Historic First Year for Hershey's Chocolatetown

After years in the making and 18 months of construction, Hershey’s Chocolatetown officially welcomed guests on July 3, 2020 to rave reviews. This all-new region at Hersheypark celebrates the life and legacy of Milton S. Hershey by bringing people together for happiness, fun and, of course, chocolate. Each element of Hershey's Chocolatetown was carefully chosen to honor Milton Hershey's era and a nod to what makes us The Sweetest Place On Earth.

In its first year, each season of Hershey's Chocolatetown brought something unique for our guests from the debut of Candymonium and summer fun to Hersheypark In The Dark and Christmas Candylane experiences. 

Take a look back at the top 10 things we added in 2020 to the place Where Fun Meets Chocolate. 

1. An All-New Arrival Experience

One of the most noticeable differences from 2020 was the entrance of Hershey’s Chocolatetown, an entirely reimagined arrival experience honoring the legacy of Milton S. Hershey. Beautiful buildings, featuring historic architectural elements that were thoughtfully selected to reflect Mr. Hershey’s style, and an all-new front gate welcomed guests to the new region. The front gate features a dedicated lane for Season Pass Holders and guests of The Official Resorts of Hersheypark. Look for the hidden touches of chocolate throughout the entrance.

2. A Walk Through Our History

Guests entering Hersheypark now have a unique opportunity to walk through the one-of-a-kind history rooted in the town of Hershey from the ground up. Located just outside the new front gate is the Compass Rose, a tribute to the life and legacy of Milton S. Hershey with 27 bronzed medallions honoring his community contributions. A glance in any direction will reveal the current or previous location of the Hershey landmarks he created in the community he loved. Learn more about the landmarks proudly bearing the name of our founder here.

3. Iconic Kisses  Fountain

The new Kisses Fountain is the perfect backdrop for a memorable family photo and featured different light packages throughout the 2020 season. It is also a great place to view friends on Candymonium as the coaster train makes a panoramic banked curve around the world’s sweetest fountain. In addition to the Kisses Fountain, other hints of chocolate and candy are intentionally placed throughout Hershey’s Chocolatetown. Guests can see two Kisses-shaped planters, 100+ Hershey Bar pips in the paving, 28 linear feet of Twizzlers railing and 51 unwrapped Kisses.

4. The World's Sweetest Coaster - Candymonium

Coaster fans are in for a sweet ride on Candymonium, the tallest, fastest, longest and sweetest coaster in Hersheypark. The hyper coaster features a 4,636-foot milk chocolate track and spans 7 acres in the all-new Hershey's Chocolatetown region. Riders embark on a heart-pounding, 210-foot ascent up the tallest hill in Hersheypark, then dip into thrilling drops including 7 camelback hills that serve up the ultimate feeling of freedom with the most airtime of any of our coasters.

During Hersheypark In The Dark, we turned the lights off for a thrilling ride and during Christmas Candylane, red and green lights on the lift hill put guests in a festive mood as this coaster can run at temperatures down to 34 degrees.

5. Greetings from a Hershey  Character

During a summer or fall visit to Hersheypark, guests have the chance to say hello and take a socially distanced photo with their favorite Hershey Characters. Character appearances take place right inside the front gate in Hershey’s Chocolatetown each day as the only place in the world to interact with your favorite chocolate characters. Don’t forget to tag us in your photos using #HersheyparkHappy!

6. A New Home for 101 Year Old Carrousel

One of the most historic rides in Hersheypark now has a new home in Hershey’s Chocolatetown. The 101-year-old Carrousel is housed in a blue pavilion that reflects the personality of the new setting with a nod to the original pavilion design from the early 1940s. The classic ride is often the first one guests enjoy as they enter Hersheypark or the last ride of the day before they leave. Guests can choose from 66 original hand-carved, original wooden horses - 42 jumping horses and 24 stationary horses - and two magnificent chariots. Read more about the history of the Carrousel here.

7. First Ever Starbucks at Hersheypark

Looking for a caffeine boost? For the first time ever, guests could enjoy their favorite Starbucks coffee and snacks inside Hersheypark. We recommend grabbing a cold brew with cocoa and walking around the clean and green new region, which is lined with 368 new trees and 2,631 shrubs along the banks of Spring Creek.

8. Hyperdeck VR Experience

New from 2020, Hyperdeck is an all-new immersive, virtual reality experience located in Hershey’s Chocolatetown. Players can choose from two games - H.A.I.R., a world where a 1980s guitar hero becomes a villain in a post-apocalyptic world, and Dreamsaver, a dream that turns into a nightmare only you can overcome. Hyperdeck accommodates up to 8 players and features a full-motion floor and multi-sensory effects. Not up for the challenge? Spectators can help (or hinder!) players via tablets located around the exterior of the Hyperdeck stations.

9. Premier Shopping with Hersheypark Supply Co

Hershey’s Chocolatetown is home to two new retail locations that feature the perfect blend of new collections and vintage designs. Hersheypark Supply Co. is a premier, 10,000-square-foot flagship store where guests can browse the largest collection of apparel, gifts, toys, and more exclusive to Hersheypark. HP Collections is a shopping destination with apparel and collectibles from Candymonium and Reese’s Cupfusion, as well as an exclusive Vineyard Vines collection. See what was new in retail for 2020 here.

10. Sweet Treats

A visit to Hersheypark is not complete without taking home something sweet. Guests leaving Hersheypark can stop by Chocolatetown Treats to get some hot, fresh house-made cinnamon bread with apple butter, vanilla icing or Hershey’s Chocolate. It’s the ultimate sweet treat for the ride home - or a delicious breakfast on the way in! Check out our 2020 Sweet Treat Guide for a full list of our favorite food additions from this past year.

More Sweetness to Come

As the first year of Hershey's Chocolatetown comes to an end, we're excited to look forward to more culinary experiences for 2021.

• The Chocolatier will be a full-service restaurant and bar featuring past and present pieces from the Hersheypark ride collection, one-of-a-kind views of neighboring attractions, and a second story patio. The Chocolatier celebrates the life and legacy of our founder, Milton S. Hershey, by continuing to bring people together for happiness, fun, and of course, chocolate.

• The Sweeterie will be a scratch confectionery kitchen led by Chef Cher Harris, Corporate Pastry Chef. Get excited for mouth-watering confections including chocolate-dipped treats, artisanal baked goods, signature hand-crafted fudge, and more.

• Milton’s Ice Cream Parlor is inspired by Mr. Hershey’s malt shop on Philadelphia’s Spring Garden Street. Expert Ice Creamologists will craft custom creations from house-made ice cream, Hershey’s candy toppings, decadent sauces, and more.

Stay tuned for more details and we hope to see you at Hersheypark soon!