This over-the-top luxury resort outside of Pittsburgh was inspired partially by the Ritz Paris and features a zoo, a private airfield, and a pet spa

Katie Warren

Sep 13, 2018, 23:39 IST

This over-the-top luxury resort outside of Pittsburgh was inspired partially by the Ritz Paris and features a zoo, a private airfield, and a pet spa

Courtesy of Nemacolin Woodlands Resort

Nemacolin Woodlands Resorts sits on 2,000 wooded acres in Pennsylvania.

Guests at this 2,000-acre luxury resort in Pennsylvania can choose to stay in one of three hotels, seven luxury vacation homes, or three townhomes.
Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, set in the wooded Laurel Highlands, is about a 1.5-hour drive from Pittsburgh.
Some of its amenities include a private airfield, BMWs available to test drive, a pet resort, two golf courses, an Adventure Center with paintballing and zip-lining, and a Wildlife Academy complete with lions, tigers, bears, and other animals.
Staying at the resort costs between $229 and $3,500 per night on average.

Tucked away in the Pennsylvania woods is a luxury resort that spans 2,000 acres and is a world of its own.

In 1987, Joseph A. Hardy III bought a 550-acre piece of land that he hoped would one day be "a world-class destination," according to Forbes. His daughter, Maggie Hardy Magerko, now the owner, helped that dream come true in the form of Nemacolin Woodlands Resort.

Today, Nemacolin Woodlands Resort offers luxurious rooms in hotels, vacation homes, or townhomes, gourmet restaurants, and amenities that include two golf courses, top-notch spa services, and adventure packages. Guests can arrive by private plane at the resort's own private airfield and test drive BMWs provided by the resort.

"I feel proud [that the resort can] go up against anybody, anywhere, on any continent," Magerko told Forbes in 2017.

Rates vary by season and day of the week but generally range between $229 and $3,500 per night depending on the choice of accommodations, a representative for the resort told Business Insider.

Here's a look at the massive resort.

Nemacolin is spread over 2,000 acres in the wooded Laurel Highlands of Pennsylvania, about a 1.5-hour drive from Pittsburgh.

With three hotels, seven luxury vacation homes, and three townhomes, Nemacolin has no shortage of options for accommodations.

The sophisticated 124-room Chateau Lafayette, inspired by the Ritz Paris, is "a tribute to the grand hotels and resorts of classic Europe."

The lobby sets the tone of the hotel with its marbled floors and crystal chandeliers.

The luxurious king-sized rooms start at about $476 per night ...

... and include a jetted bath tub and plush robes.

Chateau Lafayette's presidential suite, which cost $1 million to upgrade, is in a league of its own. The master bedroom comes with a king bed, fireplace, and two French balconies.

The sitting area has its own fireplace as well as a sofa, arm chairs, and armoire with cable television.

The suite includes a second bedroom with a king-sized bed.

Staying in the presidential suite will run you at least $3,000 a night.

On the fifth floor of Chateau Lafayette is the Club Level, where the rooms have private butler service and access to the Club Lounge, a communal space for guests to relax and drink a cup of coffee.

In Chateau Lafayette's speakeasy-style Cigar Bar, guests can drink fine bourbons, scotches, cognacs, wine and beer, and Prohibition-style cocktails while relaxing in leather chairs by a fireplace.

The hotel restaurant, Lautrec, is one of only a few restaurants in the world to hold both the Forbes Five-Star and AAA Five Diamond designation for 10 years.

It serves specialty dishes including Wagyu steak, escargot, and foie gras. It also boasts a 1,200-bottle wine list.

Guests can take afternoon tea or coffee in the lavishly decorated Tea Lounge.

Falling Rock, the resort's 42-room boutique hotel, is inspired by the style of architect Frank Lloyd Wright.

The king-sized room with feather top mattress starts at about $620 per night and includes a balcony view of the Mystic Rock Golf Course.

The marble bathroom includes a 200-gallon soaking tub, a separate glass shower with a multi-setting European shower head, and luxury bathrobes and slippers.

The infinity pool at Falling Rock provides the option to rent a private cabana complete with butler service.

The Lodge at Nemacolin was originally a hunting retreat for Pittsburgh business titan Willard F. Rockwell.

A king room in the Lodge starts at about $489 a night, while a king suite costs at least $634.

For a casual dinner at the Lodge, the Amber Bar serves farm-inspired plates.

Lodge guests can also enjoy an outdoor fire pit.

The Lodge looks especially inviting in the fall.

Nemacolin also has seven luxury residences guests can choose from, including the Garshak Treehouse, which can be booked as one house or two separate accommodations.

The Treehouse includes two bedrooms, three bathrooms, an open living room, two fireplaces, a full kitchen, and a game room. It starts at about $1,289 per night.

Then there's Greystone, a modern vacation home that sleeps 10 people.

It has five bedrooms, a full gourmet kitchen, a living room with a fireplace, and an entertainment room complete with wet bar.

Outside is a built-in fire pit with attached seating, a grill, and a hot tub.

The Paradise Pool complex with food and beverage services is open to all resort guests.

A separate adults-only area includes another outdoor pool, a hot tub, and a bar area for those who are at least 21 years old.

The resort also has an indoor pool for kids that's only three feet deep.

Even furry guests have their pick of activities at Nemacolin. The Wooflands Pet Resort and Spa offers luxury boarding, doggy daycare, grooming, and training.

The Woodlands Spa at Nemacolin promises to "rejuvenate your mind, body and soul" in its 40 treatment rooms and full-service salon.

Some of their signature services include the Woodlands Remineralizing Shirodara, the Woodlands Ritual Facial, and the Dream Catcher Massage.

There's even a kid's spa, where guests aged five to 13 can get manicures, pedicures, facials, hair cuts and styles, and massages.

For those seeking adventure instead of relaxation, there is the Adventure Center, where guests can strap into a harness and free fall from a 50-foot tower, if they are so inclined.

Guests can rent bicycles for $15 to $20 an hour and cycle through acres of trails at Nemacolin or visit nearby trails in Ohiopyle State Park, Laurel Ridge State Park, or Sugarloaf Mountain.

There's also paintball, cross country skiing, off-roading, and many other activities to keep guests entertained.

If off-roading isn't your style, you can visit the Wildlife Academy and find habitats home to bears, bison, zebras, a Bengal tiger, lions, wolves, and more.

Nemacolin is also a prime destination for golfers with its two courses: Shepherd's Rock and Mystic Rock, where professional golfers including Phil Mickelson and Vijay Singh have played.

Nemacolin has its own private airfield so guests can fly directly to the resort.

Guests can also pass the time test-driving BMWs provided by the resort through the scenic highlands surrounding Nemacolin.

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