Nemacolin

First time, and service was great! We visited with our family (2 kids, 9 and 14) and adults aged 35 to 80. We had a great time and stayed on Christmas Eve at the Chateau. The decorations were beautiful, and the food was delicious. We had the Christmas brunch at Fawn and Fable and though expensive, everyone got to eat what they wanted so it was very convenient. We also did the clay pigeon shooting and the art class (wool felting), and both were fun. Though we didn’t visit the pool, we did walk around the spa and fitness center and it was very “fancy” as my kids said. We would definitely return, and while pricey, it felt luxurious.

This December marked our fourth consecutive year visiting Nemacolin as a family. While we’ve loved this resort in the past, we’ll likely skip next year or visit outside the Christmas season. We continue to visit during Christmas because the holiday lights, village, and overall vibe are fantastic. You absolutely pay a premium this time of year, but historically I justified it because of the unique experiences Nemacolin offered. I truly believe this can be a 5-star resort—but this year I rated it 3 stars because too many small details were missed, especially considering the extremely high prices for rooms and on-property spending. In prior years I would have rated this closer to 4.5 stars. What Nemacolin Does Extremely Well • The heated outdoor pool and hot tub at The Peak are incredible. Swimming outdoors in winter is such a unique experience. You can watch skiers (when open), sit by fire pits, enjoy the huge TV, grab warm towels from the saunas, and order drinks from attentive wait staff. This area alone has been a major reason we keep coming back. • Food quality is generally excellent, though expensive. o Gusto (Italian) is outstanding—easily 5 stars. o The steakhouse had been hit-or-miss in past years, but this year it was the best we’ve experienced, so something is improving there. o Pool food (pizza, chili, giant pretzels) is consistently excellent. • Ambiance is beautiful. The decorations throughout the resort are well done, bar areas feel clean and modern, and the lobby is gorgeous. • Unique activities you don’t find everywhere: snow tubing, small-scale Ski resort (Ski amenity not resort), the zoo, Hardy Gym for kids, rope climbing, and other random but fun experiences that we’ve enjoyed over the years. Why This Visit Was Disappointing Unfortunately, this year felt like Nemacolin cut corners across multiple areas, and when I raised these concerns with management, there was no meaningful response or accountability. • No more Christmas trees in the rooms. This used to be such a special and memorable touch. Now you can add one for $400. Management said this was done for “inclusivity,” which doesn’t make much sense when the entire resort is covered in Christmas decorations. It felt far more like a cost-cutting decision. • The lazy river pool is no longer open in winter. The Peak has two large pools, and for the past three winters the lazy river was heated and open. That is no longer the case, which reduces the winter pool experience. • No more heated bathrobes readily available at the saunas. Previously, warm robes were available when exiting the pool. Now you must ask a server (if they have them), and even then they sit out and get cold quickly. When we asked, they were completely out. Again, this felt like another cost-saving move. • The free Santa and Elf experience is gone, and Christmas Village hours are very limited. They’ve added a Santa breakfast instead, which costs $700+ for a family of five. This used to be a major highlight of visiting during Christmas, and now it’s harder to access and no longer complimentary. When I called ahead to plan our stay, no one mentioned this change, so we discovered it only after arrival. • No more free Hot Chocolate for kids in Lobby Tips If You Decide to Book • Go straight to The Peak if your room isn’t ready. There are changing rooms, and you can drive right up. By the time you’re done, your room is often ready. • Book dining reservations immediately after booking your stay. This has been frustrating every year. You’ll be told reservations aren’t available, yet restaurants appear far from full. Call early and push for clarity. Also ask detailed questions about activities—some even require reservations despite being “free.” • Confirm your room details very carefully. Across four visits: o Visit 1: Booked the Lodge based on remodeled photos; room was not remodeled (they acknowledged the mistake). o Visit 2: Booked the Chateau, arrived to find it closed and was moved to the Lodge with no prior notice. o Visit 3: Perfect experience. o Visit 4: Thought I booked the same room as visit 3; front desk admitted they could see why I was confused but said we technically received what we paid for. Call ahead and get clarity—don’t assume. Final Thoughts Nemacolin is a truly unique resort with some outstanding amenities. It can be a 5-star experience. But when you’re charging 5-star prices and repeatedly missing small but meaningful details, it’s hard to justify a top rating. I decided to write this long review because I genuinely felt management did not care when these issues were raised. We’ll likely return at some point, but we plan to take at least a year off and try something new.

My wife and I are frequent visitors and usually very much enjoy our visits. This visit was different. As I waited in the spa’s men’s lounge for my massage, the chair I sat in broke. The wooden support on the right side shattered and threw me to the right. I hurt my leg and shoulder. I think their chairs should safely hold a 190 pound man. I was twice promised that they would send me pictures of the chair but I never got them. I also wrote a letter. I never got a response, not even someone asking me how I was. After going there regularly for 20 years, we deserved better.

Nemacolin is absolutely perfect. Everything there is top notch from the water bottles, refill stations everywhere to the electronic toilet which was awesome to the electronics in the room. The room in the Chateau was beautiful and so clean. Lots of wonderful amenities also. We enjoyed walking around the entire facility. There is so much to see including the beautiful sculptures tucked everywhere. They were setting up the Christmas lights while we were there which looked like they would be absolutely amazing. The spa and spa treatments were fabulous. Food is amazing. I absolutely loved our getaway and will start saving up for my next trip there. I did think it was very expensive but well worth the experience.

The absolute best luxury resort and my wonderful husband surprised me with this opportunity for a milestone birthday! The staff and service is IMPECCABLE. Chateau property is incredible. You receive the same outstanding service whether golfing, at the Circle Bar, dining at Fawn and Fable or getting support from your nightly butler including the parking valet team and front desk. We will totally be back - stunning overall.