Following a January 2023 fire that necessitated a full renovation of Hershey Farm Resort’s restaurant, the Resort is back up and running — and arguably, is doing better than ever.

After 18 months, the Resort, located at 240 Hartman Bridge Road in Lancaster’s Strasburg Township, re-opened in late July with a fabulous new restaurant and other dining options, now all under one roof with their lodging offerings, thus inspiring a name change to “Resort.”

But despite the restaurant and Resort being in full swing now, Deryl Stoltzfus, co-owner of the Hershey Farm Resort, emphasizes the resilience and resourcefulness of the Resort during the 18-month renovation.

“After the fire, we moved quickly to rebuild and opened the hotel to guests in March,” stated Stoltzfus. “But instead of serving a standard, continental breakfast, we converted three guest rooms into a dining area with a kitchen, allowing us to serve made-to-order omelets, crème brûlée, and French toast, ensuring our guests felt well taken care of.”

And while the fire that occurred at the Resort last January is no doubt devastating, Stoltzfus and the Hershey Farm Resort team chose to see the “silver lining” of their situation, using it as a way to bring to life all of the backlogged ideas to enhance the guest experience.

“We realized early on that it was a blessing; the experience allowed us to start over,” said Stoltzfus. “We could eliminate past inefficiencies and create a better flow for our guests, ensuring a great experience for both them and our employees.”

Hershey Farm Resort’s Dream Guest Experience Comes to Life

As the Hershey Farm Resort entered the journey into rebuilding, Stoltzfus and his wife harkened back to their catalog of travels and all the experiences they’d enjoyed and admired along the way. So when it came to the design, Stoltzfus had a pretty clear idea of what could be accomplished.

“My wife and I have been fortunate; we’ve traveled all of our life, and we live and breathe hospitality,” he said. “Wherever we go, we take mental notes and sometimes pictures of things we admire and want to look into. So entering this renovation, we already had a folder of things that we hoped to implement at the Hershey Farm Resort.”

While having a design is one thing, being able to implement that design is another. For Stoltzfus and his team, key components of bringing ideas to fruition at the revamped Hershey Farm Restaurant were working with CGA Architects and planning the new space out meticulously.

“A significant step in our planning was reaching out to Spooky Nook, the largest indoor sports facility on the East Coast, to see if we could use their space as a model,” said Stoltzfus. “About a month and a half into the process, after finalizing our initial design, we went there and taped out each component of our new facility. This allowed us to ensure smooth traffic flow for guests and efficient operations for employees, giving us confidence that our eventual layout would be effective.”

Stoltzfus also gratefully mentions the community support along the way — stating that it’s often something you don’t realize you have until you need it. While builders and workers were on the site, they would tell their connection to the Hershey Farm Resort, recalling first jobs, vacations, and more.

“Most of our subcontractors and contractors were local, and they all shared stories about Hershey Farm,” Stoltzfus stated. “It was personal for them; it wasn’t just another job. We could see their pride in the work they did, and we couldn’t be happier with the results.”

Because of careful spatial planning and the work of a team of talented architects and builders, guests at the Resort can now enjoy dining with plenty of space and optimized “traffic flow” at buffet stations, and employees can work more comfortably and freely to deliver the best possible service.

More Space, More Options, More Fun: The Revamped Hershey Farm Resort Experience

Guests and diners at the Resort now have more space to unwind and imbibe in the large, glassed-in foyer, off which are the bakery and a retail shop as well as the entrance to the main smorgasbord. The main foyer has a 34-foot-high glassed-in vestibule and a walkway finished off with pavers that help create the feeling of a shop-lined streetscape.

With various shops — including a boutique and a bake shop — guests can choose their experience, whether it’s enjoying the smorgasbord or visiting the café. This offers a distinct experience separate from the hotel, ensuring that even during busy times, hotel guests can find tranquility on the 25-acre property, complete with walking trails, a pond, and wildlife.

The new restaurant at Hershey Farm can accommodate nearly 600 guests, slightly fewer than the previous location, but is better equipped to manage large crowds. It features a 120-seat dining room for family-style meals, complete with its own entrance and dedicated restrooms. On the second level, Café 23 offers a 100-seat space with a patio, serving lighter fare similar to that of the former Hershey Farm Café at Tanger Outlets.

Stoltzfus shared that even with all of the exciting renovations, the Resort has not steered from its beloved menu of traditional Pennsylvania Dutch fare, including ham balls, fried chicken, buttered noodles, chicken pot pie, mashed potatoes, whoopie pies, and more. However, there are also new items to look forward to, such as pizza, garlic knots, chicken Monterey, and a variety of desserts.

A Beloved Lancaster Destination Made Better

Nestled in the heart of Lancaster County, Hershey Farm Resort has always been a crown jewel to locals and visitors alike, with the surrounding area filled with scenic walking trails, friendly farm animals, a refreshing outdoor pool, and beautiful views. But with the renovation of the kitchen, cafe, and general dining facilities, it has never been a better time to explore and enjoy all the area has to offer.

“It’s a massive upgrade in experience,” emphasized Stoltzfus. “The biggest change for our guests is that the hotel is now connected to all our other buildings. The restaurant is easily accessible from the main hotel, which significantly enhances the guest experience. We also added a café for the first time, offering options beyond the grand smorgasbord, so guests can choose between all-you-can-eat or lighter fare.”

Even with the recent repairs and renovations to the Resort, improving the guest experience never stops for Stoltzfus and his team, as he mentions they are now starting to turn toward the hotel’s expansion. This expansion will add more rooms and an indoor pool, which he hopes to be complete by the latter months of 2025.

As Hershey Farm Resort embraces its new beginning, Stoltzfus reflects on the transformation with gratitude and excitement.

“We’ve received incredible feedback. Recently, a representative from a tour company we’ve worked with for over 30 years visited with their entire team. She was speechless and said, ‘I can’t believe this is the same facility.’ The before-and-after transformation is as dramatic as you’d see on HGTV.”

With the support of the community and a vision that has come to life, Hershey Farm Resort stands ready to welcome both new and returning guests to a revitalized experience, making it an even more cherished destination in Lancaster County.

Learn more at Discover Lancaster and how Lancaster County offers wide open spaces and a peaceful change of pace for visitors needing a tranquil getaway.