Nemacolin

It’s a beautiful location in the mountains and clearly very well taken care of. It’s eccentric and somewhat kitschy, but it was an interesting experience. We stayed at the Chateau for 3 nights. Pros: - Clearly a lot of time, thought and cost has gone into its design and finishings. While the exteriors might be controversial, the interiors of the hotels are very nice. - The staff are all very kind and welcoming - The food at Gusto in particular is terrific and had a lot of vegetarian options - Great stuff for kids to do: mini golf, hardy girl’s gym, carousel - The pools were outstanding — a highlight. Comfortable, lots of chairs, attentive staff, good drinks - The mountain scenery is breathtaking - The shuttles are readily available to take you wherever you want to go; we rarely had to wait for more than 2 mins for one Cons: - The property is organized in a strange way. A lot of the amenities are in the front of the hotel so you have to walk through where the cars / shuttles come and go to get to the pool, fire pits, gardens, etc. Where these amenities would logically go at any other hotel is a large, seemingly unused, airstrip. - As kind and attentive all of the staff was, a lot of them seemed new and didn’t really know what was going on. When we asked questions there was a 50/50 chance someone would say “Sorry I’m new here, let me check.” - Whoever is running the “experiences” / “activities” is doing a very poor job of communicating what you can do, when you can do it, and how much it costs. And when you ask a staff member it’s a time-consuming, clunky experience to get any info — they all mostly don’t know and had to look up everything. - They had a very weird policy where only 1 parent can accompany a child to an activity; the second parent has the pay full price to watch? We honestly don’t really know if this is true or not because although we were told this by the concierge, the staff generally across the board seemed quite uninformed. We skipped on an activity because of this policy. - All the common spaces felt pretty empty. If you’re looking for a place with some hustle and bustle, this wasn’t it (at least not in June). - The lions, tigers, bears and wolves they have on property live in such tiny habitats, it’s so sad to see. I’m not even sure why they have them there; it doesn’t add anything to the experience. Overall had a very nice family vacation here. We’re not in a rush to return, but left with good memories.

I got a $200 gift certificate from my co-workers as a retirement gift. They got me this because they know that I love to golf. When I looked at the rates and found out that I had to stay for a minimum of two nights, I realized that I couldn't afford it even with the gift certificate. I thought I would be able to use the money at the pro shop for merchandise or possibly towards a lunch on the property. I didn't even make it past the front entrance. When I showed them the gift certificate, they told me that I couldn't enter the grounds and that I would only be able to go to the outlet store. I went to the outlet store and got crap that I don't want or need just to use the money. It is a shame that people from work got me a gift that I can't even use. The rich snobs can have their stupid resort. I could win the lottery, become a millionaire and I still wouldn't go.

