Hersheypark Breaks Ground on Hershey’s Chocolatetown
(Hershey, Pa. - January 9, 2019) - Hersheypark, the 121-acre amusement park in Hershey, Pa., officially broke ground on Hershey’s Chocolatetown as part of a $150 million transformational expansion with a ceremony at the park entrance today.
Opening in summer 2020, Hershey’s Chocolatetown is a new region at Hersheypark where guests can eat, play, shop and gather year round as part of the development of 23 acres.
Hershey Entertainment & Resorts CEO John Lawn was joined by partners at The Hershey Company; The M.S. Hershey Foundation; Derry Township Board of Supervisors; Representative Tom Mehaffie; Senator John DiSanto; two students from Milton Hershey School; and Hershey's Characters at today’s ceremonial groundbreaking.
“We are incredibly excited to officially break ground and enter this next chapter in the rich history of Hersheypark,” said John Lawn, president and CEO of Hershey Entertainment & Resorts (HE&R). “Hersheypark will be open and fully operational during 2019 as Chocolatetown comes to life for the summer of 2020.”
In conjunction with the ceremony, Hersheypark launched a new section of www.hersheypark.com/chocolatetown with an interactive map for guests to explore locations within Chocolatetown and a new FAQ section for guests to better understand 2019 temporary changes. Construction updates and details will shared over the next year via the website and hashtag #HPChocolatetown.
The investment of $150 million dollars into the 23-acre Hershey’s Chocolatetown development represents the largest capital investment and most transformative expansion in Hershey Entertainment & Resorts’ history.
PICTURED ABOVE (from left to right):
Hershey's Bar; Derry Township Supervisor Susan Cort; Derry Township Supervisor Matthew Weir; Derry Township Supervisor Richard Zmuda; Representative Tom Mehaffie; Milton Hershey School student Valerie Heydeman; Executive Director of The M.S. Hershey Foundation Don Papson; Hershey Entertainment & Resorts CEO John Lawn; Vice President, Hershey Experience, The Hershey Company Suzanne Jones; Milton Hershey School student Gavin Meyers; Senator John DiSanto; Derry Township Supervisor Justin Engle; Reese's and Kiss.
Hershey’s Chocolatetown will feature several marquee elements:
New Arrival Experience and Front Gate
15th Coaster - Fastest, Tallest, Longest, Sweetest
Restaurant, Bar & Patio - Largest full-service themed restaurant in Hershey
Ice Cream Parlor and Confectionary Scratch Kitchen
2,200-square-foot Starbucks® Store
Largest Kettle Corn location at Hersheypark
One-of-a-Kind KISSES Fountain
A new home for the Carrousel, turning 100 years old in 2019
Flagship Store with the largest collection of Hersheypark merchandise.
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About HE&R: Hershey Entertainment & Resorts (HE&R) is a world-class entertainment and hospitality company dedicated to preserving the legacy of Milton S. Hershey. Founded in 1927 by Milton S. Hershey, HE&R and its subsidiaries own and/or operate the Hersheypark amusement park, Hersheypark Arena & Stadium, ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park, Hershey Bears AHL Hockey Club, Giant Center arena, The Hotel Hershey luxury resort, Hershey Lodge resort and convention center, Hersheypark Camping Resort campground, The Spa At The Hotel Hershey resort spa, MeltSpa by Hershey day spa, Hershey Country Club and Hershey Golf Collection, Hershey Nursery, and Hershey Laundry & Dry Cleaning. For additional information about HE&R, visit www.HersheyPA.com.
© 2019 Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Company. All words, designs, and phrases appearing in bold, italics, and/or with the symbol ®, SM, or TM are trademarks owned or used by Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Company under license or with permission. All other trademarks are owned by their respective owners. All rights reserved.
Hershey Entertainment & Resorts is proud to help fulfill the dream of our founder, Milton S. Hershey, by providing value to Milton Hershey School, the largest home and school in the world, as it continues to provide opportunities for children in need.