The golfing magic of Nemacolin Resort in Pennsylvania

Nemacolin Resort

If it was only about golf, a stay at Nemacolin Resort near Farmington, Pa., about an hour and half south of Pittsburgh would still be an extraordinary experience. After all, there are 36 holes, designed by Pete Dye, and the courses are stunning.

The first course, Mystic Rock, played host to the PGA Tour’s 84 Lumber Classic from 2003-’06. Perched atop the Allegheny Mountain and across the scenic Laurel Highlands, It was a field of boulders at one time before Joseph Hardy III, the founder of 84 Lumber, bought the property and started developing it. Many of the boulders remain, giving the course, which opened in 1995, much of its character. At more than 7,500 yards from the tips, it is easy to see why it was a great venue to test the best players in the world.

The second course, Shepherd’s Rock, opened in 2017, and it complements the first, raising the wow factor with some of Dye and associate Tim Liddy’s most innovative work. This layout has more elevation change, uneven lies, and larger greens with lots of undulation. While the fairways are generous, it’s not as straightforward as Mystic Rock. But if you poll those who have played both, you’ll probably get a 50-50 split if you ask them which one you like better.

Fortunately, if you book a stay at Nemacolin, you can play both of them, maybe multiple times. They never get boring.

And neither does the rest of the experiences at Nemacolin. And there are so many. So many, in fact, that you can’t take them in on one trip. You’d really need a month, or better yet, several return trips. And while the golf is attractive enough to golfers, it’s just part of the story at Nemacolin.

What to expect at Nemacolin Since 1987

The above title now refers to when Hardy bought the property. He was actually looking for a few acres near a lake or stream for his daughter, Maggie, who loved fishing, but wound up purchasing  a place called Nemacolin Trails Hunting Reserve. (Nemacolin is named for Chief Nemacolin of the Delaware Nation.) What began as a gift turned into a lifetime passion to build one of the most incredible resorts in North America. This property included the original Lodge (which is the Grand Lodge now), but Hardy soon started to add amenities, including a lodge annex, a golf academy, hiking and horseback riding trails, and the Woodlands Spa and Salon, which opened in 1988.

The Spa really is the perfect spot to re-energize after tackling one of the golf courses. This three-level sanctuary incorporates a Feng Shui design to “balance and harmonize the flow of energies using the five elements of wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. It features 40 treatment rooms, locker rooms, an indoor and outdoor pool, men’s and women’s whirlpools, steam rooms, and sauna, and a private fireside lounge that you can reserve and get complimentary drinks and snacks in absolute bliss. With its variety of massage and salon treatments, It really is one of the finest spas in the country. And if that wasn’t enough, there’s also The Holistic Healing Center, which offers various wellness packages, yoga, and acupuncture, just to name a few. Finally,  the Fitness Center has it all, including the latest equipment, fitness classes, and personal trainers. 

And then there’s the wildlife habitats. That’s right, one of the many things to see or do besides golf includes checking out exotic animals on the property, such as lions, tigers, wolves, buffalo, red sheep, and silver foxes to name a few. 

There’s also an airplane museum and showcase for rare and exotic cars (The Auto Toy Store, where some of the collection of these incredible automobiles are actually available for purchase), a mini golf course, racquet sports, five pools, archery, fly-fishing opportunities, clay shooting, biking, a large casino, and a hundred other things to do.

Accommodations are exceptional

At the 2,000-acre Nemacolin Resort, there are three hotels as well as three estates and eight unique homes available for stays. 

As for hotels, it starts with The Grand Lodge, which reopened in 2023 with the tagline “Real Life Magic,” as an all-suite, contemporary and elevated interpretation of the original lodge. It has butler service, and incredible dining, including the farm-to-table Fawn & Fable Restaurant. This is also where you will find the spectacular Circle Bar, where you can sample some most imaginative craft cocktails in a gorgeous environment

Next door is The Chateau, which was inspired by the famed Ritz Paris. It opened in 1997 and was renovated and updated this past year. The Forbes Four Star and AAA Four Diamond hotel offers 124 spacious rooms and suites with vaulted ceilings, crystal chandeliers, and marbled bathrooms with large soaking tubs. Inside the Chateau, you’ll find high-end shopping from jewelry stores, apparel, and priceless cigars to a tea room, ice cream shop, and Nightcap. One of several signature lounges at Nemacolin, Nightcap is a late night lounge with live entertainment, such as vintage cabaret experiences to go along with cocktails, savory bites, and delectable desserts.

