Nemacolin Woodlands Resort Unveils $30 Million Renovation

The new Lecture Hall.

Nemacolin Woodlands Resort is celebrating the completion of its $30 million renovation. The property-wide transformation is the largest project of its kind in the resort’s 28-year history and features dramatic floor-to-ceiling upgrades spread across three phases, including four of the resort’s six lodging options, the 32,000-sf Executive Conference Center and public spaces. The 2,000-acre luxury resort located southeast of Pittsburgh also opened a Holistic Healing Center, Holistic Garden and a dueling zip line at the resort’s Adventure Center.

Transformation of 263 of the resort’s 318 guest rooms began in December of 2013. The spacious and elegant Chateau Lafayette guest rooms feature vaulted ceilings, chandeliers, architectural detailing and marble fixtures. Each of the 124 Chateau rooms received new windows, carpeting, furnishings and luxurious drapery and linens, and adopted a new, warmer color scheme of spearmint, salmon and celadon. The Chateau Lafayette corridors are equally impressive with custom-made wall sconces to mimic the carpeting and wall covering design. Appointed with warm, nature-inspired furnishings and decor, Nemacolin’s Original Lodge and Lodge Annex accommodations underwent extensive remodeling, including refurbished patios, window and door replacements, new carpeting, furnishings, drapery and linens.

Work on the resort’s 32,000-sf Conference Center began in the fall of 2014. Baccarat chandeliers, retractable wall systems, wood refurbishing, velvet drapery and lux wool carpeting imported from Great Britain have transformed the resort’s 4,080-sf Grand Ballroom space. The renovation also included a new landscape transformation of the room’s attached patio which added an additional 2,200 sf.

“Corporate events make up 52 percent of our business; therefore, improving our meeting space options and event amenities for our guests were important factors during the renovation project,” said Plummer.

The resort’s 200-seat Lecture Hall is the most impressive upgrade as the space was gutted and rebuilt. “Essentially, everything you see in that space is new. From the carpeting and chairs to the wall coverings and audio–visual system upgrades, which include a new projection screen, dedicated lighting, wall-mounted speaker system and touch-screen audio controls.”

The Nemacolin and Sequoia spaces, which each feature six breakaway meeting rooms, Club Room, Hardy Boardroom and Joseph’s, all received new upgrades, while outdoor spaces such as the Lafayette Gardens and Plaza Deck were enhanced with hardscaping, outdoor furniture and landscape features. New banquet menus and furniture promise a superior presentation and culinary experience.

For meetings and events, Nemacolin offers 32,000 sf of meeting and banquet facilities including three ballrooms, a 200-seat lecture hall and 25 meeting rooms. For guests arriving by air, there is an on-property private airfield with a 3,900-foot airstrip.

“Prior to the renovations, our public spaces had a ‘museum’ atmosphere. Our new design welcomes guests to lounge versus merely walking through,” said Plummer. The Chateau Lafayette Lobby and Tea Room are the most dramatic upgrades featuring timeless design elements including new furniture, painted ceilings, carpet and drapery. From the Nemacolin Galleries to the Hardy Library, to the resort’s Sundry Shop and the new “speakeasy” themed Cigar Bar, nearly every corridor on the main floor of the resort underwent an aspect of remodeling.

Digital television kiosks were added throughout the property to enhance the guest experience. Property maps, group functions, daily events and hours of operations for the resort’s 70 amenities are now featured 24/7.

Over the past year, the resort also invested in amenities including a four-room Holistic Healing Center with services ranging from acupuncture to healing meditation under the direction of qualified therapists, educators, fitness trainers and medical professionals.

The Holistic Garden opened in July of 2014 as an extension of the resort’s wellness efforts. Featuring more than 50 produce and herb varieties, and the beginnings of a vineyard, the garden is open for guests to walk through and is utilized heavily by the resort’s culinary team. The resort also opened the 3,000-foot Fatbird SuperFlyer dueling zip lines at the Adventure Center and added the Nemacolin Experience Department, a full-service concierge team.

Nemacolin announced a new 9-hole Pete Dye-designed golf course extension of the Dye’s Mystic Rock with a spring 2017 opening date predicted.

www.nemacolin.com