Hershey's Chocolate World facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hershey's Chocolate World |
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Hershey's Chocolate World in Hershey, Pennsylvania in 2012
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| General information | |
| Type | Visitor center/Indoor attraction center |
| Location | Hershey Paradise Niagara Falls Times Square Singapore |
| Opening | June 30, 1973 |
| Owner | The Hershey Company |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 2 |
Hershey's Chocolate World is a super fun place where you can learn all about chocolate! There are five of these visitor centers around the world, and the very first one opened in Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States. It's open almost all year long and has awesome shops, restaurants, and, of course, tons of Hershey's chocolate treats!
You can enjoy cool attractions like the Hershey's Great Candy Expedition, ride the Hershey Trolley Works, make your own candy bar, or go on a chocolate tasting adventure called Hershey's Unwrapped. There's also a free Hershey’s Chocolate Tour ride that's very popular.
The first Hershey's Chocolate World is located in Hershey, Pennsylvania. It's part of a big entertainment area that also includes Hersheypark, Hersheypark Stadium, and other fun spots. Even though they are close, Chocolate World and Hersheypark are run by different companies. Hershey's Chocolate World is owned by The Hershey Company.
Parking is available, and sometimes it's free for the first few hours. You can also park at Hersheypark and take a tram. The hours change depending on the season, but it's usually open from morning until evening.
How Hershey's Chocolate World Started
Hershey's Chocolate World was built because the old chocolate factory tours became too popular. So many people wanted to visit that the factory couldn't handle them all! The new visitor center opened on June 30, 1973. It was designed to feel like the exciting pavilions you might see at a World's Fair.
In its first year, over 1.4 million people visited Chocolate World. Within 13 years, more than 20 million visitors had come through its doors!
The main chocolate-making tour ride got a big update in 1988. It even had a robot host named CP-1 for a short time. The ride has been updated many times over the years. The most recent changes happened in early 2016. Some parts of the ride, like the scenes showing how chocolate is sorted, cleaned, and mixed, are still very similar to how they were in 1978.
The building itself is made from brownstone rock found in a nearby town called Hummelstown. In 2014, the shops and the entrance area were also updated.
After a new location opened in Paradise, Nevada in June 2014, all other Hershey visitor centers around the world were renamed Hershey's Chocolate World. In July 2016, it was announced that a new location would open in Times Square, New York City.
In 2022, the 4D Chocolate movie attraction closed. This made way for a new and exciting experience called "Hershey's Great Candy Expedition." It opened on May 19, 2023, as part of Chocolate World's 50th anniversary celebration.
Fun Attractions to Explore
- Hershey's Chocolate Tour – This is a free ride that takes you on a journey through a pretend chocolate factory. It shows you how chocolate is made, from cocoa beans to delicious Hershey's bars. The ride has been updated many times, and now it even features singing cows! At the end, you get a free sample of a Hershey's product. This ride is only available at the Hershey, Pennsylvania location.
- Hershey's Great Candy Expedition – Opened in May 2023, this is an exciting show where you travel through different candy worlds. It uses cool special effects and projections to make you feel like you're on a train adventure.
- Create-Your-Own Candy Bar – This is a hands-on experience where you get to make your very own chocolate bar! You wear a hairnet and apron, just like in a real factory. You can choose different ingredients to add to your bar. As your bar moves along the line, you get to design its wrapper. In Las Vegas, you create your own wrapper for a pre-made Hershey's Bar.
- Hershey Trolley Works – You might see these old-fashioned green trolleys driving around Hershey. Since 1988, these trolleys offer tours of the town. Friendly conductors sing songs and point out interesting historical facts. There are different tours available, including a "History and Chocolate Tour" and special holiday tours. This attraction is not available in Las Vegas.
- Hershey's Unwrapped: A Chocolate Tasting Journey – Added in May 2019, this is a 30-minute show where you learn how to taste chocolate like an expert. It's like going to a "Hershey Academy" for chocolate lovers!
Besides the attractions, Hershey's Chocolate World has many shops where you can buy Hershey's souvenirs and all kinds of chocolate. There are also places to grab a meal or a snack, like the Bake Shoppe, Hershey's Courtyard Food Court, and Hershey's Ice Cream Shop. The main candy store is one of the biggest of its kind, selling new Hershey's products and special chocolate brands.
