The Strawberry Inn

Opened in 1979 by Al Kochek, The Strawberry Inn was the first LGBTQ+ hotel in the area. The first floor held a bar that was frequented by the LGBTQ+ community, and then there were 12 hotel rooms in the upper floors. It was one the four small LGBTQ+ bars in Harrisburg at the time.

“…and Al Kochek now was running the Strawberry Inn down in the square, which was gay on the weekends and on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights.” – Larry Wilson Oral History

Sadly, The Strawberry Inn closed after a tragic fire on January 23, 1984. The fire destroyed the building, a known gay bartender who lived in one of the rooms upstairs was killed as well, and the Harrisburg Switchboard, which used one of the rooms for its office at the time, lost all their equipment and records housed there.

Picture of Strawberry Inn fire, January 23, 1984. Courtesy of Historical Society of Dauphin County.