Hotel Hershey
Encyclopedia
Hershey, Pennsylvania
Hershey is a census-designated place in Derry Township, Dauphin County in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The community is located 14 miles east of Harrisburg and is part of the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area. Hershey has no legal status as an incorporated municipality...
. It has 232 guest rooms and 23500 square feet (2,183.2 m²) of event space.
The Hotel Hershey's architectural style has Spanish and Italian influences, mosaic tiles and archways, and a villa-style balcony overlooking the twinkling lights of Hershey and the expanse of Hershey Gardens
Hershey Gardens
Hershey Gardens is a botanical garden and arboretum located at 170 Hotel Road, Hershey, Pennsylvania, near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. They are set on top of pat's hill overlooking Hersheypark. It was built as a gift from chocolate magnate Milton S...
. Historic photographs and original artwork line the halls and decorate guest room walls, as well as the Iberian Lounge, which takes the guest back in time to dim, fireplace-lit cigar lounges.
History
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, Milton S. Hershey
Milton S. Hershey
Milton Snavely Hershey was an American confectioner, philanthropist, and founder of The Hershey Chocolate Company and the "company town" of Hershey, Pennsylvania....
, founder of The Hershey Chocolate Company
The Hershey Company
The Hershey Company, known until April 2005 as the Hershey Foods Corporation and commonly called Hershey's, is the largest chocolate manufacturer in North America. Its headquarters are in Hershey, Pennsylvania, which is also home to Hershey's Chocolate World. It was founded by Milton S...
, faced with the challenge of either employing his town's construction workers or providing for their welfare, decided to build a hotel on Pat's Hill overlooking the town and his factory. Originally planned 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
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. 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.
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 features innovative treatments inspired by chocolate such as the Whipped Cocoa Bath, Chocolate Bean Polish, and the Chocolate Fondue Wrap.
Throughout 2009, The Hotel Hershey officially unveiled its $67 million building campaign known as “The Grand Expansion,” which launched as part of the Hotel's 75th anniversary celebration. Along with upgrades to the Hotel’s front entrance, the expansion features 10 new luxury guest cottages; one meetings cottage; a multi-pool swimming complex with an infinity-edge pool; year-round ice-skating rink; new recreation area; 130-seat restaurant, Harvest; and seven new boutique shops known as The Shops At The Hotel Hershey.