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Contact: Zelma Kassimer; 724.329.6381
Forbes Awards Five-Star Rankings to Falling Rock and Lautrec
(Farmington, PA, February 26, 2013)— Nemacolin Woodlands Resort has once again been recognized by the prestigious Forbes Travel Guide with Five-Star ratings for both Falling Rock hotel and Lautrec restaurant. In addition, it was announced today that Aqueous restaurant, the Woodlands Spa and the resort’s Chateau Lafayette have once more been awarded Four Stars.
There are just 75 hotels worldwide designated as Forbes Five-Star, and Nemacolin Woodlands is one of only eleven resorts in the world to boast Forbes Five-Star ratings in both the lodging and dining categories. Forbes Travel Guide, formerly Mobil Travel Guide, is celebrating their 55th year of rating and recommending the world’s best travel experiences.
“I am truly overwhelmed with the continued efforts of our associates and the leadership of our executive team in retaining these illustrious stars.” said Nemacolin Woodlands President and owner Maggie Hardy Magerko. “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.
“We use the tagline “Expect the Unexpected” in our marketing efforts and it certainly applies to this honor as well. In my opinion, our associates deliver the finest guest experience in the world and now they have delivered 22 stars to Farmington” said resort General Manager Chris Plummer. “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.
Lautrec first received its Fifth Star in 2009 and has continued to emerge as one of the finest dining establishments in the world. “We are deeply honored, to again be recognized for our passionate pursuit of excellence in providing unparalleled cuisine and service in Lautrec” said Brent Wertz, Executive Chef and Vice President of Food and Beverage. “To achieve the Five-Star rating for the fifth consecutive year, my team embraced new leadership and rededicated themselves both personally and professionally.” 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 Earl Morse, Chef de Cuisine, who was responsible for guiding the staff at Aqueous in achieving their fourth star last year.
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.
“The Forbes Travel Guide annual Star Awards represent the best in class in luxury hospitality. Travelers seeking exceptional experiences rely on our ratings to guide them to the world’s finest hotels, restaurants and spas,” said Michael Cascone, President and COO of Forbes Travel Guide. “By continuing to evolve our ratings categories, we are establishing a global benchmark for the highest standards in hospitality service and facilities.”
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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 318 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.
Click Here to view the Forbes Travel Guide Announcement.