There is something genuinely magical about Nemacolin, and they get so much right that it makes the misses all the more disappointing. We had been gifted a certificate for a one night stay at Falling Rock, and from the moment we arrived, the property delivered. Isabella at check-in set the tone for what a stay at this property should feel like. She offered us a glass of champagne to begin our journey and made what could have been a transactional check-in process feel genuinely warm and personal, chatting with us throughout until our butler arrived to escort us to our room. The room alone was worth the visit: a deep soaking tub, a specialized bath menu, a customizable pillow menu, and warm cookies and milk delivered at turndown. Every detail felt intentional and personalized in a way that sets a true luxury property apart. The miniature golf course was one of the most genuinely fun experiences we had on property. Each hole offers multiple putting routes, meaning no two rounds ever play the same. A clever and delightful touch. The infinity pool at Falling Rock was serene and breathtaking, heated to absolute perfection. What elevated the pool space further were the small but thoughtful touches: a chair cover, complimentary Coola sunscreen, and the weight of the poolside faux glassware which had a substance and quality to it that made it feel anything but disposable. It is exactly this kind of attention to detail that separates a good resort from a truly exceptional one. The car showroom is also a must for those that are into antique cars. The staff, throughout the entire resort without exception and are what makes this place magical. Everyone was warm, personable, and were the kind of people who make a vacation feel truly special. One moment that stood out in stark contrast to the otherwise gracious atmosphere was when we were enjoying a glass of wine prior to dinner. During that time we found ourselves witness to what appeared to be a very public reprimand of the pool staff. One that, if the whispers around us were correct, was being delivered by Maggie Hardy herself. It was an unsettling scene that no guest should have to see. I say this as someone who has stayed at world-class hotels across the globe. I know what it looks like when a luxury property executes at every level. I arrived at Nemacolin with those same expectations, if not higher, given what is being charged here. At this price point, there is simply no leeway. Every guest experience must be flawless, every single time, no exceptions. That is the standard you set for yourself the moment you ask guests to pay at this level. And yet, behind the wonder of the physical spaces, the resort fell short and lost its magic once we stepped into their food and beverage venues. Which to me are a make or break moment for a resort and why I gave the property 2/5. The Bleu Room afternoon tea had a genuinely lovely atmosphere. We were the only guests, and our server created what felt like a beautifully private affair. But what was advertised on the menu was far from what afternoon tea was intended for and was more of a dessert spread. Something they should already know as their menu talks about the history of afternoon tea. If indulgent sweets are your thing to curb hunger before dinner or if your child needs a sugar rush, you may enjoy it. But if you have ever experienced proper afternoon tea multiple times at the Lanesborough in London, for example, as I have, do not book this expecting anything close. Everything came out at once in petite four and canapé style, presented on what can only be described as an Amazon-purchased tiered tray. The menu leaned overwhelmingly sweet: an abundance of cakes and treats with only a small selection of savory canapés. Let me be clear, these were canapés, not tea sandwiches. The sole exception, the egg and truffle, was the only item that came close to honoring the tradition of a tea sandwich, and even that arrived crusty, dry, and lifeless, as though it had been prepared well in advance. Almost the entire spread was blueberry-themed which, while charming as a nod to the Bleu Room, made every single item relentlessly sweet with no relief. The donut was the worst offender. The port, though a thoughtful gesture to accompany the meal, only compounded the sugar overload and left us both feeling genuinely nauseous. This is the American spin on British afternoon tea, and like most American attempts, it misses the point entirely. Theme and novelty have been prioritized over tradition. Needless to say we left a lot of uneaten desserts behind. Aqueos, the resort's flagship restaurant at Falling Rock, also fell short, though I will note that other diners around us appeared to be having a wonderful time, so ordering strategy and insider knowledge may play a role. Our server was once again exceptional and incredibly accommodating. The fundamental problem for me was food pacing and portions. It feels like the portions are large to justify what is being charged, which completely defeats the purpose of a multi-course meal that is advertised on the menu. You simply cannot serve entrée-sized courses at every turn and expect a guest to make it through four courses. The gaps between courses were so prolonged that by the time our first course arrived, our appetites had long since abandoned us. The two simply do not coexist well and should be reframed in my opinion. I ultimately had to cancel my entrée entirely and excuse myself from the table mid-service, leaving my partner behind. Something no guest should ever feel compelled to do. Our server, it must be said, was the true hero of that meal and deserves to be recognized for it. She saved the entire experience from being a dumpster fire after my departure. When we returned to the room after what had been a mixed day, we then found a used tissue tucked inside one of the robes. It is a small thing in isolation, but in the context of a resort at this level, it is precisely the kind of detail that should never exist. A used tissue in a robe is not a small oversight. It made us immediately question what else in that room had not been properly attended to or replaced from the previous guest(s). When I raised these concerns of F&B missteps and room cleanliness at checkout, the apology felt hollow and rehearsed, as if they were not allowed to aid in guest recovery. It was shrugged off entirely, the script of checkout was followed to its conclusion, and then came the "I see you were celebrating your birthday with us. We are so happy you chose us to be a part of your special day. Happy Birthday!" Nothing was offered to make it right. No further questions, no curiosity to find out what had happened to help improve service. In that moment I was left with the uncomfortable feeling that our concerns mattered less because we hadn't paid full rate like others. That is when the magic left entirely. The missteps alone I could have moved past. What I could not move past was the feeling that they simply did not care.

