjoy. At the end of a hard day of doing nothing but enjoying yourself, the classic round dining room waits to treat you to an excellent dinner and afterwards a walk through the beautiful garden is the end to a perfect day. Vacation has never been so easy!

The Hershey Lodge and Convention Center is located in Hershey as well . Whether you want the entire seven courses, or just a fine grilled sandwich, there’s a restaurant waiting to serve you after your hard day at play.

Want to vacation but would rather rough it without roughing it? You don’t have to look any further than Hershey’s High Meadow Camp Grounds where you can camp out in one of the open or shaded areas on 55 acres. Real log cabins wait for you to bring your camping gear, or if you’d rather bypass the cabins all together, there are lots for your RV as well as tenting areas. Whether you want to go rustic or go modern, Hershey’s High Meadow Camp Grounds have whatever you feel like.

At the end of the day, when you’ve had your fun at the park, or the spa or on the golf course, you can say without a doubt, you have found “The Sweetest Place on Earth.”

To view a virtual tour of Hershey click here:

HISTORY

http://www.familytravelguides.com/articles/greatlakes/Pennsylvania/hershist.html

Here's a little background on the chocolate capital of North America: HERSHEY(tm) HISTORY Milton S. Hershey, at the tender age of six, had set his sights on a small town northwest of Lancaster in Derry Township, Pennsylvania. This was his birthplace, and it is where he would return to build his chocolate empire and create a whole new way of life. His candy, his town, his park and his hotel were all forged out of his determination to make dreams come true. The young entrepreneur left the countryside to conquer the world of candy making and embarked on several unsuccessful business ventures in Philadelphia, New York, Denver and Chicago. After each attempt ended in bankruptcy, Milton Hershey finally returned to his native Lancaster County in 1886 and focused his efforts on caramels as he built up the Lancaster Caramel Company.

Twelve tremendously successful years later, he sold the company for $1 million--a move that marked the beginning of Hershey as we know it today. With this new-found capital and an acquired knowledge in milk chocolate production, Milton Hershey created Hershey's milk chocolate bar--the cornerstone of what is today the world's largest chocolate manufacturing plant. But Milton Hershey had bigger plans that exceeded his successful confectionery business. He envisioned a town built for his family and for the people who worked in his factory. And so, in 1897, Hershey acquired the family's original home, The Homestead farm, in Derry Church. The Pennsylvania countryside provided the pure milk and fresh water needed to make quality chocolate and The Homestead provided a hub for his new ventures. He hired architects to design and build homes, each individual and unique, for the chocolate-factory workers. He laid out avenues and named them after the places where cocoa is grown. He mapped out parks, built schools and public buildings. By 1927, Hershey Estates was incorporated under state law and included a park and zoo (what is today Hersheypark(tm)), a bank, a department store, the Convention Hall, utility companies and various other community building programs and enterprises.

