Hershey's Chocolate World

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Hershey's Chocolate World
Hersheychocolateworldlogo.svg
Chocolate World.jpg
Hershey's Chocolate World in Hershey, Pennsylvania in 2012
Hershey's Chocolate World
General information
TypeVisitor center/Indoor attraction center
Location Hershey
Paradise
Niagara Falls
Times Square
Singapore
OpeningJune 30, 1973 (1973-06-30)
Owner The Hershey Company
Technical details
Floor count2
Website
hersheyschocolateworld.com hersheyschocolateworldlasvegas.com

Hershey's Chocolate World is the name of five visitor centers that started in Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States. Open year-round, Hershey's Chocolate World offers marketplace shops and restaurants, specializing in Hershey's chocolate products. Attractions include Hershey's Great Candy Expedition, the Hershey Trolley Works, Create Your Own Candy Bar, Hershey's Unwrapped: A Chocolate Tasting Journey, and a free Hershey’s Chocolate Tour ride.

Contents

The first Hershey's Chocolate World is located off of Hersheypark Drive, in Hershey, Pennsylvania, and is in an entertainment complex that also includes Hersheypark, Hersheypark Stadium, Hersheypark Arena, Hershey Museum, and Giant Center. The Las Vegas location is where the Broadway Theatre used to be.

Although Hersheypark and Chocolate World are in the same complex, both operate independently of each other. Chocolate World is owned by The Hershey Company, while Hersheypark is owned by Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company (HE&R). However, the Hershey Company and HE&R are both owned by the Hershey Trust Company.

Parking is available via a separate lot that is free for the first three hours only, or via the Hersheypark parking lot (when the park is open), which offers a tram service to and from Hershey's Chocolate World. While the facility is open year-round (except Christmas), hours vary depending on the season, ranging anywhere from 9 am to 11 pm.

History

Hershey's Chocolate World was built as a replacement of the Hershey chocolate plant tour, which had reached its capacity and no longer was able to handle the large numbers of visitors per year. The facility opened on June 30, 1973, and took inspiration from World's Fair pavilions. [1] Through its first year of operations, Chocolate World had over 1.4 million visitors. [2] In its first thirteen years of operation, the visitor's center received 20 million visitors. [1]

A $4.5 million update to the chocolate-making tour ride opened in 1988, featuring a curious robot for a host named CP-1. It was phased out within a year. [3] In the mid-1990s, the ride saw numerous revisions on a small scale, including the removal of several show elements. The last renovation occurred in early 2016 when several scenes in the chocolate tour ride were replaced. Today, there are still portions of the ride that have changed very little from the 1978 updated version, including the sorting and cleaning, roll refining, milling, and chocolate conching scenes.[ citation needed ]

The building features brownstone quarried out of the neighboring town of Hummelstown. In 2014, the retail area received major renovations as well as a new entrance and queue area for Hershey's Chocolate Tour.[ citation needed ]

Following the June 3, 2014 opening of its Paradise, Nevada location, Hershey then rebranded all other visitor centers worldwide under the Hershey's Chocolate World name. In July 2016, it was announced that Hershey's Chocolate World would expand to a new location in Times Square, New York City, and open in late 2017. [4]

In 2022, it was announced that the 4D Chocolate movie would close to make way for "a better experience" [5] This new attraction would be revealed as "Hershey's Great Candy Expedition", which was added as a part of Chocolate World's 50th anniversary. [6]

Current attractions

A memorable sequence from the Chocolate Tour ride, where cars travel inside a roaster with special effects 2015-09-30 Chocolate World Roaster.jpg
A memorable sequence from the Chocolate Tour ride, where cars travel inside a roaster with special effects

The rest of Hershey's Chocolate World contains various shops selling Hershey souvenirs and chocolate, and several counter service meal locations (Bake Shoppe, Hershey's Courtyard Food Court, and Hershey's Ice Cream Shop). The main candy store is one of the largest stores of its kind in the world selling Hershey's products including new items not widely released, and premium chocolate brands such as Scharffen Berger Chocolate.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Hershey Company</span> American food company

The Hershey Company, often called just Hershey or Hershey's, is an American multinational confectionery company headquartered in Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States, which is also home to Hersheypark and Hershey's Chocolate World. The Hershey Company is one of the largest chocolate manufacturers in the world; it also manufactures baked products, such as cookies and cakes, and sells beverages like milkshakes, as well as other products. The Hershey Company was founded by Milton S. Hershey in 1894 as the Hershey Chocolate Company, originally established as a subsidiary of his Lancaster Caramel Company. The Hershey Trust Company owns a minority stake but retains a majority of the voting power within the company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hershey, Pennsylvania</span> Census-designated place in Pennsylvania, United States

