By Fred Altvater
The Nemacolin Resort was founded in 1987, when 84 Lumber owner, Joe Hardy bought 500 acres in the rolling hills of southwestern Pennsylvania to give his daughter opportunities to practice Fly Fishing in the nearby streams. Located approximately one hour southeast of Pittsburgh, it provided a convenient location for family getaways.
Over the years Hardy continued to expand the property and today it encompasses 2,200 acres with three luxurious hotels, 18 dining opportunities, two Pete Dye designed courses, a world-class spa, plus every amenity and activity imaginable.
Mr. Hardy has passed, but left a lingering legacy to his love of golf and the outdoors. His daughter, Maggie now runs both 84 Lumber and the Nemacolin Resort and has continued to follow her father’s mantra to provide the best possible vacation destination and each visitor’s experience memorable.
Golf
As a golf resort Nemacolin is unsurpassed. It boasts two of the finest Pete Dye designs to be found, Shepherd’s Rock and Mystic Rock.
Mystic Rock is a true delight and hosted the 84 Lumber Classic, a stop on the PGA Tour, for seven years, 2000-2006. Past champions include; Chris Demarco, Robert Allenby, Dan Forsman, J.L. Lewis, Vijay Singh, Jason Gore and Ben Curtis. Michelle Wie was invited to compete in the 2006 tournament. She missed the cut, but made headlines competing with the men on the PGA Tour.
Mystic Rock was ranked the ‘Best Course in Pennsylvania’ in both 2021 and 2022. It is slightly more difficult than its sister course, Shepherd’s Rock, which opened for play in 2017 and was one of Dye’s last designs.
Rock walls, waterfalls and statues are placed throughout Mystic Rock. Low areas, as well as steep hillsides combine to make every shot on the Mystic Rock course memorable. At 7,290 yards, from the back tees, it provides a true test for even the best golfers and provides jaw-dropping vistas of the Allegheny Mountains as you wind your way through the valleys and hillsides.
Shepherd’s Rock has been ranked inside the top five courses in Pennsylvania on several occasions. Be sure to check out the cavernous hazard to the left of the 13th green. Two huge bunkers sit 12-14 feet below the putting surface and are surrounded by Dye’s signature railroad ties. If you miss the green left, saving par at the 13th is nearly an impossible task.
With five sets of tees any skill level golfer can enjoy playing either course and will have delightful stories to tell after their round.
We found it difficult to choose which course we preferred, but it is safe to say, we look forward to going back and playing both again.
First-Class Lodging
There are three excellent lodging options at Nemacolin. The Grand Lodge is currently undergoing a massive renovation and upgrade. The Chateau harkens back to the grandeur of French Royalty. One expects to see Marie Antoinette walking the hallways.
Falling Rock is located closer to the golf courses and is perfect for any guest coming to the resort for golf. The pro shop is attached to the hotel and just a short walk puts you at the practice range, or the first tees of Mystic Rock and Shepherd’s Rock.
Home and condominium rentals are also available for larger groups, or families.
I should mention that the service at Nemacolin is off the charts. A personal Butler can be requested to attend to a guest’s every need.
Delicious Dining
There are 18 various dining options at Nemacolin. Fine dining is available at Aqueous, Lautrec and Fawn & Fable.
Aqueous, inside the Falling Rock Hotel, is set in architectural artistry inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright. This Forbes 4-star and AAA 4-Diamond restaurant features fresh seafood providing an unforgettable culinary experience.
Lautrec is one of only 35 restaurants worldwide that have received both a 5-Star and 5-Diamond awards. Their culinary team delivers a six-course chef’s tasting menu that showcases the freshest ingredients of the season. It is known for farm-to-table delights from local and regional growers.
Complementing the cuisine at Lautrec is a 1,200-bottle wine list from the resort’s own prized wine cellar. The sommelier will assure your selection goes perfectly with your menu selection.
Fawn & Fable features a menu filled with steakhouse classics grilled to perfection. Timeless American fare is prepared from the finest locally sourced, sustainable ingredients.
This restaurant combines the traditional steakhouse with a fairytale castle. Fawn & Fable is one of the most magical dining experiences in the land.
In addition, Barattolo serves traditional Italian fare. Rockwell’s Bistro pays homage to a French Bistro and offers the best cuts of meats from local producers, plus it has an extensive wine collection
Mulligan’s, in the Falling Rock Hotel, serves sandwiches and classic summer favorites poolside, as well as to golfers making the turn on the Mystic Rocks Golf Course.
There is also dining at The Peak, Sunset Terrace, the Patisserie and P.J’s Ice Cream Parlor for quick bites and cool desserts.
Spa & Wellness
Nemacolin places a special emphasis on Health and Wellness. The Woodlands Spa & Salon, Holistic Healing Center and Fitness Club focus on the entire body.
Get a good workout at the Fitness Center and then relax at the Woodlands Spa & Salon. It offers a complete range of relaxing treatments, rejuvenating therapies and luxurious salon services.
Specialists at the Holistic Healing Center provide guests with an innovative and personalized approach to life balance and integrated wellness. Services available include; acupuncture, specialty massage, yoga, salt-water float, infrared light, cryotherapy and NovaTHOR PBM therapies.
The Peak
The Peak delivers limitless, year-round fun for the entire family. It sits near the ski slope for winter fun and the pool is always heated for outdoor swimming and relaxing even when temperatures drop. In the summer cabanas, live entertainment, delicious drinks and dining can all be enjoyed poolside.
The Peak is always an adventure just waiting to happen.
Lady Luck Casino
When you are not in the pool, spa, or on the golf course, the Lady Luck Casino has all your favorite games of chance. There are 600 gaming machines to choose from, plus 26 tables provide blackjack, roulette, craps and other popular games.
Summary
As you can see the Nemacolin Resort is everything you are looking for in an all-encompassing vacation getaway. If you are looking for the finest food, golf, spa and dining options with a complete list of activities to fill up your visit, Nemacolin should be at the top of your wish list.
Visit https://www.nemacolin.com/#real-life-magic to plan your fantastic adventure.
