What's New in Pennsylvania's Hershey Harrisburg Region?

As we prepare for meeting many of you in New Orleans at IPW we wanted to round-up some of the region's Top Tourism Developments for 2016.

HERSHEY, PA

The Sweetest Place On Earth® always has new & exciting developments each year. Our friends at Hershey's® Chocolate World® Attraction and the Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Company have graciously shared the following nuggets for what their properties and attractions will reveal in 2016.

HERSHEY'S® CHOCOLATE WORLD® Attraction – New Ride!

In 2016 the most-visited corporate visitors' center in the world has revamped its free Hershey's Chocolate Tour ride which has been simulating the chocolate-making process for visitors since Chocolate World opened on June 30, 1973. The ride has undergone several revisions in its 43-year history, including a major $4.5 million update in 1988. The last renovation in early 2006 introduced animatronic singing cows named Gabby, Harmony, and Olympia. While many details of the changes to the ride are not being revealed, two important elements of the classic ride are not changing: the cost (free) and the complimentary sweet treat for riders at the end. The company reports the year-round attraction located at the entrance to HERSHEYPARK welcomes approximately three (3) million visitors annually and in August 2009 celebrated the 75-millionth guest.  

Hershey Lodge – New Indoor Water Park!

“Hershey's Water Works” is making a splash with guests at the Hershey Lodge since it opened for Memorial Day weekend 2016. This new indoor pool complex includes many special attractions and themed features including two zero-entry indoor pools, whirlpool, Twizzlers Twists Slides, Reese's Water Walk, Water play structure, and Outdoor splash pad. The new complex is an extensive addition to the 665-room property and includes a fitness center, game room, full-service food and bar offerings. The new facility also includes additional space for events, adding to the 100,000 square-feet of meeting and conference area currently available at the Hershey Lodge.  

Hershey Gardens – New Conservatory!

When the Milton & Catherine Hershey Conservatory at Hershey Gardens opens in summer 2016 it will stand in honor of the conservatories built by Milton and Catherine Hershey in the early 1900's. The elegant 16,000-square-foot facility, inspired by one such structure built in 1909, will serve as the new entrance to Hershey Gardens and include an indoor Butterfly Atrium, Welcome Pavilion, and Educational/Horticultural Wing. The new year-round facility will host several hundred North American and tropical butterflies, educational programming and events, and provide visitors with a scenic overview of the town of Hershey from an outdoor terrace.

The Hershey Story Museum – New Chocolate Tastings for Kids!

Sample exotic warm drinking chocolates made from cacao beans grown in one specific region of the globe at Tastings, located in the Grand Lobby of The Hershey Story Museum. Tastings chocolates are made with beans sourced from just one country, resulting in a distinctive artisanal flavor. Common flavor notes include licorice, fruit, caramel and vanilla. A sampling of drinking chocolate made from Hershey's chocolate is also included in Tastings. Full flights of six or half flights of three are available. Tastings for Kids is new for 2016 and offers youngsters the opportunity to try their hand at making warm drinking chocolate by swirling a chocolate stirring lolly in a mug of warm milk. Kids can choose a white or milk chocolate lolly.  

The Hotel Hershey – Renovated Cottages!

The Woodside Cottages at The Hotel Hershey will be renovated during the first quarter in 2016. Woodside Cottages are The Hotel Hershey's most premium accommodations. Interiors feature upscale furnishings, marble bathrooms, and native stone hearths exuding an intimate, cottage grandeur.

ARTS & CULTURE

Susquehanna Art Museum (SAM) – New Collection Exhibits!

Immigrant Experience In Art Exhibits in 2016: In 2015, SAM opened a new 20,000 square-foot location that incorporates a new structure with a pre-existing historic bank building located in the heart of Harrisburg's trendy Midtown neighborhood, just six blocks from Center City Harrisburg. In 2016 the museum will be hosting a roster of exhibitions and works from national and international artists including two collections focusing on the immigrant experience in art -- New Light: The Pennsylvania Impressionists, Highlights from the Woodmere Art Museum Collection, and Despues de la Frontera. The museum's Education Center offers educational programs for corporate events and group team-building activities.

Gamut Theater – New Venue!