Hershey is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Derry Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is home to The Hershey Company, which was founded by candy magnate Milton S. Hershey, and Hersheypark, an amusement park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hersheypark</span> Theme park in Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States

Hersheypark is a family theme park in the eastern United States in Hershey, Pennsylvania, about fifteen miles (25 km) east of Harrisburg, and 95 miles (155 km) west of Philadelphia. The park was founded in 1906, by Milton S. Hershey as a leisure park for the employees of the Hershey Chocolate Company. It is wholly and privately owned by Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company. Hersheypark has won several awards, including the Applause Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kit Kat</span> Chocolate-covered wafer bar

Kit Kat is a chocolate-covered wafer bar confection created by Rowntree's of York, United Kingdom. It is produced globally by Nestlé, except in the United States, where it is made under licence by the H. B. Reese Candy Company, a division of the Hershey Company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bounty (chocolate bar)</span> Mars Inc. brand of coconut-filled chocolate bar

Bounty is a coconut-filled, chocolate-enrobed candy bar manufactured by Mars, Incorporated, introduced in 1951 in the United Kingdom and Canada. It is a direct emulation of the Mounds bar introduced by Peter Paul in 1936, and also copies the milk chocolate enrobing of Hershey's Almond Joy, introduced in 1948. It is no longer domestically sold within the United States, only being available via import sales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reese's Peanut Butter Cups</span> American candy made by Hersheys

Reese's Peanut Butter Cups are an American candy by the Hershey Company consisting of a peanut butter filling encased in chocolate. They were created on November 15, 1928, by H. B. Reese, a former dairy farmer and shipping foreman for Milton S. Hershey. Reese left his job with Hershey to start his own candy business. Reese's are a top-selling candy brand worldwide, with more than $2 billion in annual sales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reese's Take 5</span> Candy bar made by The Hershey Company

Reese's Take 5 is a candy bar that was released by The Hershey Company in December 2004. The original name of the candy bar was TAKE5 but common usage among consumers added a space. In June 2019, when the candy bar became part of the Reese's family, the name was officially changed to Reese's Take 5.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SooperDooperLooper</span> Looping roller coaster at Hersheypark

SooperDooperLooper is a steel roller coaster at Hersheypark in Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States. Designed and manufactured by Anton Schwarzkopf, the roller coaster opened to the public on May 8, 1977. SooperDooperLooper is located in The Hollow section of the park and cost more than $3 million to construct and build. The roller coaster reaches a maximum height of 70 feet, with a maximum speed of 45 miles per hour (72 km/h), and a total track length of 2,614 feet.

The Wild Cat, originally named The Joy Ride, was a wooden roller coaster located at Hersheypark in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The roller coaster was constructed in 1923 by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company (PTC). Under an agreement between Hersheypark and PTC, Hersheypark leased the land the coaster occupied, while PTC owned and operated the coaster. The agreement was for 15 years, at which point they had the option to extend the contract. The contract was ultimately extended to 1945. The roller coaster operated from June 16, 1923, through September 1945. PTC and Hershey Park elected to close The Wild Cat and construct a new roller coaster in 1946.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roller Soaker</span> Amusement ride

Roller Soaker was a suspended roller coaster at Hersheypark in Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States. Manufactured by Setpoint Inc., the roller coaster was announced on August 8, 2001, and opened to the public on May 11, 2002. The Roller Soaker was located in the Boardwalk section at the park and cost $7.5 million to $8 million to construct. In December 2012, Hersheypark announced that the Roller Soaker would be removed to make way for new water attractions in 2013. The roller coaster's station was reused by Breakers Edge Water Coaster, a water coaster added in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reese's Xtreme Cup Challenge</span> Former amusement park attraction

Reese's Xtreme Cup Challenge (RXCC) was an attraction which was installed in 2006 at Hersheypark, where it became the first competitive, interactive dark ride. It was built by Sally Corporation, a popular dark ride manufacturer. The ride experience theme was sports, and the building exterior was themed on the Hersheypark Arena which is directly behind, outside Hersheypark. This ride is not to be confused with the free Hershey's Chocolate World tour ride. The ride replaced a building which housed the park's first aid and ride department offices, as well as a practice skating rink.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fahrenheit (roller coaster)</span> Roller coaster at Hersheypark

Fahrenheit is a steel roller coaster at Hersheypark in Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States. Located in the Pioneer Frontier section of the park, the roller coaster was manufactured by Intamin and opened on May 24, 2008. It features six inversions and became the steepest roller coaster in the world when it opened with its first drop of 97 degrees. Fahrenheit briefly held the record until Steel Hawg at Indiana Beach, which featured a 111-degree drop, opened several weeks later on July 5. Fahrenheit is also one of the only coasters in the world to feature a Norwegian Loop.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chocolate Avenue</span> Street in Hershey Pennsylvania

