The design of the 124-room Château Lafayette draws heavy inspiration from the Ritz Paris.
LAURELS FOR HARDY
How Joseph Hardy's quest to find the ultimate fishing hole led to the establishment of the award-winning Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Pennsylvania's Laurel Highlands. Written by Elliott Greene The story of Nemacolin Woodlands Resort is an "only in America" yarn that weaves through the rich tapestry of Joseph Hardy's life and encompasses family, tenacity, ingenuity, and conviviality. The resort is a property that defies categorization and truly offers something for everyone. Do you prefer châteauinspired, Tudor-style, or Arts and Craft architecture? It's all here. Do you prefer a multi-course fine-dining experience with expertly paired wine, or slurping a malt in a 50s-era soda shop? Here, you can have both. And, whether you are an adrenaline junkie who also dabbles in painting, or someone who enjoys spa pampering and cutting-edge holistic treatments geared at nudging back the hands of time, this is the place for you. The land where Nemacolin sits is bisected by southwest Pennsylvania's Historic National Road Corridor, part of the nation's first multi-state, federally funded highway that began as a pathway developed by the Delaware Indians. For American history buffs, the area is a cornucopia of significant sites.
Starting in the early 1900s, the Laurel Highlands became "the place" to build a country retreat among Pittsburg-area elites, including industrialist Willard F. Rockwell. His initial 60-acre purchase grew into the Nemacolin Trail Hunting Game Reserve, a private game reserve named for Delaware Indian Chief Nemacolin. When the property came up for auction in 1987, Joseph A. Hardy, III, founder of the 84 Lumber Company, attended intending to purchase a few acres near a lake or stream for his daughter Maggie, who loved to fish. After buying 550-acres, he and Maggie (who assumed the reigns at 84 Lumber in 1992 and became president and owner of Nemacolin in 2002), have since worked tirelessly to transform the property into a 2,000-acre world-class destination resort. "The Hardy family's strong ties to this place make us stronger as an organization," said Tom Smith, Director of Resort Culture. Staff at all levels speak affectionately of Maggie, who, along with her father, keeps a home on the property. During our visit, we heard numerous tales of Maggie's under-the-radar generosity.
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