The Gamut Theater has debuted a new space in 2016 and will feature Harrisburg Shakespeare Company and Popcorn Hat Players who perform Children's Theater. The spacious new home is inside the former First Church of God, a 12,000-square-foot building that provides plenty of room for Gamut's multiple missions, which include the Harrisburg Shakespeare Company, the Popcorn Hat Players Children's Theatre and a Stage Door Series that concentrates on classic stories such as a recent production of Washington Irving's "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow." Gamut claims to reach an estimated 36,000 adults and children each year through its 350 performances and classes.  

EVENTS

Central Penn Capitals Indoor Football (March – May 2016) – New Team!

The Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center announced a new arena football team will begin playing at the complex in March 2016. The Central Penn Capitals (formerly the York Capitals) are a professional indoor football team based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The Capitals are members of American Indoor Football (AIF). Although the club was established in 2012 as an expansion team for the 2013 season when Jim Morris secured the rights to an AIF franchise in York, Pennsylvania at the York City Ice Arena, home games are now played at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center. The Capitals were York's first indoor/arena football team, but now are Harrisburg's second such team, the first being the Harrisburg Stampede, which played in the AIF (and its predecessors the AIFA and SIFL) from 2009 until 2013 before moving to Hershey and the Professional Indoor Football League the following season. 

Steam Into History (July 29 – 31, 2016) – New Event!

Steam Into History will be presenting a weekend of reenactments and a Civil War Ball from July 29-31, 2016. The train attraction will be involved in Gilmor's Raid with both Confederate and Union Soldiers on hand to give visitors the best view of how these battles took place. In the evening the Second South Carolina String Band will perform and a genuine Civil War Ball will be called by the Victorian Dance Ensemble with performing troupe of the Civil War Dance Foundation. 

Jazz & Wine Festival (September 9 - 11, 2016) - Growing Destination Event

The 10th Annual Dauphin County Jazz & Wine Festival is returning to the beautiful Fort Hunter Park overlooking the majestic Susquehanna River. This event has grown to become one of the most highly anticipated and popular events in the region with national, regional and local recording artists performing over three days. While the music plays, attendees casually browse and sample some of Central Pennsylvania's top wines. The environment is warm, welcoming, and laid back. Visitors will feel right at home with the locals who have made this a summer-end celebration for a decade.

ANNIVERSARIES

100th Pennsylvania Farm Show (2016) – America's Largest Indoor Agriculture Event!

The Pennsylvania Farm Show, the nation's largest indoor agricultural event, featuring 6,000 animals, 10,000 competitive exhibits, and 300 commercial exhibitors, celebrated 100 years in January 2016. According to a report issued by the Hershey Harrisburg Regional Visitors Bureau, the 2016 show had an estimated economic impact of $95 million to the south-central Pennsylvania region, supporting more than 18,000 jobs over the course of the week-long event. The Pennsylvania Farm Show ran from January 9-15 with free admission. Media can tour the massive complex that includes nearly 1-million square-feet of event and tradeshow exhibit space under one roof including two indoor arenas.

250th Anniversary of Harris-Cameron Mansion (2016) – Harrisburg Founder's Home

The mansion was built in 1766 by John Harris, Jr., one of the founders of Harrisburg. In 1863, it was purchased by Simon Cameron, Lincoln's first Secretary of War. Cameron transformed the Georgian house into a stylish Victorian mansion and lived there until his death in 1889. The house became the headquarters of the Historical Society of Dauphin County in 1941.

HISTORY & HERITAGE

The National Civil War Museum – New Special Exhibit on Vice & Virtue!

January 21 thru December 31, 2016

“Tell Mother I've Been Good: Vice & Virtue in the Civil War” is the latest in the National Civil War Museum's ongoing series of programming to effectively illustrate a topical theme through personal stories, images and artifacts from this period in American history. New for 2016, this special exhibit illustrates the moral challenges faced by thousands of men and women tempted by drinking, gambling and fraternization on both sides of the American Civil War.

Antique Auto Museum – New Exhibit on Pioneers in African American Auto History!

February 1 thru April 30, 2016 (& other special exhibits throughout 2016)

The AACA Museum presented a historic exhibit of the pioneers in the African American community who contributed to the advancement of the automobile industry. Pioneers in African American Auto History looked at these men and women who laid the foundation for others to pursue careers in such fields as franchised car dealers, designers, custom car builders, race car drivers and manufacturers. This year included the stories of the only recorded African-American car manufacturer, C.R. Patterson of Ohio and W.H. Phelps, who patented an apparatus for washing over-sized vehicles, along with other esteemed names. Guests were able to interact with exhibits and assemble their own paper traffic signal patented by Garrett Morgan—courtesy of the Western Reserve Historical Society. The museum plans to expand upon this special exhibit annually. There are always unique events and special exhibits at the museum. Check the web site for what is on display when you plan to visit.

