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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.
Picture of Strawberry Inn fire, January 23, 1984. Courtesy of Historical Society of Dauphin County.
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  • Home
  • The Long Road
    • Beginning
    • Philadelphia >
      • Philadelphia Part 2
    • Harrisburg
    • Lancaster
    • York
    • Allentown
    • Montgomery >
      • Montgomery Part 2
    • Work Continues >
      • Acknowledgments
  • With Open Hearts & Open Arms
    • Gay LIfe in Pre-Castro Cuba/Homophobia/What's In a Name? Part 1
    • What's in a Name? Part 1 Continued/UMAP/Mattachine Society
    • Leftist Gays in the US/The Mariel Boatlift
    • The Mariel Boatlift Part 2/Resettlement Camps
    • Resettlement Continued/Press Coverage
    • Immigration/What's In a Name? Part 2
    • LGBTQ+ Organizing
    • The Mariel Generation/Life in PA
    • The Eromin Center/Impact of AIDS
    • AIDS in Cuba/LGBTQ+ Rights in Cuba
    • Acknowledgements
  • Stories of Discrimination
    • Hate Crimes >
      • Anita Bryant
      • Escalating Violence
      • Appalachian Trail
      • Bookstore Bombings
    • Employment Discrimination >
      • Blacklisted
      • "Moral Turpitude"
      • Elected
      • Traumatized and penalized
    • Transgender Discrimination
    • Housing and Property Discrimination >
      • Vision of Hope MCC
    • Conclusion
  • We Believe?
    • Early Expereriences >
      • Praying the Gay Away
    • Coming Out
    • LGBTQ+ Groups >
      • Religious Life
      • Social Life
      • Political Life
    • Faith and Identity
    • LGBTQ+ Clergy
    • Responses: Backlash >
      • Responses: Acceptance
    • Looking Forward
  • Duty, Honor, Pride
    • Vietnam War Era >
      • Investigations
    • Post-Vietnam Experiences
    • Closing >
      • Citations
  • Other Resources