About Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Company

Who Are We?
Hershey Entertainment & Resorts is a privately held company founded in 1927 when Milton S. Hershey separated his chocolate manufacturing operations from his other businesses. Hershey Entertainment & Resorts employs about 1,400 full-time employees and 4,500 seasonal and part-time employees.

Celebrating Diversity
Hershey Entertainment & Resorts is committed to workforce diversity, and to establishing and maintaining a work environment where all employees feel valued and included. Hershey Entertainment & Resorts also is committed to its customers and the various communities it serves. Maintaining these commitments requires staying abreast of emerging issues and trends, and recognizing opportunities to make changes to enhance the overall level of service. More >>

Our Proud Mission
To be a leader in the hospitality and entertainment industries by delivering excellence to our guests and employees, while enhancing our relationships with the Hershey Entities and the community, and sustaining financial integrity.

What About Chocolate?
Many people wonder how Hershey Entertainment & Resorts is related to The Hershey Company, makers of HERSHEY'S chocolate products. When Milton Hershey offered stock in the Hershey Chocolate Corporation in 1927, he segregated the business of making chocolate from his other enterprises. These other businesses were formed into a separate company called Hershey Estates, now known as Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Company.

Prior to this, in 1909, he created a deed of trust establishing the Hershey Industrial School for orphan boys, later renamed the Milton Hershey School. The Hershey Trust, as trustee for the Milton Hershey School, owns Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Company in its entirety. In addition, the Hershey Trust owns the majority of the voting stock of The Hershey Company, a publicly held company.

Today, the profits generated by these entities perpetuate the Hershey Trust, which in turn funds the Milton Hershey School.

Hershey Entertainment & Resorts
consists of the following divisions:

HERSHEYPARK was opened in 1907 by Milton S. Hershey as a picnic grounds for his employees. The Park has grown over the years to become a world-class theme park with more than 60 rides and attractions, award-winning live entertainment daily, mouth-watering food, games of skill and unique souvenirs. HERSHEYPARK has been awarded the prestigious Applause Award by the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions. The award recognizes a park's management, operations, and creative accomplishments that have inspired the industry with its foresight, originality and sound business development.

ZOOAMERICA North American Wildlife Park is an 11-acre walk-through zoo located next to HERSHEYPARK and open year-round. It is home to over 200 animals representing 70 species native to five regions of North America. An accredited member of the American Zoo and Aquarium Association, ZOOAMERICA offers an exciting and educational experience for families and groups.

DUTCH WONDERLAND Family Amusement Park, located in the heart of Pennsylvania's Dutch Country, opened on May 30, 1963, with 14 acres of land, four rides, a gift shop, and 18 cast members. This family entertainment complex now features 25 rides on 48 acres, and OLD MILL STREAM CAMPGROUND. DUTCH WONDERLAND is perfect for the entire family to share a special experience, with rides, attractions and entertainment for kids of all ages. DUTCH WONDERLAND is owned and operated by Wonderland Amusement Management LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Company.

GIANT Center is the new state-of-the-art arena that opened in fall 2002. GIANT Center seats 10,500 and hosts a wide variety of events, including HERSHEY BEARS ice hockey, concerts, ice shows, family shows and more. GIANT Center is owned by The Township of Derry Industrial and Commercial Development Authority, and managed by Regional Area Management LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hershey Entertainment & Resorts.

HERSHEYPARK Arena seats 7,225 and was home to the American Hockey League HERSHEY BEARS until the 2002-2003 season when The Bears moved to their new home ice, GIANT Center. The Arena continues to serve as a facility for hockey, public skating, events and shows.

HERSHEYPARK Stadiumseats up to 30,000 and is home to a wide variety of outdoor concerts and numerous sporting events, including the Summer Concert Series. With a recently renovated, all-natural turf field and remodeled seating, press box, locker rooms and scoreboard, HERSHEYPARK Stadium is the most prominent outdoor stadium facility between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

THE STAR PAVILION at HERSHEYPARK Stadium is an open air amphitheatre seating about 7,300 and offering a more intimate setting for popular rock and alternative artists than its larger neighbor, HERSHEYPARK Stadium. THE STAR PAVILION offers excellent acoustics, and both reserved and grass seating.

HERSHEY BEARS are the AHL affiliate of the NHL Washington Capitals. The BEARS captured their ninth American Hockey League Calder Cup Championship in 2006 and are the oldest continuously operating franchise in the American Hockey League.

THE HOTEL HERSHEY, built in 1933 by Milton S. Hershey, blends old world elegance with first class service and amenities. THE HOTEL HERSHEY is a world-class resort with 230 guest rooms and 23,500 square feet of meeting, banquet and exhibit space. The Hotel has been recognized with the prestigious Mobil Four Star and AAA Four Diamond Awards, and is a member of Historic Hotels of America.

The Spa At THE HOTEL HERSHEY offers the ultimate in relaxation and renewal - a sanctuary where chocolate is not just another treat to eat, but a necessary ingredient for innovative, relaxing spa services. Built on a tradition of excellence and luxury, the design of The Spa draws its influence from High Point mansion, the home of Milton and Catherine Hershey. The Spa offers several signature treatments, including the WHIPPED COCOA BATH and the Chocolate Fondue Wrap.

HERSHEY LODGE is recognized as "Pennsylvania's Largest Convention Resort" with a total of 665 guest rooms and 100,000 square feet of function space. HERSHEY LODGE has been recognized with the Successful Meetings Pinnacle Award, J.D. Powers & Associates "Outstanding Guest Experience - Upscale Hotel" award, Meeting News Planners Choice Award, and was named a Successful Meetings Outstanding Golf & Meeting Resort (ACE).

HERSHEY Country Club offers golf enthusiasts two distinctive courses with impeccable greens and mature fairways with an outstanding reputation. Different by design and level of difficulty, each course provides golfers of varied skill levels a course to suit their game. HERSHEY Country Club consists of two private courses, the par-71 East Course, built in 1970 and the par-73 West Course, built in 1930. There is also Spring Creek Golf Course, a nine-hole course designed specifically for junior players.

HERSHEY Highmeadow Campground, located just off Hersheypark Drive, offers year round camping on 55 acres of rolling countryside. Established in 1963, the campground offers convenient and cozy camping cabins along with nearly 300 campsites in a picturesque setting of majestic weeping willows and grand oak trees.

HERSHEY Nursery was founded in 1905 and has grown steadily over the years by adhering to Milton Hershey's commitment to excellence. The professional team at HERSHEY Nursery offers landscape design and maintenance for both commercial and residential properties.

HERSHEY Cleaners, founded in 1908, offers a wide variety of services and amenities including private and commercial laundering and dry cleaning, sale of uniforms and linens, embroidering and tailoring, and preserving of specialty garments. HERSHEY Cleaners is the official laundry of THE HOTEL HERSHEY, HERSHEY LODGE, and The Milton Hershey School.