Expanded main entrance transforms the guest experience

K&W site designers worked closely with Hershey Entertainment & Resorts and an amazing team of design professionals to completely reimagine Hersheypark’s main entrance and create an entirely new guest experience. The 23-acre, $150 million dollar expansion known as Chocolatetown provides new year-round retail and dining options and created a home for the roller coaster attraction, “Candymonium.” The reconfigured entrance also supports enhanced security measures and makes entry to the park more convenient for daily visitors and season ticket holders. 

The expansive project included the demolition of existing buildings and infrastructure, construction of several new buildings, and reconfiguration of the park entrance gate, drop-off, and pick-up areas. The improvements also involved extensive utility service relocation and coordination, reconstruction, and stream crossings; construction of the new attraction and associated structural piers; building and plaza improvements; access roads; significant reconfiguration of existing parking fields; comprehensive evaluation and design of major stormwater system improvements to mitigate existing flooding problems in the Park; Spring Creek realignment and improvements; existing bridge demolition and new access bridge design / installation.

K&W provided civil engineering and landscape architecture services, including land development approvals. Careful planning created temporary entrances to allow the Park to remain operational during construction. The new Chocolatetown entrance began welcoming Hersheypark guests in 2020.