History & local legend
Milton Hershey opened The Hotel Hershey on May 26, 1933, on Pat’s Hill overlooking his chocolate factory. His attachment to the hotel later became part of its ghost lore: stories describe Milton and his wife, Kitty, appearing together in the building and on its grounds.
One former employee offered a more personal account in July 2023. The employee had worked in the coffee shop, which then connected directly with the pastry shop. Arriving before other staff, they would unlock the doors, turn on the lights, and start brewing coffee. They repeatedly heard footsteps and movement as though someone else were working nearby, although they were alone.
On several mornings, they also smelled fresh cigar smoke with a fruity scent. When they mentioned it, a coworker connected the smell with the hotel’s stories about Milton and his supposed preference for flavored cigars. That was the coworker’s explanation for the experience; the employee had heard movement and smelled smoke without seeing him.