This is also where we should mention the Hardy Family Art Collection, which is displayed through much of the resort. It contains more than a thousand pieces, worth tens of millions of dollars, and includes works by Chihuly, Fernando Botero, Clarice Smith, Tiffany Studios, and many others. There are tours you can take, and you can even take an art class yourself (as well as cooking class, for that matter). Hardy, who died last year at 100, had a vast appreciation for just about everything, including the arts, and that’s certainly been passed down to his daughter Maggie, who is the resort’s CEO and owner since 2002. 

And Falling Rock is Nemacolin’s most sophisticated hotel. Inspired by the works of the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright (Wright’s famous “Fallingwater” is also in Pennsylvania). Falling Rock really is a work of art. A Forbes Five-Star and AAA Five-Diamond hotel, it is also where the golf shop, golf courses and practice facilities are located. So if you’re playing golf, this is a great spot to stay, though there is free and convenient shuttle service throughout the property.

As for the restaurants, there are 18 of them. Besides Fawn & Fable, other highlights include Lautrec, a Forbest Five-Star restaurant in a setting that includes six first-print lithographs by French artist Henri de Toulouse. Other outstanding culinary experiences can be had at Aqueous, a modern seafood restaurant, and the new Gusto!, an Italian dining experience that opened this fall.

Back to the golf

It’s impossible to ignore all the other amenities and things to do at Nemacolin. But the golf courses are so strong that anyone who wants to make that his or her focus, will not be disappointed.

These are really two of the most player-friendly Dye designs on the planet.

Mystic Rock received some updates in 2021, and has never looked better. Among the most notable features are the waterfalls and lakes. On the beautiful par-5 fifth for example, it’s on full display with a gorgeous waterfall left of the green above a pond that also comes into play. You’ll also find statues on the course, including one of Chief Nemacolin, and a full-sized scoreboard leftover from the tour days on the 18th hole. And speaking of the 18th, it’s a doozy of a finisher. This long par-4 has a fairway that slopes into several imposing bunkers, making both the tee shot and approach to a well-guarded green a big challenge. 

While Mystic Rock might seem pretty playable – and it is if you choose the proper tees – Shepherd’s Rock certainly appears more intimidating. Early on, it’s a great test that includes the 619-yard, par-5 fourth. The climax is the green with a false front that can propel balls some 60 yards or more back down to a collection area in the fairway of this dogleg right. The variety of holes is tremendous and includes the par-5 15th, which plays off an island tee; a drivable par-4, the 16th (with plenty of risk); and an incredibly strong finisher. The 18th is 455 yards from the tips and plays around a large lake. 

As we alluded to earlier, practice facilities are top notch, and The Nemacolin Golf Academy is one of the best learning centers in the country. Led by Director of Instruction Mike LaBella — the 2024 Tri-State PGA Teacher of the Year and a three-time honoree of Golf Digest’s list of Best Young Teachers, the Academy has everything you need to play your best. Along with a terrific instruction staff, the Academy utilizesTrackMan launch monitors and simulators, Foresight Sports’ GCQuad TM launch monitor, and Swing Catalyst’s Balance and Dual Force Plates.

Getting to Nemacolin Resort

Nemacolin is located just north of the West Virginia border about 70 miles south of Pittsburgh, so flying into Pittsburgh, if you’re not driving, is the most popular option. If you can catch a regional flight into LaTrobe Airport or (43 miles away) or Morgantown (35 miles), you can get even closer.

If you are driving, Cleveland is about 205 miles from Nemacolin; Philadelphia is just under 300 miles, and Washington D.C. is about 185 miles.