Hershey Getaway and Hotel Guide

For generations the name Hershey has become synonymous with fine chocolate and a treat an entire nation has come to love and call its own. Milton S. Hershey who was only able to complete the fourth grade built an industry far beyond his imaginable dreams.

Born September 13, 1857, on a farm near Derry Church, Milton Hershey was the only surviving child of Fannie and Henry Hershey. His mother raised him in the strict discipline of the Mennonite faith.

Following a four-year apprenticeship with a Lancaster candy maker, he established his first candy making business in Philadelphia. Returning to Lancaster, PA in 1883, Hershey opened the Lancaster Caramel Company which quickly became a success, allowing him to perfect his own formula for milk chocolate (which at that time was only available in Europe).

Since his death in 1945 at age 88, Milton Hershey's legacy has thrived. The Hershey philanthropy are perpetuated through the Hershey Foods Corporation which in turns has built a resort town that has become a popular attraction for millions of visitors annually.

Many of the town's impressive structures were built during the Great Depression, as part of Milton Hershey's "Great Building Campaign," to provide jobs. It was then that monumental facilities such as the Hershey Hotel Hershey, community center, theatre, sports arena and stadium were constructed.

Milton Hershey opened "Hershey Park" in 1907 to provide a place of relaxation for his employees and their families. Today, it's still known as Hershey Park, "the cleanest and greenest theme park in America."

The Hershey Zoo, originally built to display Mr. Hershey’s wild animal collection, has grown to become ZOOAmerica.

Hershey Gardens, a 3-1/2 acre rose garden planted for Milton Hershey in 1937, is now an award-winning, 23 acre botanical gem that delights all visitors with its grace and serenity.

Visit Hershey and learn about this unique man and the sweet place that bears his name. His incredible legacy continues to this day, in "The Town Built on Chocolate."

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