As the Roaring Twenties came to a close, the Great Depression hit the country by storm, but luckily skirted the town of Hershey. It was during this time when industry lagged and jobs were scarce that Milton Hershey took a risk and instituted his "Great Building Campaign," aimed at providing work for the townspeople. During this multi-million dollar program two historic buildings were constructed, The Hotel Hershey and the Community Building (now the Hershey Foods Corporate Administrative Center), employing more than two hundred bricklayers, carpenters, electricians, masons, plumbers, and other skilled workers. Completed in May 1933 and styled after the famous 19th-century grand hotels of the Mediterranean, the hotel was described by the late world traveler Lowell Thomas as a "palace that outpalaces the palaces of the Maharajahs of India." The Hotel Hershey became Milton Hershey's prized achievement and it is where he spent his later years. "Other men have yachts to play with. This hotel is my yacht," Mr. Hershey boasted. The 241-room luxury resort, including 26 suites and a guesthouse, is renowned for its gracious accommodations, elegant dining in the renowned Circular Dining Room and the newly opened Fountain Cafe. Its novel design features a Spanish-influenced fountain lobby with intricately-designed mosaic floors and oak railed mezzanines. Today, The Hotel Hershey continues to preserve its original historic architecture and ambiance and is one of 100 members of the National Trust for Historic Preservation's Historic Hotels of America. The hotel is a recipient of the prestigious AAA Four Diamond rating and has won a number of awards. Recreation facilities include tennis, indoor and outdoor swimming, horse-drawn carriage rides, cycling and a fitness room. In the winter, cross-country skiing, sledding and tobogganing are popular. Golf has been a tradition in Chocolate Town USA, ever since Milton Hershey announced the beginnings of a new golf tournament in 1933 that was played on the expanded links of The Country Club of Hershey. Today known as the "Golf Capital of Pennsylvania," Hershey offers championship golf at five courses: The West Course and the East Course at the Country Club of Hershey, Spring Creek Golf Course, South Course, an executive course at The Hotel Hershey, and a chip-and-putt course at The Hershey Lodge. Continuing to uphold Milton Hershey's traditional belief values, Hershey Resorts built The Hershey Lodge in the 1960's. Located on 33 acres, The Hershey Lodge is ideal for travelers with small children or for those who prefer the relaxed atmosphere of the lush countryside. The recipient of the 1994 Gold Key Award presented by "Meetings and Convention Magazine," The Hershey Lodge offers 457 spacious guestrooms, a fitness center, a cinema showing first-run movies and indoor and outdoor pools. Entertainment and dining options at The Hershey Lodge include the newly-renovated 200-seat J.P Mallard's nightclub, fine dining in the elegant Tack Room, a homestyle environment at The Hearth, casual fare at the Copper Kettle and cocktails in the Forebay Lounge. Campers will also feel at home and find a variety of tent and recreational vehicle sites among the 55 acres of rolling countryside grounds at Hershey Highmeadow Camp.

ATTRACTIONS

http://www.hersheypa.com/things_to_do/fun_attractions.php

From Roller Coasters to Museums, Black Bears to Ballet, there’s something FUN for everyone to do in Hershey, PA! You’ll learn the history of the town and the Man behind the Chocolate Bar, Milton S. Hershey. Then, enjoy the thrilling rides and attractions at the park he built as a place for his workers to relax!

Hersheypark
Enjoy over 65 rides and attractions including 11 thrilling coasters, live entertainment, 20 kiddie rides, and the Boardwalk At Hersheypark

Hershey's Chocolate World
Start your visit at Hershey’s Chocolate World. Enjoy chocolate FUN for everyone including a FREE Chocolate Tour ride complete with a free sample!

ZooAmerica
Located next to Hersheypark and included in your one-price Park admission, ZooAmerica is an 11-acre walk-through zoo with over 200 animals

Hershey Bears
Reigning champions of the American Hockey League, the Hershey Bears have won more league championships than any other franchise

Regional attractions all close to Hershey!

Dutch Wonderland
Just 30 minutes from Hershey in Lancaster, PA, Dutch Wonderland is perfect for kids 12 and under. Rides, food, games and fun for the whole family

Lancaster Dutch Country
Plan to spend a day in Lancaster, just 30 minutes from Hershey. Home to America's oldest Amish settlement, thousands still live a "Plain" lifestyle.

Historic Gettysburg
Gettysburg provides great opportunities to learn about American History and the Civil War. Enjoy a walk on the battlefield or take a horseback tour.

Harrisburg
Minutes from Hershey, Harrisburg is the State Capital of PA. Experience the city's rich history while also enjoying the exciting nightlife, museums and more

Parks & Recreation
http://www.derrytownship.org/index.php/township-departments/parks-a-recreation

Organized recreation in Derry Township began with the development of Milton Hershey's model town. He believed recreation to be as vital to our lives as housing and utilities. During the construction of the town, Mr. Hershey established a plan for a public park and the Cocoa Avenue Plaza. The Cocoa Avenue Plaza was donated to the Township in 1978. The Township continues to place recreation as a high priority and strives to meet the recreational needs of an active community.

The Township of Derry Department of Parks & Recreation offers a wide variety of year- round recreational and leisure activities for all ages. The department provides many instructional programs, fitness classes, aquatics, child development, special interest programs, and community events.