U.S. Army Heritage & Education Center – New Vietnam Exhibit – thru 2017!

Opened in November 2015, this new exhibit Courage, Commitment, and Fear: The American Soldier in the Vietnam War, features several unique immersive experiences, such as a "spider hole" and "booby traps," which will allow visitors to experience, first-hand, the types of challenges U.S. Soldiers faced. Each Soldier's story is unique, and the exhibit showcases different areas of Vietnam, with corresponding Soldiers' stories to illustrate the experiences of the men and women who served. In-country experiences in combat and medical evacuation operations will be featured, in addition to sections relating to the experience of POWs and veterans upon returning home. The exhibit also includes the short film, "Our Journey Through War," which was produced in-house by the USAHEC team, and features the stories of those who were involved in the conflict.

ACTIVE & OUTDOORS

Roundtop Mountain Resort - New Climbing Course – The Crow's Nest!

For summer 2016, Roundtop added a third OGO Ball lane and completed construction on a new three-story climbing feature called The Crow's Nest. For winter 2016 the resort added 11 new automated Sufag snowmaking towers and 12 new HKD snowmaking stations, allowing the ski area to open more terrain faster. The resort has also renovated their Snow Tubing Lodge Food Court and added more paved parking. 

Autobahn Indoor Speedway - New Indoor Go-Kart Racing!

Speed-lovers need to try the newest attraction taking over the Harrisburg, PA area; European style indoor go-karting. The 40,000-square-feet state-of-the-art facility is the largest completely indoor karting facility in Pennsylvania. This means perfect racing conditions every day. Satisfy your "need for speed" in one of our unique, high speed electric Italian pro-karts. These F1-inspired karts reach speeds of up to 50 mph and the new upscale facility has the latest technology to make your experience fun!

DINING, LODGING & LIBATIONS

Greystone Public House – New Restaurant This Spring!

Jason Viscount, who worked as executive chef at Bricco in Harrisburg for nine years, will open Greystone Public House with John G. Frisch. The new endeavor, expected to open in the summer of 2016, will take over the historic space previously occupied by the Mount Hill Tavern that closed in June 2015. Greystone will be diverse in that diners can celebrate birthdays and anniversaries at the restaurant or bring their kids in for a family meal, Viscount said. The bar will double in size and expand onto a patio. They also plan to create a second dining room on the second floor. As for the menu, Viscount said it will be recognizable food, nothing people won't understand. It will cover everything from burgers and sandwiches to entrees. There also will be a bar menu.

Los Tres Cubanos – New Restaurant!

This little slice of Cuba is tucked away in Harrisburg's quaint neighborhood of Shipoke and offers authentic Cuban cuisine in an atmosphere that brings the fun and festivities of Cuba right to your table. The atmosphere of the restaurant that opened in 2016 is all about fun and festivities with special attention to mojitos, ceviche and slow roasted pork shoulder. The owners have roots in Cuba so the authentic décor includes old and new photos of Cuba, busts of author Ernest Hemingway, and Cuban patriot and hero Jose Marti. The 65-year-old wooden bar came from Idaho where it hosted celebrities such as Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Shirley MacLaine.

The Millworks – New Restaurant, Artist Studios & Brewery!

Named “New Tourism Business of the Year 2015” by the Hershey Harrisburg Visitors Bureau, this vision by developer Joshua Kesler continues to evolve in the Capital City's Midtown neighborhood. The Millworks is a combination of restaurant, biergarten, and artist studios that opened in March 2015 in the former Stokes Millworks, located near the Susquehanna Arts Museum, the Broad Street Market, and the Midtown Scholar Bookstore. The 160-seat restaurant focuses on authentic local and sustainable food, sourced from growers and producers, many located next door in the Broad Street Market, with a full service bar featuring draft and bottled microbrews, craft beers, and nano-brews from local breweries, plus a full menu of spirits and artisan cocktails. Thirty-five (35) regional artists have studios located inside the Millworks' building, allowing customers the opportunity to watch sculptors, painters, and others from the restaurant and biergarten. Open houses on weekends allow customers to walk through the studios, engaging with the artists and seeing their craft performed in person. With a full stage and sound system, the Millworks also hosts live music consisting of both local and touring bands and singer songwriters. This spring the venue will be home to their own brewery as well.

