Last Updated on November 5, 2025 by Fadra Nally
If you follow me on social media at all, you’ve probably seen a lot of Hersheypark activity in my feed lately. I’m actually one of the Sweetest Moms for 2016. Kind of like an ambassador for all things Hershey, PA.
One of the benefits of working with Hershey Parks & Entertainment is that they invite me to many media events. But being a Sweetest Mom means I get to bring the family for a weekend of fun in Hershey as their guest. We were provided a complimentary night’s stay at the Hershey Lodge for Saturday night of our stay and it couldn’t have suited us better.
While my husband and I have stayed at the more lavish (and grown-up) Hotel Hershey, I’ve toured the Hershey Lodge and was somewhat familiar with it. But having a chance to stay there and experience their new Hershey’s Water Works indoor water park was the icing on the cake. Or rather, the chocolate sauce on top of the sundae.
Walking into Hershey Lodge
First impressions matter. At least, to me they do. And the Hershey Lodge looks and feels like a lodge.
You’ll find plenty of comfortable places to sit and do absolutely nothing or even wait for someone else in your party (this happened a lot with us).
And if sitting isn’t good enough for you, you can hop up to the lobby bar and order one of their signature (grown-up) chocolate drinks.
If drinks aren’t enough, you’ll love one of the many dining areas in the Hershey Lodge. My first few pictures will show you why.
Dining at the Hershey Lodge
While we were in between that “we ate lunch too early and we’re starving but we already have dinner reservations later” phase and thought we maybe needed some appetizers. I remembered The Bears’ Den from my tour last year and we were early enough to snag a quick table.
Fun fact: The Bears’ Den refers to Hershey’s own hockey team, the Hershey Bears.
What you’re looking at is my husband’s Loaded Nachos, my favorite Bavarian Pretzels with honey mustard and warm cheese dipping sauces, and Evan’s excellent choice of Fried Mozzerella wedges.
And yes, that might be a beer you see lurking in the background.
The service was fantastic, the food was reasonable priced, and everything was delicious!
There are more formal places to eat for breakfast and dinner but we opted for the Lodge’s version of a café and had breakfast at the Cocoa Beanery before heading to the park. Coffee, tea, and egg sandwiches were the perfect quick breakfast.
Inside a Guest Room at the Hershey Lodge
Once you’ve confirmed that the public spaces are all nice and meet your family’s needs, the big question is what is the room like? Sometimes you’ll find hotels will spend money remodeling the lobby since that’s what everyone sees and overlook the quality of the guest rooms.
That was certainly not the case here.
We had a two queen guest room with what they call “chocolate decor.” I like to think we were staying in the Hershey’s Kisses wing because they had a theme and played up to it very well!
Those lovely prints at the wall showing small pebbles in a stream are actually joined by Peppermint Patty, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup, and Hershey’s Chocolate Bar alongside the stones. Can you see it?
Yes, the sheets and comforters all have a delicate Kiss pattern in them. And the accents carried into the bathroom as well where all the toiletries smelled like chocolate!
Food, drink, atmosphere, accommodations. That just about covers it, right?
WRONG! There are more amenities so that you can spend time at the Lodge and still feel like you’re on vacation.
Fun Stuff for All at the Hershey Lodge
Let’s start with the basics. There is a tennis court and basketball court (does anyone really play tennis on vacation?).
There’s also mini-golf that I didn’t get a chance to check out. But the latest pièce de résistance is Hershey’s Water Works, an indoor water park located at the Lodge.
Pro tip: If your park plans get rained out, the kids will never know the difference. The fun continues inside!
Even if you’re not into water parks, there IS something here for everyone.
Lots of splashing areas for the tiniest ones and some fun little slides for toddlers.
Then, there are sections for what I’m calling “kids of all ages.” There’s a large pool with lanes for swimming, hoops for basketball, anchored dolphins for climbing, Twizzler slides for zooming, and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups for tackling.
Yes, the slides and over-water obstacles are grown-up friendly. I know because I asked. And then I mastered them all!
And I didn’t forget about the final group. The grown-ups that want a different kind of fun. Don’t worry. They have you covered too.
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If you’re looking to make a trip to Hersheypark more than a one-stop shop, I recommend the Hershey Lodge as a great place for families to enjoy both in and out of the water!
For this trip, I was provided complimentary admission for me and my family to Hersheypark and overnight accommodations at the Hershey Lodge. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