Chocolate Avenue is a street in Hershey, Pennsylvania, that runs past the site of the original Hershey's Chocolate Factory, and is considered to be the main street of the town. It runs northeasterly from Hersheypark Drive to the intersection of Pennsylvania Route 3017, at which point the road crosses into Lebanon County and continues as Main Street in Palmyra Borough. Most of Chocolate Avenue is a segment of U.S. Route 422.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skyrush</span> Roller coaster at Hersheypark

Skyrush is an Intamin prototype Wing Coaster at Hersheypark in Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States. It opened to the general public on May 26, 2012, as Hersheypark's 12th roller coaster and the park's third coaster made by Intamin. Skyrush features a 200 ft (61 m) cable lift that raises the train at 26 ft/s (480 m/min). The roller coaster is located in the Hollow section of Hersheypark, next to the Comet wooden coaster; Skyrush itself is mainly set above Spring Creek.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Hersheypark</span>

The history of Hersheypark begins with the founding of the town of Hershey in 1903. Milton Hershey, The owner of the Hershey Chocolate Company surveyed a nearby area of land, which was to become a leisure park for the employees of his chocolate company. People began visiting the grounds of the future park in 1904 and 1905, while the park's first pavilion was built in the fall of 1905. The park was formally opened on May 30, 1906, when it opened as Hershey Park. The park slowly added rides until 1923, when the first roller coaster, the Wild Cat, was built. From then on, rides were regularly added, except during World War II. The park was redeveloped into Hersheypark in 1970, through a multi-phase project. Since then, it has added ten roller coasters, expanded to over 110 acres, and features many other attractions including shows with sea lions, well-known acts including Weird Al Yankovic and Duff Goldman from Charm City Cakes in the Hersheypark Amphitheater, and a short-lived laser light show.

The Miniature Railroad was a ride at Hersheypark from 1910 until 1971. The train ran a course along Park Boulevard, near the intersection with Park Avenue, around Spring Creek into Comet Hollow. It was the second ride Milton S. Hershey purchased for his park, after buying a carousel. While the railroad is no longer in operation, the train has been undergoing restoration since 2007, and was first publicly displayed in 2011.

New Wave Rides was an American manufacturer of water rides. They manufactured water slides and water slide complexes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Candymonium</span> Steel roller coaster at Hersheypark

Candymonium is a steel roller coaster located at Hersheypark in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Designed by Bolliger & Mabillard, the ride was announced in 2018 and opened on July 3, 2020. It is the tallest, fastest, and longest roller coaster at Hersheypark. It was introduced with a newly-themed section of the park called Hershey's Chocolatetown, adjacent to Hershey's Chocolate World.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Hershey Community Archives". Hersheyarchives.org. February 8, 2010. Retrieved July 20, 2011.
  2. ↑ "Over 1 Million Visit Center". Lebanon Daily News . July 8, 1974. p. 28. Hershey's Chocolate World ... attracted 1,441,272 visitors during its first full year of operation...
  3. ↑ Kraft, Randy (November 25, 1990). "Christmas Candylane Seasonal Treat Enchants Children at Hersheypark". The Morning Call . Allentown, PA. Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved November 15, 2015. ...Long gone is CP-1, an extra-terrestrial robot who briefly became the star of Chocolate World after a highly publicized $4.5 million renovation in 1988. CP-1 quietly was phased out within a year. "Nobody liked him," said one Chocolate World employee.
  4. ↑ "Hersheys Chocolate World Expanding to New Location in the Heart of Times Square". cbs8.com. Archived from the original on August 17, 2016. Retrieved July 20, 2016.
  5. ↑ "Hershey's Chocolate World to close one of its attractions in the fall". pennlive.com. August 4, 2022.
  6. ↑ "HERSHEY'S Great Candy Expedition". Hershey's Chocolate World. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Hershey To Open 'Chocolate World'". The Daily Mail . Hagerstown, MD. June 21, 1973. p. 25. Official Opening of "Hershey's Chocolate World," a new complex that will enable Hershey Foods Corporation to better tell the story of chocolate to its throngs of visitors, will be held on Saturday, June 30, from 9am to 5pm.
  8. ↑ "HERSHEY'S Chocolate Tour". Hersheys.com. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  9. ↑ "HERSHEY'S Great Candy Expedition". Hershey's Chocolate World. April 3, 2023. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  10. ↑ "Hershey's Chocolate World Is Opening a Theatrical Show for Chocolate Lovers". Travel + Leisure. Retrieved May 20, 2019.

40°17′17″N76°39′40″W / 40.288136°N 76.661117°W / 40.288136; -76.661117

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