Red Umbrella – New B&B!

This fully renovated brick Federal-style home built in 1845 is conveniently located to all of the attractions in the Hershey Harrisburg Region including being only 7-miles from Hershey and Hersheypark. You'll find a strong connection at this B&B to the local artisan scene, as the property was named for a local artist named Liz Hess and paintings from “Liz's Red Umbrella Collection” are on display and for sale throughout the B&B. The property is also only a short scenic ride to Lancaster, Gettysburg and other attractions. Come and experience the area or come and relax in the comfortably elegant accommodations waiting just for you.

The Manor on Front – New B&B Mansions along Riverfront Park!

The Manor on Front consists of two beautifully restored mansions named “The Ledgestone” and “The Mary Sachs” located on North Front Street, overlooking the Susquehanna River. The properties are among the Academy Manor District, known for the wide array of 20th century mansions. Both properties have been beautifully renovated to showcase period details against a tailored, elegant interior, surrounded by a lush campus of mature trees with river views and gorgeous sunsets. The Ledgestone is a 1920's revival Tudor mansion, while The Mary Sachs is a colonial-style limestone mansion. The Riverfront Park is adjacent to the properties with over 10-miles of park-like settings for running, bicycling, skating & walking. Local restaurants, shopping and galleries are a short jaunt away.

Midstate Distillery – New Distillery – Harrisburg's 1st since Prohibition!

Opened in Harrisburg in January 2016 by brother-in-laws Dan Healy and Brian Myers, this new attraction will have the distinction of being the first distillery in Harrisburg since Prohibition. Midstate produces small batches of Shaky Jake's Rum (a super smooth with a hint of vanilla and a sweet finish) and Pennsyltucky Moonshine with plans to make Iron & Ice Vodka. Visitors can stop in for cocktails, take a tour, shop in the retail store and purchase bottles to take home. Midstate joins a growing list of distilleries already operating in this region of Pennsylvania from Thistle Finch Distillery in Lancaster to Old Republic Distillery in York County and Hidden Still Spirits in Lebanon.

Zeroday Brewing Company – New Brewery in Midtown!

Zeroday Brewing Co. opened in April 2015 as a 7 barrel craft brewery and 60-seat tasting room located in the Midtown district of Harrisburg right next to the Midtown Cinema. This husband & wife team of Theo and Brandalynn Armstrong are the heart & soul of the story here. They specialize in clean, balanced ales and lagers and love to showcase their amazing brews alongside PA wine and cider, local artwork featured in a 16-foot gallery wall, and with some of the area's best musicians on any given night. Zeroday is not a full restaurant, but it offers a fun snack menu with items like the Large Ass Pretzel (seriously bigger than your face) or you can bring your own from the nearby market. The couple operated a successful crowd funding campaign to help fund their dream. So what's with the name? Zero Day is a term used by those hiking the Appalachian Trail for the days you take a break and do nothing. You log zero miles that day. It's typically reserved for a worthwhile city or town. The couple wanted their spot to be worthy of a Zeroday.

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 MEDIA INTERVIEWS                                                                                       

Mary Smith, President & CEO of the Hershey Harrisburg Regional Visitors Bureau is available for media interviews regarding the contents of this news release. Please try to make interview requests at least 12-hours in advance. The bureau will make every effort to accommodate all interview requests. Contact Rick@HersheyHarrisburg.org or cell 717.884.3328.

ABOUT THE HERSHEY HARRISBURG REGIONAL VISITORS BUREAU

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The HHRVB is the official non-profit partnership-based Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) leading economic growth for Pennsylvania's Hershey & Harrisburg Region through destination marketing and tourism development. The organization, accredited by Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI) since 2010, is committed to actively marketing the tourism assets in Dauphin & Perry County to business and leisure travelers both domestic & international. The bureau also leads regional sales efforts to attract meeting & event organizers, sporting event producers, and group tour leaders. For more information go to VisitHersheyHarrisburg.org or call 877-727-8573. Media can use #HHRVB and #HHRVB4Media when tagging stories and social media posts related to the region.