We decided to stay a little more local for spring break this year with our two kids (10 and 4), and honestly… this ended up being one of our most memorable trips. We’re based in Pittsburgh so it was an easy ~1 hour drive, but it felt like a true getaway. The staff at Nemacolin are just next level. They make everything feel easy and special without being over the top. While we were waiting for our room, a staff member randomly offered to give us a quick tour and ended up showing us things we definitely would have missed—including the “secret” blue room where they do afternoon tea. My 10-year-old was OBSESSED with that and talked about it the entire trip. Easily one of her highlights. This is a 5-star experience for us, but sharing a few real notes for families: 1. We stayed in the Grand Lodge. Just a heads up - not all suites have bathtubs. We knew this going in, but worth noting if you have younger kids. Luckily ours is fine with showers. 2. Food is expensive. Like… we probably spent as much on food as we did on the room. That said, it was really good and felt worth it. Kids meals are reasonable, and overall our kids ate well. Chicken tenders varied in "kid approval" depending on where you were, but pasta dishes were consistently great. My kids ate every last bite of their pasta at Gusto! 3. The chicken pot pie at Fawn & Fable is a must. Just trust me. 4. Gusto! is worth it, but definitely make a reservation and be on time. Also pay attention to the “extras” - they add up fast. My husband ordered a side of pasta with his chicken parm (which is massive) and didn’t even touch it… and it was $20. With no real fridge or microwave in the room, we had to just sadly leave it behind. 5. The Peak was a huge hit. Heated pool, hot tub, warm robes—it was perfect for the kids. Only downside is the menu can get repetitive if you’re there multiple days, but for a short stay it’s great. 6. Don’t sleep on the included activities with the resort fee. We loved the wildlife area, the car/airplane museum, indoor pool, mini golf...all easy wins with kids. Hardy Girls Gym was probably our one “meh” experience. It’s $95 per kid for 90 minutes, and ours were done after about an hour. Then we waited ~30 minutes for a shuttle after. Not terrible, but probably wouldn’t do it again unless it was a rainy crappy day. 7. I did a solo “mom morning” at the spa—massage + time in the fitness center, sauna, and steam room. SO good. One of the best massages I’ve had. Locker room staff were amazing. Highly recommend if you can sneak away. The sauna, steam room and whirlpool are available to all guests during the week, even without a spa reservation. 8. The little touches really make the place. Nightly cookies (and yes, you can call for more + milk), housekeeping keeping everything super organized, staff remembering your name and room number—it all adds up. They truly don’t say no, they just figure it out. I know there’s been some news about staffing changes, but from a guest perspective, the team we interacted with was incredible and clearly working hard for each other and the guests (big shoutout to Jaden our butler and Anna at the front desk who were just wonderful during our stay). 9. Regarding staffing, Shuttle service could use some improvement. Drivers were fantastic—so kind to our kids—but it felt like there just weren’t enough of them at times. We had a few longer waits, especially later in the week. 10. A few random tips: Patisserie is packed in the morning. We did in-room dining one day for breakfast, which was great. PJ’s ice cream closes early (5pm in off-season), so don’t promise post-dinner ice cream like we did 😅. They also have some food available for lunch, so we did that one day when my kids were enjoying the indoor kids pool. It would be helpful if there was a clearer schedule of activities/times—we missed an art class by 20 minutes just because we didn’t know when it started. Lunch options at the Grand Lodge/Chateau are a little limited—plan ahead. Overall—yes, it’s expensive. But you really do get what you pay for here. It felt special, easy, and memorable for our whole family. We’re already talking about going back.

This place used to ge great. We would go often. Sunday brunches, Holidays. Enjoyed the Miniature Golf; billiards. We are upper middle class, Private Pittsburgh schools graduates. The place is now only for the mega wealthy: big egos; nouveau riche, snobs with attitudes. Never again. We'll cherish the great memories of 1980's - 2015.