Expect the Unexpected. - Nemacolin Woodlands Resort

History
In 1740, a trail was carved
through the rugged Laurel
Highlands between what is
now Cumberland, Maryland,
and Brownsville, Pennsylvania.
The trailblazer was a native
Lenae Lenape Indian Chief
named Nemacolin. Assisted by
frontiersman Thomas Cresap,
Chief Nemacolin plotted what is
still considered to be the most
direct route from East to West.
Nemacolin’s trail was later
widened and used by Colonel
George Washington and General
Edward Braddock during the
French & Indian War. Fort
Necessity was constructed near
the trail and remains a nationally
renowned point of interest today.
In the mid 1800s, Congress
established the fi rst National
“High Way” utilizing Nemacolin’s
trail and extended it westward.
Until the railroads became
prevalent some fi fty years
later, this highway was the
major means of East to West
transportation. Today, this
highway is known as U.S. Route
40.
During the 19th century, the
Laurel Highlands became
a popular and fashionable
retreat for wealthy Pittsburgh
industrialists and merchants.
Attracted to the natural beauty
of the mountains, they built
vacation homes throughout the
area. The Kaufmann family of
Pittsburgh department store
fame built the area’s most
popular home, Fallingwater, in the
1930s. Fallingwater, Frank Lloyd
Wright’s masterpiece, remains an
outstanding example of Wright’s
genius and talent.
In 1968, Rockwell International
decided to construct a
Tudor-style lodge to
accommodate their vacationing
business associates and friends.
Architect C. W. Balling of
nearby Fairchance, Pennsylvania,
designed the building for
Willard Rockwell, his former
college roommate. The original
structure, with ten guest rooms,
quickly proved to be insuffi cient.
Twenty-three additional rooms
were added and decorated by
Mrs. Rockwell. The property
was stocked with a variety of
game birds and various breeds
of imported and native deer.
Weekend hunting retreats were
arranged for Mr. Rockwell’s
business colleagues. A trap
shooting area and quail walk
completed the hunting reserve.
Since guests came to hunt primarily in the spring and fall, a golf
course and tennis courts were added for summer recreation.
Lake Louise and Lake Carol were built in honor of Mr. Rockwell’s
daughter and daughter-in- law at the same time. For convenience,
an airstrip was added. Off-property, Beaver Creek was being
developed into the excellent trout stream it remains today.
Mr. Rockwell sold the property
in 1979 to Cordelia Mellon
Scaife. Ms. Scaife operated the
Inn as a private conference
center for two years, then closed
it in 1981. In 1982, Ms. Scaife
sold the Inn to Kent Rockwell,
Willard Rockwell’s son.
Kent opened the Inn to the
public as a conference center.
He added an outdoor swimming
pool, the fi rst Golden Trout
restaurant and the Maples
condominiums. After a
fi nancial reversal, the bank took
possession of the property in
1986. The Inn remained closed
until 1987, when it was placed
on the auction block. Nemacolin
was sold at auction to Joseph
A. Hardy III, the founder of
84 Lumber. From the date of
purchase to present day, Mr.
Hardy and his daughter Maggie
have been, and continue to
be, committed to evolving the
property into a world-class
destination.
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