For Immediate Release
Contact: Jeff Nobers; 412-977-1263
Zelma Kassimer; 724-329-6381
Aqueous Restaurant Awarded Four Stars
(Farmington, PA, November 15, 2011)— Nemacolin Woodlands Resort has once again been recognized by the prestigious Forbes Travel Guide with Five-Star rankings for both Falling Rock hotel and Lautrec restaurant. In addition, it was announced today that Aqueous is one of only nine establishments worldwide to be added to the list of Four-Star rated restaurants.
There are 57 hotels designated as Forbes Five-Star, but only eight resorts in the world boast Forbes Five-Star ratings in both the lodging and dining categories. Forbes Travel Guide, formerly Mobil Travel Guide, has defined the industry’s highest standard for excellence in hospitality for over 50 years.
“This is truly a remarkable achievement and is testament to the dedication of all of our associates and the leadership of our executive team,” said Nemacolin Woodlands President and owner Maggie Hardy Magerko. “We were thrilled to receive these ratings for 2011 and are equally excited to learn that the remarkable efforts of our staff have allowed us to retain these illustrious stars. Our vision has always been to create one of the top resort destinations in the world and these ratings continue to qualify our vision.”
Nemacolin Woodlands Resort was founded in 1987 when Joe Hardy, father of Maggie Hardy Magerko, purchased out of bankruptcy what was then a 400 acre complex with one hotel and a nine hole golf course. In the intervening years, the Hardy’s have transformed the property into a luxury family friendly resort encompassing 2,000 acres, two golf courses, world class spa, 15 restaurants and lounges, a top rated sporting clays facility, ski area, adventure center, Wildlife Academy and of course Forbes Five-Star lodging and dining.
“The word unique is dramatically overused, but it certainly applies to Nemacolin Woodlands,” said resort General Manager Chris Plummer. “It encompasses not only the lodging, dining and activity options but is most applicable to our associates who in our opinion deliver the finest guest experience in the world. We are very fortunate to have owners who encourage our team to look beyond our small town location and dream big.”
Falling Rock is a 42 room boutique hotel and clubhouse situated above the 18th green of the Mystic Rock golf course. The hotel, with 24-hour butler service opened in the fall of 2004 and is designed on the architectural principles and style of the legendary Frank Lloyd Wright. Mystic Rock is rated as one of the most difficult courses in the country and has hosted a variety of golf tournaments including a four year run as the site of the PGA TOUR 84 Lumber Classic.
Aqueous, located in Falling Rock, takes the term steakhouse to a new and upscale level. Surrounded by striking architectural detail and incredible mountain views, the restaurant offers a menu featuring beef, lamb and poultry locally grown on small regional farms. According to Executive Chef and Vice President of Food and Beverage, Brent Wertz, “Success at Nemacolin is contagious, and receiving a Fourth Star for Aqueous is a clear sign that quality is our hallmark here in Farmington. Our Aqueous team has attained a very rare recognition for providing a truly memorable steakhouse experience while maintaining the Five- Star atmosphere of Falling Rock.”
“We are also deeply honored, to again be recognized for our passionate pursuit of excellence in providing unparalleled cuisine and service in Lautrec” said Wertz. “To achieve the Five-Star rating for the fourth consecutive year, my team has dedicated themselves both personally and professionally.” Lautrec received its Fifth Star in 2009 and has continued to emerge as one of the finest dining establishments in the world. It is the only such rated restaurant between east coast metropolis’ such as Philadelphia, Washington, DC, and New York and Chicago. Lautrec restaurant is named after French artist Henri de Toulouse Lautrec, and the innovative cuisine is the culinary artwork of Chef Kristin Butterworth, Chef de Cuisine who is currently the youngest chef to lead a Five-Star restaurant originally accomplishing this feat at the tender age of twenty nine.
“Our annual ratings represent the best of the best in hotels, restaurants and spas. They serve as guideposts for consumers who are looking for exceptional travel experiences,” said Shane O’Flaherty, President, Inspections & Ratings, Forbes Travel Guide. “This year, we are thrilled to be able to provide rich new content for each of our Five-Star and Four-Star honorees on our just-launched travel planning platform, Startle. It’s a whole new way to explore which of these select properties is right for you.”
###
Nemacolin Woodlands Resort
Nemacolin Woodlands is one of North America's premier resort destinations. Situated on nearly 2,000 acres, the Forbes Four-Star and AAA Four-Diamond resort features 320 luxurious guestrooms, suites, townhouses, and private luxury homes, including the Forbes Five-Star, AAA Five-Diamond, Falling Rock boutique hotel and clubhouse. In addition to the internationally acclaimed Woodlands Spa, the resort offers 36 holes of golf on two championship courses—the Pete Dye designed Mystic Rock and the traditional Links Course. For shooting of another sort, guests should visit our 30-station Shooting Academy, a sporting clays facility situated on 140 acres complete with a spacious lodge. Trail rides are available at the Equestrian Center, or for a more rugged trail experience, there’s the JEEP® Off Road Driving Academy offering guests the ultimate in off road adventures. For shoppers there are 14 specialty shops, plus nearby Uniontown boasts the ultimate outdoor store, Woodlands World. As the seasons change, our ski facilities for both downhill and cross-country enthusiasts, snowboarders and snow tubers kick into high gear, or for a different winter experience visitors can enjoy dog sledding. Nemacolin Woodlands also boasts an impressive collection of 15 restaurants and lounges, including the Forbes Five-Star, AAA Five-Diamond, Lautrec and the Forbes Four-Star, Aqueous as well as a multi-million dollar art collection. For meetings and events, Nemacolin Woodlands offers 32,000 square feet of meeting and banquet facilities including four ballrooms, a 200-seat lecture hall, and 24 meeting rooms - making Nemacolin Woodlands the ideal setting for functions ranging from weddings to sales meetings. For those guests arriving by air, our on-property private airfield with 3,900-foot airstrip is available. For additional information, please visit our website at www.nemacolin.com or call 866-399-6957.