The Hotel Hershey is a

resort A resort (North American English) is a self-contained commercial establishment that tries to provide most of a vacationer's wants, such as food, drink, swimming, lodging, sports, entertainment, and shopping, on the premises. The term ''resort ...

hotel in

Hershey, Pennsylvania Hershey is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Derry Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is home to The Hershey Company, which was founded by candy magnate Milton S. Hershey. The community is lo ...

. Established in 1933, it is a historical landmark and

five-star hotel Hotel ratings are often used to classify hotels according to their quality. From the initial purpose of informing travellers on basic facilities that can be expected, the objectives of hotel rating have expanded into a focus on the hotel experie ...

located on a hilltop overlooking

, and the surrounding area. It was inducted int
Historic Hotels of America
the official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, since 1991. It has 276 guest rooms and of event space. The hotel's architectural style is Spanish Colonial revival, including mosaic tiles and archways, and a villa-style balcony overlooking Hershey and

Hershey Gardens Hershey Gardens is a botanical garden and arboretum located at 170 Hotel Road, Hershey, near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. They are set atop a hill overlooking Hersheypark. It was built as a gift from chocolate magnate Milton S. Hershey for his com ...

. Historic photographs and original artwork line the halls and decorate guest room walls, as well as the Iberian Lounge, which is designed to resemble dim, fireplace-lit cigar lounges of the past.

History

During the

Great Depression The Great Depression (19291939) was an economic shock that impacted most countries across the world. It was a period of economic depression that became evident after a major fall in stock prices in the United States. The economic contagio ...

Milton S. Hershey Milton Snavely Hershey (September 13, 1857 – October 13, 1945) was an American chocolatier, businessman, and philanthropist. Trained in the confectionery business, Hershey pioneered the manufacture of caramel, using fresh milk. He launched t ...

, founder of The Hershey Chocolate Company, planned for the hotel to be a recreation of the famous Heliopolis Palace Hotel, construction plans changed and were delayed due to costs, the death of Hershey's wife, Catherine, and the outbreak of

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

. When construction began, the new plans drew on Mediterranean and Spanish influences. Construction began in 1931 and the hotel was completed on May 23, 1932. The effort employed as many as 800 workers. The bill for the hotel was around $2 million. The Hotel officially opened on May 26, 1933. Generating income by then was not the main goal of the project. Being the height of the Great Depression, Hershey was attempting to help the people of the city by creating jobs. In 1934, a nine-hole golf course was added to the grounds and in 1961, an outdoor swimming pool was added. In 1977, a new 100 room wing was added to the hotel along with a new indoor pool and fitness center. In 2001, a full service spa called "The Spa At The Hotel Hershey" was added. The spa offered treatments featuring chocolate, including: chocolate wraps, chocolate baths, chocolate lotion and scrubs. In 2009, The Hotel Hershey completed work on a $67 million expansion and renovation project which included a redesigned exterior and lobby.

References

External links

*
Hershey Community Archives website

Historic Hotel Hershey photographs
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hotel Hershey, The Buildings and structures in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company Hershey, Pennsylvania Hotels in Pennsylvania 1933 establishments in Pennsylvania Hotels established in 1933 Hotel buildings completed in 1933 Historic Hotels of America