Historic Architecture of Hershey's Chocolatetown

As Milton S. Hershey once said, "The more beautiful you make something which people can see and use, the more enjoyment they get out of it.” 

That is certainly true of Hershey's Chocolatetown.

What guests may not know is that this new region features many architectural elements that pay homage to the legacy of Mr. Hershey and the architecture of his era.

Here are just a few of the building choices thoughtfully selected to reflect Mr. Hershey's style and complement the existing Hershey landmarks he created in the community he loved.

Four-Sided Pitched Roof Towers

Mr. Hershey loved the look of the four-sided pitched roof, so he incorporated it into the design of many buildings around town, including The Hershey Chocolate Factory, which opened in 1905, and the original fire company. It is most noticeable on The Hotel Hershey, a historical landmark that opened in 1933 and is recognized today as one of the great resorts of North America. 

Four of the buildings in Hershey's Chocolatetown feature four-sided pitched roof towers like those still found on the exterior of The Hotel Hershey. Guests can see the pitched roof design on the new Ticketing and Guest Services buildings; the building that houses Hersheypark Supply Co., a premier 10,000-square-foot flagship retail experience with the largest collection of apparel, gifts, toys and more exclusive to Hersheypark; and the coaster station for Candymonium, the tallest, fastest, longest and sweetest coaster at Hersheypark.

Dutch Gables

The Dutch gable is a local architecture form dating back to Mr. Hershey's era that features a hip roof with a small gable at the top. The Hershey Railroad Station, which welcomed visitors to Hershey Park in the early 1900s, had Dutch Gables. The train station buildings serve as the inspiration for incorporating this period-specific, architectural element in Hershey’s Chocolatetown.

Dutch Gables will appear in Hershey's Chocolatetown on the tram station and the new front gate.

Bricks

Brick was a predominant building material used in Central Pennsylvania during the time when Mr. Hershey was constructing a model town for his employees. Visitors to The Sweetest Place On Earth today will see brick on many of the buildings, both old and new, as a nod to the man who began it all. 

Hershey's Chocolatetown features five different colors of clay bricks from Glen Gery in Berks County, Pa. and Belden Brick in Canton, OH. The beige brick used for the building that houses Hyperdeck, an immersive virtual reality experience, pays homage to the beige brick of the Ice Palace, which was built in 1915.

Guests who stop by Hersheypark Supply Co. may notice the bottom six feet of brick is whitewashed. This is a unique tie-in to Mr. Hershey and the tradition of keeping factory walls white at the bottom for cleaning.

Most of the brick style used also matches buildings throughout Hershey, like The Hershey Story, the museum dedicated to the life and legacy of Mr. Hershey.

Arched Windows

The arched window is another architectural design element that was intentionally chosen for buildings in Hershey's Chocolatetown. Arched windows add character to a structure while letting in a steady stream of light. This type of window was found in factories and many buildings in Hershey in the 1900s, including the Hershey Theatre, which opened in 1933.

In Hershey's Chocolatetown, guests will notice more than a dozen arched windows on the building that houses Hersheypark Supply Co. The Candymonium coaster station also features three large arched windows representing the Reese's, KISSES and Twizzlers brands. Additionally, Starbucks and HP Collections have arched windows. 

Blue Porch Ceilings

Painting a porch ceiling blue is a tradition rooted in the South that dates back to the early nineteenth century. It was used as a way to deter insects and give the impression of a blue sky and longer days. Hersheypark guests may notice this look recreated in Hershey's Chocolatetown on the ceilings of the Ticketing and Guest Services buildings.

Carrousel Pavilion

The iconic 100-year-old Carrousel is moving to a place of prominence in Hershey's Chocolatetown. The new pavilion design reflects the personality of the new setting while preserving the historic charm of original pavilion design from the early 1900s. 

The clerestory windows - the thin band of upper windows that let natural light into the covered space - is another key element of the historic structure that was intentionally added to the new Carrousel roof design.

Reclaimed Bricks

For the first time ever, guests can enjoy their favorite Starbucks coffee and snacks inside Hersheypark. The new Starbucks located in Hershey's Chocolatetown sits on the spot of the 1973 front gate that welcomed more than 100 million guests over 45 years. Several bricks incorporated into the Starbucks building structure were reclaimed from that front gate. 

Chocolate Accents

And of course, there are plenty of chocolate accents throughout Hershey's Chocolatetown from KISSES in windows and on the tops of buildings to Hershey's etchings in the pavement.

We encourage our guests to learn more about our history as we open our largest expansion ever!